Malia Bay Beach Hotel & Bungalows

The staff are what made this hotel stand out for us. George, Kalimera and Stella at reception always had welcoming smiles, and thanks to Stella for the late checkout. We really enjoyed chatting with Karim and Hassan over meals, “Shukran!” George at the live grill was friendly and a great singer despite his long hours. Hope in the main bar was vibrant and brought the place to life, making us feel like we were at a private party. Thanks for the coffee liqueurs and cocktails, Hope. We were sorry to say goodbye to everyone. We came in the penultimate week of the season, so the weather was great and things were quieter. The hotel is a good 30/45 min walk from Malia’s main bustle, with not much nearby. The restaurant by the port and Eva Taverna are both worth the 10/15 min walk. The hotel is very clean, with good-sized pools and plenty of sunbeds. There’s a strict no-reserving policy. It’s right by the beach, which was quiet too, though you have to pay for beach sunbeds. We didn’t bother, as the sand was comfortable enough. It’s a good spot for a quiet break. The one thing I’d improve is the soft drinks. The cola wasn’t great, and the hotel could offer better known brands.

The bar setup could be better. There was often just one person working the main bar, sometimes no glasses and only disposable plastic cups, plus a two-drink limit. For a family of four, that meant joining the queue again. The soft drinks and mixers weren’t good either, and the hotel should spend a little extra on decent cola and sprite. That said, the bar and restaurant teams worked incredibly hard and were amazing. The food was good, service was excellent, there was entertainment of some sort nearly every night, and everywhere was spotless. The pool bar was great, with unlimited good-quality snacks. The beach was great too, though you pay extra for beds, and it’s worth it. A great place to stay and well worth the money.

The food was delicious, with fresh ingredients, lots of variety, and something for everyone. We enjoyed every meal, and the restaurant staff were friendly and attentive, creating a warm atmosphere each day. Right from check-in the team made us feel welcome, and we were surprised with a free upgrade from a standard room to a bigger, more modern room with lovely design. The reception staff were kind, professional and always ready to help with a smile. We had an amazing stay at Malia Bay Hotel. It exceeded our expectations, and we’d love to come back. Highly recommended!

The location was good, and there was something different in the food each day. The head chef seemed to be doing his best, and sometimes you could get freshly prepared dishes by arriving later. The staff were friendly, though they also asked guests to write positive reviews. For a hotel advertised as four stars, quite a few things fell short. After 11 PM, even water cost extra, and drinks were around 5€, which seemed excessive for all-inclusive. Much of the food was laid out ahead of time and usually cold if you didn’t arrive early. The variety was nice, but the taste didn’t compare with local restaurants. Housekeeping was a real downside. Towel changes and toilet paper refills were poor. After four days, we got only two of the three fresh towels we needed, which I find unacceptable. The room looked hastily finished, with paint over wood and mold in the bathroom, not what I’d expect from a proper four-star hotel. I’d personally give Malia Bay Beach Hotel about 2.5 stars, not four. The chef’s effort and range of dishes were positives, but the room quality, service and all-inclusive conditions left a lot to be desired.