Malia Mare

The standout for me was the staff. They were wonderful to talk to, gave us great directions, and clearly cared about providing good service. It’s a family-run business, and I was happy to see how close-knit it was. I’m leaving Malia today with a few friends I’d love to visit again in this small town. My husband and I used the hotel as a base to explore eastern Crete. The rooms were basic, without a TV or hairdryer, but we didn’t need those since we had a laptop and I liked my beach hair anyway. They were very clean, and getting around by foot or bus was easy, whether we were going to the beach, Heraklion, or Nikolaos. The pool was cleaned every day and was ultra clean whenever we spent a few hours swimming by the cocktail bar. One thing to know is that air conditioning is charged separately.

It’s a small, very clean, family-run hotel with everything you need. There are only two floors and no lift. The owners and staff are friendly and helpful, and will do what they can to make your stay comfortable.

The family and staff running this place were the best part of my stay. They were very accommodating, cared about their guests, and were happy to help. It was a real joy to stay somewhere that didn’t treat you like a number. The rooms were clean, comfortable and quiet, with efficient daily cleaning. Breakfast had plenty of options for British, European, New Zealand and Australian tastes, as well as local dishes. The pool area was a fantastic place to spend the day, with a big choice of tasty food and drinks at the pool bar. It’s a three-star hotel, so it isn’t the most modern or full of extras. But the good rooms, facilities and wonderful staff make Malia Mare Hotel in Crete, Greece, a real gem and great value for money. I had a great stay and would definitely return.

We were a group of three friends in our 50s, staying for a week in July 25. The hotel is small and family-run, with a great pool and a bar serving good food and drinks. The owners made us feel welcome and appreciated from our first day to our last. The old town is about a five-minute walk away, and the livelier bars are around 15 minutes on foot. There are great restaurants in the old town, but you need to book. The hotel owners recommended places and even made reservations for us. I’d highly recommend the hotel if you’re visiting the area.