Sunvillage Malia Boutique Hotel & Suites

Fleas! My partner and I booked a luxury villa with a private pool, but the poolside furniture was infested. We ended up with more than 50 flea bites between us. When we told the manager Marina, she called it “just nature” and wouldn’t accept that it was a pest problem. Before we could go home, we had to boil-wash all our belongings and spray our cases for fleas so we wouldn’t risk bringing them into our house.

We didn’t try the pool or other facilities, but the location suited us: a quiet street, with the beach bars a quick 7-10 minute walk away. The room was nice and very spacious for two, even if it didn’t seem to be the 60 sqm we’d booked. There are still things to finish or improve. Service was okay, though the hosts felt much less friendly than hosts usually are in Greece.

We spent seven nights in a villa and had a perfect holiday. The family-run resort has four villas, each with its own pool, plus a main building with very spacious rooms and a huge shared pool. Our room was clean and had daily maid service. It’s at the quieter end of the busy Malia street, so there was less noise than at the other hotels along the strip. The manager was attentive and replied quickly on WhatsApp. I’d highly recommend it for a relaxing break, and I’ll definitely return when I’m back in Crete.

The cleaner was lovely and very polite, and the complex itself was beautiful, with a great location and everything close enough to walk to. But the staff let the experience down. The host came across as cold and at times rude, and didn’t seem interested in making us feel welcome. Other staff weren’t friendly either, and would glare as we walked by. Maybe it was because of our age, but we were paying guests and deserved the same respect as anyone else.