Marika Beach Hotel

A peaceful place to unwind. The private pool was amazing, and our stay was wonderfully quiet and relaxing. The room and shared areas were very clean. Breakfast was delicious and had lots of choices, both sweet and savory. 🙏🏻💫

This hotel seems mainly suited to a pool holiday. There are two pools, and the beach is easy to reach. Be prepared for extra charges: AC is €12 per night, a beach sunbed is €8 per bed, and a beach towel costs €6. All the rules and add-on costs make it hard to feel like you're on holiday. Bring earplugs, too. You can hear everything in the room, from people in flip-flops on the stairs to cleaners starting early. The door has a window that lets in all the light, and you only get one room key card, possibly another for an extra charge. Best suited to families with kids.

I was disappointed by the premium room with a private jacuzzi. It was dated and didn't justify its price. After the first night, I moved down to a standard room because the premium option wasn't worth the money. The Booking photos don't show what the hotel is really like, and there was also a frustrating 30-minute power cut. Hotel guests still have to pay for everything, including sunbeds and towels. That hasn't been my experience at the other Crete hotels I've visited, and I've been to quite a few. The receptionist on duty was very friendly and tried to help, but the problems were beyond her control. What annoyed me was the inconsistent information from reception: one person said, based on the manager's instructions, that we could stay in the room without paying extra. Minutes later another receptionist contradicted this and asked for an additional fee, which I refused. It didn't feel professional or transparent. As a Genius Level 3 customer, I'm usually given upgrades or at least treated fairly, but that didn't happen here. I can't recommend this hotel. There are many better options in Crete that deliver the quality and service they promise. The prices here suggest a standard the hotel doesn't meet.

The staff were the best part of our three-night stay. They were exceptionally friendly and helpful when my boyfriend sprained his ankle on the first day. They brought ice for him several times each day and let us borrow the hotel's crutches. At checkout, they even said we could keep them. We want to thank them again for the great care. The hotel is small but charming. Our pool-view room was fairly spacious, clean, and had the basics we needed. Breakfast was decent, and having it with a sea view was a real plus. Parking right beside the hotel was handy with a rental car.