Cretan Malia Park

Phāea Cretan Malia offers a refined yet soulful retreat that captures the essence of contemporary Cretan living. The design is effortlessly minimal, earthy, and elegant—framing nature rather than competing with it. From bioclimatic architecture to thoughtfully curated cuisine and locally inspired, every detail feels intentional and rooted in place. The atmosphere is relaxed, sensory, and deeply connected to the land, making it an ideal haven for travelers seeking both style and meaning.

First, the great parts... - breakfast is excellent - staff are very friendly - beautiful hotel, with a lovely beach (the sea was very warm and it's a (mainly) sandy beach, so perfect for swimming - we found the junior beachfront suite was a good size/well designed for a family The not so great parts... - The team at the kids club seem to lack direction/training. There wasn't much going on (there is a timetable, but didn't seem to be adhered to) and, given the amount of staff, it could have been much better with a bit of leadership/imagination. - The food is a big issue. The Italian restaurant is excellent, but often fully booked. It was closed one night that we were here. The Crush (ice creams/waffles/crepes etc) is very good, but was closed on 3/7 days, without prior warning. The Beach Shack, which is advertised on the website as being open until midnight (and on the welcome info pack as being open until 1am) closes at 6pm, with no food orders past 5.30pm. A great shame, with such a beautiful setting and sunset not for many hours after. Another of the restaurants is only for adults so, unless you go out of the hotel (there are limited options nearby, though the Malia Port restaurant is outstanding and well worth a visit, just a short walk along the beach), you could be restricted to room service...which is well below the standard one might expect of a 5* hotel. I'd also add that it is not at all clear if the River Pool is open to all guests, or just ones with rooms that border it - all the sunbeds along the pool are reserved for certain rooms, so it isn't obvious! On balance, I would recommend the hotel - it's beautiful, clean, peaceful and has a great beach...and we've had an amazing holiday! However, I'm leaving 3* in the hope this review is read by management, and acted upon.

Unforgettable experience at Phaea Creta Malia! I visited the hotel on May 18th, 2025, and I was absolutely impressed! Everything was perfect: excellent service from all the staff, cleanliness, delicious food, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Highlights include the beach bar, the Meze restaurant (special thanks to Olga and Dimitris for their kindness and help in exploring new flavors!), Eirini at the lobby, Marina at the creperie, and Giannis who ended my day with a delightful cocktail by the pool. The room was spotless, beautifully maintained, and full of thoughtful details. I didn’t have time to explore everything, but I will definitely return—next time with my family. This is not just a hotel; it truly feels like a home away from home. Congratulations to the entire team!

We led a yoga retreat at Phaea Cretan Malia and were deeply impressed with our stay, from the exemplary quality of the hotel, location, friendly and accommodating staff and the excellence: quality, quantity and variety, of the food. The hotel manages it's activities and services with an eco-conscious ethos that extends from the beauty of its design, landscaping, and atmosphere to attentive and friendly service and a wide selection of amenities. It is excellent value with excellent access to cultural and geographic wonders locally, and to the Island and its airport generally. Whatever your need, from beach vacation to more active exploration, the hotel is the perfect getaway. We will be back.

First and foremost, a huge shoutout to the staff—especially Manos, Dayanna, Adam Mikolis, and Dimitris. The majority of the team was incredibly polite, friendly, and helpful, which we really appreciated throughout our stay. Our Stay We visited in early September for our annual family holiday (four adults and a two-year-old). The timing was ideal—while there were children around, they were mostly younger, and the atmosphere remained peaceful. Our stay started with a small hiccup. Upon arrival, our room had what appeared to be ants. The porter immediately called housekeeping, who arrived within five minutes, checked the cupboard, sprayed bug spray, and cleaned up in record time. However, the issue persisted because the insects were actually termites coming from the cupboard joints and between pieces of wood. Manos at reception sincerely apologized and swiftly arranged for a new room. Later during our stay, we received an upgrade as a further apology, which was a lovely gesture. Our new room even allowed us to see the stars on a clear night—a highlight! The Biggest Letdown – The Food Unfortunately, the biggest disappointment of our stay was the food. While the quality was decent, the variety—especially for those with dietary requirements—was severely lacking. If you’re considering meal options, I would strongly recommend going all-inclusive over half-board or breakfast-only, as additional food purchases can quickly add up. Here’s a cost breakdown from our group: • Half-board (pool view): £1,600 + €222.50 in extra charges • Breakfast-only (garden view): £1,050 + €340.35 in extra charges Despite understanding the cost of living and the added expenses of importing food to an island, the selection for dietary restrictions was poor. Dietary Restrictions – A Nightmare A major issue was the allergen labeling—or lack thereof. While some buffet items were labeled, others had no allergen information at all. On multiple occasions, staff assured us that certain foods were vegan, only for our family member (who cannot have dairy or eggs) to fall ill afterward. Some key issues: • The plain spaghetti wasn’t labeled for gluten, and the tomato sauce had no ingredient list. • Margarine was incorrectly labeled as vegan when it contained dairy. • The baklava, made with margarine, was not vegan—leaving fruit as the only dessert option. • Breakfast included alternative milks, but cereals were limited, mostly containing honey. There was no dairy-free butter alternative, just jam. • One night, we had to ask staff to bring out the vegan cheese from breakfast so our family member could make a simple cheese sandwich—for a €40 buffet price! • The pizza restaurant refused to use the vegan cheese from breakfast for a custom pizza, leaving our only option as pizza dough with tomato sauce. Even worse, this still made our family member sick, suggesting there was hidden dairy in the dough. • At the Beach Shack, we ordered a chicken salad without chicken and were told the price would be adjusted—it wasn’t. We paid €17 for a basic salad. • The ice cream shop (“The Crush”) offered a vegan milkshake but didn’t label it as oat-based, which made our family member sick. By the end of the trip, they were just looking forward to going home. Ironically, in the hotel lobby, we found a book about vegan and vegetarian hotels—if only this one lived up to that standard! Other Aspects of the Hotel • Drinks: The cocktails and mocktails were very good! • Facilities: The gym is small but well-equipped for a simple workout. The yoga, Pilates, and stretching sessions were fantastic on weekends—it would have been great if they were available during the week too. • Activities: They offer a variety of experiences, such as olive oil tasting and bread baking, which you can request. • Kids’ Activities: The hotel caters to younger children (under 6). There was a movie night, but parents weren’t allowed to stay, which can be tricky for those with kids under 5. The kids’ area is located at the hotel entrance, which felt a bit far from the main amenities. • Parking & Car Rentals: Available, making longer day trips easy. The Grounds & Ambience The hotel grounds are beautiful, well-maintained, and clean. Our two-year-old loved exploring the gardens and spotting geckos. There were plenty of sun loungers available, both by the pool and on the beach. One small suggestion: it would be nice if they had a shared toy basket for children, like other hotels we’ve stayed at. The reception shop didn’t stock toys, which could be improved. That said, the shop had water, snacks, and tasteful souvenirs, though on the pricier side. Final Verdict If food isn’t a priority for you—or if you don’t have dietary restrictions—this hotel could be a fantastic choice, especially in September when it’s quieter. The staff, facilities, and atmosphere are great, but for anyone with dietary needs, I cannot recommend it. Would I return? Not unless the food situation improves for those with dietary requirements.