Cretan Malia Park

Good hotel, but didn’t fully meet our expectations We had a pleasant stay overall, but unfortunately the experience didn’t quite live up to our expectations for the price, so we would rate our stay 3 out of 5 stars. The hotel has a beautiful design and the food in the restaurants was definitely a highlight. What we liked: - Beautiful hotel design and atmosphere - Very good food in the restaurants - Friendly staff overall - The beach area offers a quieter place to relax What could be improved: The main issue for us was the overall maintenance and finishing of the room. Our door did not close very well, and there were several smaller issues in the bathroom, including the door handle, some of the electrical outlets and the ventilation. The bathroom door also opens inwards, which we found less practical from a safety perspective. The room also did not have the espresso machine that was advertised. When we mentioned this, the staff brought an espresso machine, but it was replaced the following morning with a different model that had not yet been installed, which was somewhat frustrating. The bellboy was very friendly, but seemed extremely rushed. We would have appreciated a little more time for a proper explanation of the room and its facilities. Similarly, the information provided at reception was not fully tailored to the room type we had booked. For example, we were not informed that breakfast was also available at Mournies. There were also a few smaller details that affected the overall impression: some nuts served at the beach were soggy, plastic cups were used at the beach shack despite beer being served in glass bottles, and the area around the main pool could have been cleaned up more regularly during the day. One thing worth knowing when booking: if you are travelling without babies or toddlers, the main pool may not be the most suitable place to relax, as it is largely occupied by families with very young children. The beach offers a quieter alternative, or a swim-up room would probably be a better choice if having a peaceful pool experience is important to you. Overall, we enjoyed parts of our stay, particularly the design, food and beach area, but given the price point, we expected a more polished experience and better attention to detail.

We had an excellent stay at Phaea Cretan Malia in second week of September 2026. The resort was a heaven for families with small kids at this time of September and everyone from staff did the best to keep them safe and happy. But also the parents did their job: there was no kid mentally abandoned with a tablet or smart phone in front of him/her. We had a half-board meal package, but an all-inclusive (Greek version) worth all money: the lunch restaurants are excellent as food and service and bar drinks have quality as well. Another strong point is the beach service: prompt and fast, as you call the button near your sunbeds. Btw, there are notices everywhere to do not 'reserve' your sunbeds with towels and the staff really enforce the rule. And about the beach/pool towels: they are available from early morning, without any card or deposit like in other resorts. This really enhanced our relaxation mood. On the evenings we enjoyed the live music and atmosphere on central area and on the beach bar.

It really is a stunning place, I'm gutted I can't come back here purely based on how absolutely overrun with small children it is. Brilliant for families, especially those with babies and toddlers as under 3s seem to be the main age group, but absolutely no good for a couple just wanting to relax. I booked KNOWING this was not adults only, but I can't lie I didn't expect it to be THIS heavy with children, and with absolutely no adults area at all. We were forced to go around the hotels beach due to the pool literally being like a nursery. It ruined it for me, and I think the hotel need to re-jig how they do things. We stayed at St Nicholas Bay in Ag Nik which is family friend but had dedicated adults pool/area for eating etc and it works great.. So, beware if you want a luxury, quiet break.. this isn't it. I feel like I'm on the set of Jurassic Park with the amount of screeching going off.

We chose this hotel for a family vacation with my pregnant wife, our young son, and the grandparents, and it turned out to be a perfect choice for us. The hotel is beautiful, stylish, and very well maintained. Everything was clean, and the atmosphere was genuinely family-friendly. There were plenty of food options, and we especially loved the traditional cuisine. The Italian restaurant was also excellent. The drinks and wine selection were fantastic as well. The staff were generally very kind, welcoming, and friendly, with the exception of one older lady working in the dinner service, whose attitude was unfortunately not as pleasant as the rest of the team. Our room was spacious, comfortable, and spotlessly clean. The only real downside for us was the gym, which was quite small and lacked proper equipment. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would happily come back. It was a wonderful experience for the whole family, and we appreciated how comfortable and well looked after we felt throughout our vacation.

We had a great holiday at this hotel. The rooms, facilities, food, and service were excellent and we would like to come back. We rarely had a problem with finding a lounger. At times the hotel pool was dominated by children, at these times we used the private beach instead. Each restaurant closes on one day of the week, so plan your meals ahead so don't miss out.