Phāea Cretan Malia (a member of Design Hotels)

The resort is beautiful, very stylish, and family-friendly. The food in all the restaurants is excellent!!!! Beautiful beach part. Beautiful pool which is always really clean. Most of the staff were truly wonderful. However, for a five-star experience, there are a few aspects that could be improved: The minibar was empty, and when we inquired, we were told it wasn’t included in our booking. That’s understandable, but it would have been nice to at least have the option to purchase drinks individually. We also tried to order room service at 11:00 PM, only to be told the kitchen was already closed. For a five-star hotel, that was rather disappointing. We weren’t expecting a full-course meal – a simple salad, pasta, or pizza would have been sufficient. Additionally, some room service items were not replenished during our stay, such as coffee, tissues, and tea… At one point, our room key stopped working. We were told to go to the reception for assistance, which we did – three times – before someone finally accompanied us. In a five-star property, I would expect immediate support in such situations. These are all minor issues, and only worth mentioning in the context of a five-star standard. Overall, everything else was wonderful, and we would absolutely return without hesitation. Thank you for everything

This was one of our best breaks. Though there are a lot of young families with babies we didn’t feel that we were surrounded by babies all day long. The ocean swimming area is small but other areas are accessible and the entry into the ocean is sandy. The hotel staff is amazing and accommodating and the various restaurants caters for all. Take a drive up into the mountains. It is beautiful and there are quite a few curio stops and lunch options.

The hotel is beautifully designed and decorated and and the outside areas are stunning as well with all the plants and different seating areas. The staff made our vacation seamlessly - thank you - everyone was discretely providing great service in all areas and outlets - I am pretty sure the service staff can read minds. I could write a book about everything that was so amazing but I will leave the rest up for each visitor to discover themselves (try the Italian restaurant - the chefs do magic!) Would anytime pick this hotel again ♡

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.

Pleasant Hotel Grounds with a Few Drawbacks The hotel complex is overall attractive and well-maintained, with a great pool area that is divided into a shallow section for children and a deeper section for adults. However, due to the steps in the deep end, younger children often end up playing there instead of using the dedicated childs pool. Unfortunately, the baby pool (40 cm depth) is usually fully exposed to the sun, which limits its usability during hot midday hours. While trees have been planted around the pool area, they offer little shade at noon and mainly contribute to leaves in the water and bees gathering around the edges. The umbrellas provided offer only limited relief unless guests move them around themselves. The buffet restaurant struggles with cleanliness, particularly when it comes to dishes and cutlery. During our stay, there wasn't a single day when we didn’t encounter dirty plates or utensils. Standard rooms are small but well-kept and clean, making them a comfortable place to stay despite their size.

The hotel is large, which unfortunately makes it feel quite impersonal. While the food is good, the staff seems overwhelmed, leading to slow service. We booked a beachfront room — the most expensive category — but the internet connection is very poor in the room and completely unavailable on the balcony. No solution was offered during our stay. Many of the kids’ club activities take place in an area next to the parking lot, which is not ideal. There are not enough beach chairs, and the same goes for the pool area — a daily struggle to find a spot. While the hotel boasts a luxurious, design-forward aesthetic, the overall service and experience fall below expectations.

Amazing for families with little kids and still very nicely designed. Almyra is our favorite restaurant but we enjoyed all of them. The beach is great too - Deyana is the heart and soul of the beach bar 💙

We stayed at this lovely hotel/resort with great facilities. Do keep in mind that it's very family-friendly, which means there are a lot of young children around. On some nights, we heard crying in the background for a while. Of course, it's perfectly natural – kids cry – but it's something to consider if you're a light sleeper. The staff is excellent – always friendly, helpful, and professional. The food and breakfast are also definite highlights. The beach area is a great place to relax, with a nice bar, comfortable sunbeds, and beautiful sunsets. Just note that the sea can get a bit rough on windy days.