Phāea Cretan Malia a Member of Design Hotels

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 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

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.