Phāea Cretan Malia, a Member of Design Hotels

Hotels
•
Phaea Resorts Group
9 (125 reviews)
Cretan Malia Park, Hersonissos, Crete, 700 07 , Hersonissos , GR
30-28970-31461

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Facilities

Free breakfast
Meeting rooms
Full-service spa
Parasailing nearby
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Terrace
Garden
Luggage storage
Designated smoking area
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Family friendly
Excellent food
Cons:
Overflowing with children
Cleanliness issues

Categories

Cleanliness
7.89
Some reviews mentioned issues with cleanliness and maintenance, such as dirty sun loungers and inadequate housekeeping.
Service
9.36
Overall, the reviews highlighted very friendly and helpful staff, contributing positively to the service experience.
Location
9.4
The beachfront location is noted positively by several guests, especially for family-friendly amenities.
Room Quality
8.85
Rooms are described as modern and clean, though some noted room arrangement issues.
Amenities
9.38
Guests enjoyed the wellness area and the variety of options for food and activities, enhancing their experience.
Value for Money
8.34
Some guests felt the pricing was not justified considering the overcrowded atmosphere, impacting perceived value.
Food and Beverage
9.39
Consistently praised in reviews, guests found the quality of food to be excellent.
Overall Experience
9.36
Despite some drawbacks, many guests had an enjoyable stay and would recommend the hotel.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-17 04:11

Property Description

Experience a serene getaway at Phāea Cretan Malia, a Member of Design Hotels, where luxury meets comfort by the stunning sea.

Spa Serenity: Indulge in rejuvenating treatments at our full-service spa featuring massages, body treatments, and facials designed to relax and renew you in a tranquil atmosphere.

Culinary Delights: Savor Mediterranean cuisine at Mediterraneo, one of our three exquisite restaurants, or unwind with refreshing drinks at our beach bar or poolside bar, perfect for sunny afternoons.

Exceptional Amenities: Enjoy complimentary wireless internet, spacious guestrooms with private balconies, and access to three inviting outdoor swimming pools or our pristine private beach.

Don’t wait—book your stay now for an unforgettable holiday experience!

Important information:

  • Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 500, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation.
  • Reservations are required for spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
  • Contactless check-in is available.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: HER

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Pets

    Service animals are exempt from fees/restrictions

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • Sustainability Certifications

    Green Key (Foundation for Environmental Education)

  • Sustainability Certifications

    Travelife

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 125 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.89
Service: 9.36
Location: 9.4
Room Quality: 8.85
Amenities: 9.38
Value for Money: 8.34
Food and Beverage: 9.39
Overall Experience: 9.36
T
Tomas • family_with_children • cz
10
We had a beautiful time with our little boy, the place is beautiful abd the people were treating us extraordinarily kind
Pros:

Everything, hospitality, food, just great people, clean and overall beautiful place.

Cons:

Just a tiny thing, the soap and body gel in the bathroom, strange consistency, strange smell. All else excellent really.

2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
A
Ahmet • extended_group • tr
10
2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
O
Olga • family_with_children • gr
9
A lovely stay and truly appreciated the hotel's unique environment and beautiful surroundings
Pros:

Overall, the hotel was fantastic, and we truly loved our experience there. Extra credit must go to the gardeners and the amazing landscape architect — the beautiful natural surroundings were genuinely what made this stay stand out for us. Also, we loved the idea of the nuts and peanuts as an in-room welcome treat. Such a nice touch!
One final and very positive note: our child absolutely loved his stay at the hotel, especially the pool and the kids' areas. All the "teachers" at the kids' area were incredibly friendly, warm and welcoming, and really contributed to his wonderful experience.

Cons:

I would also like to share two comments that I believe could be useful:

Firstly, the shampoo, conditioner and body wash — although Cretan, I assume, and aligned with the hotel's sustainability philosophy — unfortunately did not really work for us. The scent of all three products felt quite unusual and not particularly pleasant (with the exception of the hand bar soap), and we didn't really feel that the products cleaned effectively. Also, at this price point, I would perhaps expect a few more basic amenities to be available, such as toothpaste.

Secondly, at checkout, we were told that we could use a dedicated room to shower and change before leaving the hotel, as long as we informed the front desk approximately one hour in advance so they could check availability. We were genuinely and happily surprised by this thoughtful option. However, when we later went to inform the front desk, another member of staff — admittedly not particularly enthusiastic about our request — corrected us and explained that we could not ask for the room in advance and would instead need to return and check availability on the spot at the exact time we wanted to use it.

What started as a very positive surprise unfortunately ended up making us feel slightly uncomfortable, almost as though we were disturbing the staff by asking for something we had neither known about nor initially requested. The expectation had simply been created by the initial offer and instructions from the front desk, so the inconsistent communication made the experience more disappointing than it needed to be.

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
R
Rasmus • family_with_children • dk
5
Pros:

Beliggenheten og værelset

Cons:

Børnehotel- småbørn og plastiklegetøj overalt

2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
G
Gheorghe • family_with_children • ro
10
2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
B
Balout22 • family_with_children • at
8
Eine stilvolle Anlage mit freundlichem Personal
Pros:

Insgesamt ist das Hotel sehr schön gestaltet und modern eingerichtet. Die gesamte Anlage wirkt stilvoll, gepflegt und bietet eine gute Auswahl an verschiedenen Restaurants. Besonders hervorheben möchte ich das sehr freundliche, hilfsbereite und aufmerksame Personal, das den Aufenthalt angenehm gemacht hat.

Cons:

Der Strand war während unseres Aufenthalts häufig nicht sauber. Es lagen immer wieder Obstreste, Zigarettenstummel und anderer Müll herum. Gerade bei einem Hotel dieser Kategorie würde man eine deutlich bessere Sauberkeit und Pflege erwarten.
Auch im Fitnessstudio gab es Mängel bei der Hygiene. Benutzte Handtücher stapelten sich, und der Wasserspender war mehrfach leer. Solche Dinge sollten in einem Fünf-Sterne-Hotel nicht vorkommen.
Ein weiterer großer Kritikpunkt waren die Getränkepreise. Diese waren aus unserer Sicht unverhältnismäßig hoch.

2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
C
Chiara • family_with_children • it
9
Pros:

The beach, the pool, the place, the atmosphere, the children facilities, the breakfast, the bar on the beach were all very nice.

Cons:

In the room there were little details that could have been better, given the price paid. The cover of the an electric plug in the bathroom was broken. The mirror was misaligned. Amenities were minimal. The fridge was empty. They said that an upgrade would have granted a full fridge!

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Inês • extended_group • pt
9
2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
M
Monica • couple • us
10
Amazing hotel!!
Pros:

Everyrhing about the property is great.
Location,Front desk and reception,store inside the hotel.

2026-07-09 • via Nuitee
I
Imara • family_with_children • ch
9
Highly recommended for a family with small children (our kid is a year and a half)!
Pros:

We had originally booked a suite in the main building, but unfortunately did not enjoy it. It was still quite noisy at 10 pm (when we first entered the bedroom, we genuinely thought the television was on). The bathroom felt dated and not very well maintained, which also gave an impression of limited cleanliness. Overall, the room itself was just average and not particularly appealing.

We then chose to upgrade (at an additional cost) to a bungalow suite on the first floor with a sea view. This room was excellent—likely recently renovated, spacious, and thoughtfully laid out. It included a small lounge area between the bedroom and the balcony, separated by a partition screen. Our son slept in a crib in the lounge area, and it worked beautifully: we could close the partition in the evening, read, and relax without disturbing him. We truly loved this room and felt very comfortable there.

The garden is also very pleasant, with plenty of space for children to move around, play, and run freely.

The beach is lovely and extremely close to the rooms—just a two-minute walk, if that. We also really enjoyed the beach bar/restaurant; the staff were consistently warm and welcoming.

The cleaning ladies were all adorable and so was the staff in general.

Overall, it is a perfect family-friendly hotel while still retaining a somewhat boutique feel. We especially appreciated the friendly, communal atmosphere among families—we met many wonderful, like-minded people. Children shared toys and played together at the beach, which made the stay very relaxed, social, and enjoyable.

Cons:

The surroundings of the hotel are not particularly attractive. There are several rather uninspiring hotels nearby, and Malia itself does not have much charm. That said, we were perfectly happy spending the entire week within the hotel grounds, which suited us well.

The Italian restaurant was somewhat inconsistent. On one occasion I had an excellent pasta dish, but when ordering the same dish two days later, it was quite bland and disappointing.

2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
A
Anett • family_with_children • de
10
Ein tolles Hotel für den Urlaub mit Kindern
Pros:

Tolles Ambiente und Ästhetik in der gesamten Anlage, bequeme Betten und großzügige Zimmer, beste Ausstattung für Babies und Kinder, vielfältiges Frühstücksbuffet

Cons:

Die Lage ist etwas abseits und lädt nicht wirklich ein, außerhalb des Hotels Zeit zu verbringen.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
I
ipek • family_with_children • ch
9
2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
R
Rares • solo_traveller • ro
8
Chic boutique hotel with beautiful beach nereby.
Pros:

I had a pleasant stay at this hotel. It has a chic, boutique atmosphere, with beautiful gardens and the rooms spread throughout the property instead of being packed into one large building. That's exactly the kind of hotel I enjoy.
The beach is one of the highlights: soft sand, crystal clear water, and plenty of space to choose a quieter spot if you prefer to relax away from the crowds. Overall, it's a beautiful boutique hotel with a lovely beach, and with a few small improvements, the guest experience could be even better.

Cons:

There are, however, a few things that could be improved. Although the room included a sachet of Nescafé and condensed milk on arrival, these were not replenished daily, which was surprising. I also believe that a 5-star hotel should provide complimentary bottled water in the room every day.
One thing future guests should know is that this is a very family-oriented resort. There were many babies and toddlers, so it wasn't the quietest atmosphere for couples or adults travelling without children. This isn't a criticism, just something to keep in mind. Perhaps the hotel could consider creating a dedicated family pool area, allowing guests looking for a more peaceful experience to enjoy a quieter environment as well.

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
Z
Zoltán • family_with_children • hu
9
2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
N
Nir • family_with_children • il
8
Muy caro en relación a lo que ofrece
2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
E
Eddy • family_with_children • il
10
Pros:

The hotel is amazing for traveling with kids. The staff is amazing and made everything very easy and comfortable for us. You can see kids are considered in every place of the hotel, and we had an amazing holiday.

2026-06-25 • via Nuitee
H
Haim Victor • couple • il
8
2026-06-24 • via Nuitee
L
Lital • solo_traveller • de
10
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
L
Luke • couple • de
10
2026-06-21 • via Nuitee
S
Stefan • family_with_children • at
9
Wonderful relaxing first vacation with our toddler.
Pros:

Earthiness, local food, structure and size; friendliness of staff

Cons:

Cleanliness; rooms were old and rather small for 5*; would need some renovation imh

2026-06-21 • via Nuitee