Malia, Crete > Reviews > Malia, Crete

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around

Advantages:	Lots of nightlife
Disadvantages:	quite expensive

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I’ve been a bit quite on my reviews lately, a mixture of being busy at work, and having taken a week’s holiday in the sun!

I usually like to holiday at a different destination every year as I find it just too exciting packing my bags and imaging what it might actually be like at my chosen destination, rather than the glossy pictures displayed in the brochure. But this year I backed down and agreed to go to the same place as last year, out of season, to help my friend find a job and a place to live so she could work out there for 4 months. The lucky so and so.

The destination was Malia on the Greek Island of Crete. This year I went at the beginning of May when the season was just starting to get into swing, and last year I went in mid August when the party had well and truly started.

The resort of Malia

Before last year I'd never heard of Malia - but a friend persuaded me to go as it was 'This years Faliraki' - so instantly that should give you a taster for what the resorts about.

Basically, it is a haven for anyone who is young enough or who feels young enough to party all night long, sunbathe all day and drink constantly through them both. There really is little else to do on resort, unless you want to hire a car and drive out for days or join the excursions that are available but sometimes costly.

The resort is pumping, and although its not the largest of places, just a beach with one main street filled with pubs, clubs, bars and eatery's with a few side roads and an 'old town' with a church, it gets packed.

My holiday package

August 2003

Last year we booked just a few days before we went and basically went for the cheapest deal available, which was with lateholidaysdirect.co.uk. We paid £330 each for flights, an apartment based on 3 people sharing and transfers to and from the airport.

May 2004

We had the foresight to book in advance this year, and choose to go with the holiday company 2wenty's, which is a bit like 18-30's but not so in your face. Basically, they let you get on with your holiday on your own without waking you up and making you do things, but they operate bar crawls and games most nights that your welcome to join in with. Booking in advance we paid £145 each for flights, and apartment based on 3 sharing and airport transfers. Bargain. You can check out 2wenty’s at www.2wentys.co.uk

Airports and flights

August 2003

Last year we flew from Stansted which is based in Essex even though it’s classed as a London Airport. We had mid afternoon flights and experienced no problems. The airport that you fly into though is a different storey altogether, and in the height of the season, to me, it was nearly unbearable especially on the flight home.

To go to the resort of Malia, you fly into Heraklion Airport, and although I've been to a lot smaller airports with a lot less facilities, I have never been to an airport that takes as little consideration to the amount of people the building will actually hold as this one. The seating area itself is large with a separate smoking section, but there simply are not enough seats to go around and there is very little standing room. There is no air conditioning to speak of, and everyone tends to get very ratty and irritable.

May 2004

This year things were better. We flew from Gatwick North Terminal into Heraklion, and the only complaint I really had was that we arrived about 5 minutes after a flight from Manchester, and although they have 2 baggage carousels they unloaded both sets of luggage onto the same one. It was bedlam. Other than that, and a slow check in process on my flight home, I can’t really complain!

The hotels

August 2003 - Aeolas Beach

First things first, if you go for the night life and party life style. DO NOT STAY HERE! Even though this resort is mainly catered for the young active person, there is still hotels which are aimed more at families and couples. This I am affriad was one of them and we got quite a lot of complaints for coming home drunk and noisy. Whoops!

The hotel itself is clean, the rooms are basic but have surprisingly nice showers for a relatively cheap hotel and there are lots of facilities. In August the pool bar stayed open until the last person left, which we found to be about 6am! The other added advantage to this hotel is the beach - its own beach, and although anyone is welcome to use it, it’s great sitting in your hotel pool bar looking out over the sea. They also provide water sports like jet skies and paragliding.

The downside we found was the 2 male hotel owners. Arrogant is the word I’d best describe them as. When you check in you’re given a room key with a large plastic key ring with your room number on it. Over the week, a friend of mine had the key in his pocket and when he sat down the plastic key fob broke. We were charged 50 euros for this! That’s about £35! And they refused to give our passports back until we paid it.

May 2004 - Illios Beach

Now this hotel was more the ticket for 3 party going girlies. It is a 2wenty's hotel so everyone staying there is young and there for the party.

The rooms were surprisingly well equipped with a shower, kitchen including fridge and cooker and a nice sized balcony. For the price we paid, we were really happy.

The hotel has its own pool, which is open to the public, and beside the pool is the Help Bar! Now regardless of whether your staying at this hotel or not, you need to go to the Help Bar. It is famous for its fish bowls, and if you try one, You’ll know why.

August 2003

It has to be said firstly that I loved every minute of this holiday, although I'm not sure how!

At the height of the season wherever you go you can expect it to be busy, but Malia in mid August was beyond my expectation. It was heaving! The temperature was mid 30's and everywhere you went in the evenings you were struggling for a space to stand or a seat.

The beach
Mid-season to me was horrendous. Malia has one of those strange beaches where everyone lies with their backs to the sea and faces inland towards the sun - which always looks bizarre. The cost of hiring a sun bed for the day was about 4euros which I though was excessive.

However, The Sea was beautiful, warm and clear, and there were lots of huts and bars to buy refreshments from. This is not really a beach for family's though - it gets packed with only a few inches between the sun beds. I only went one day and I never went back.

The nightlife.

To be honest with you, the clubs and bars don’t really get busy until about midnight when everyone comes out to play. Before this, they are pleasant. The evenings are balmy and warm, and if you go out at about 9 or 10, you can always get a seat or stand comfortably at the bar. Midnight onwards, you’ll find yourself pushing to get served and standing shoulder to shoulder. We always made sure that we got drunk enough by midnight not to care ;o)

The food

Well, its aimed at the young again I'd say. Most places have a cabinet at the front of their restaurant that serves Pizza by the slice, which is the main cuisine it seems for anyone drunk with the beer munchies. Other than that, there is a MacDonald’s, lots of bars that serve food during the day and a few English style places.

From experience, if you want nice plain English food, try the Red Lion Pub or the Royal Oak, one of each of these can be found and either end of the main strip.

May 2004

To me, the amount of people there in May was perfect, it was busy enough to be a party, but not too busy that I got hot, irritable and sweaty.

The beach

This year we didn't stay very close to the beach, about a 5-10 minute walk depending on how drunk you are ;o) so being lazy I tended to stay round the pool. However, on my one trip to the beach it was beautiful. There was a cool breeze and lots of space to sunbathe wherever you fancied. Most of the beach huts were open still, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

The nightlife

Being out of season with less people, I found everyone really friendly and a lot more comfortable.

Once again, the nightlife didn't really get into swing until about midnight, but from about 8pm onwards there were plenty of people out to create a good atmosphere wherever you choose to go.

The food

The only change in food I though this year was that a English Style Fish N Chips store had opened on the strip. Well worth a visit.

Things to beware of!

*The flower ladies and children.*

As with most places, during the evening lots of women and children selling roses and flashing necklaces appear on the street trying to sell their wares to anyone drunk enough to think that buying one is a good idea. But you have to be careful. Not only are they good at short changing you; they also try and take money from your pockets or steal your handbags/purses. This is especially a problem when its busy mid season and everyone is bustling along a busy street. So be extra careful, or to be safest, keep your distance from them altogether.

*The 'Malia Flu'*

Mid Season last year I caught it at its worst, and in May this year I could just hear the beginnings of it in some people.

The flu is basically a really throaty cough that will make you feel listless and dizzy and tired. You may loose your voice and you will definitely get what became known as 'Throat Bogies' (Phlegm to the rest of you!). The workers claim its caused by the heat spreading germs and everyone snogging each other and passing them along! Ewwwwww, minging when you put it like that!

Apparently it happens every year, and from someone who has had it, it’s not something you want.

* The Touts *

Once again, in May this wasn't really a problem, but in August, the boys and girls that stand outside of the bar and clubs waiting to literally pull you inside, can get quite nasty.

Last year I was regularly called names simply because I didn't want to go into wherever it was they wanted me to. Some of them actually grabbed my arms and pulled me inside against my will. I obviously walked out at the first opportunity, but its really not a nice experience.

Places you must visit!

Apollo Club

Playing a mixture of RnB and dance, this is a great place to go to later on in the evening. There are lots of podiums with poles on them, and although you’ll laugh at the prospect of getting onto one of those now, when drunk, most people in there gave it a go at least once.

Apollo Club sell there own mix cd - word of warning! Even though you may like the music, just don’t bother. They charge anything up to 20 euros for a copied cd that must have cost them about 20p to burn. The quality is poor too.

Spice Club

This is a real must. its free to get in most nights, but mid season you will find they have guest acts like Twice as Nice and DJ Luck and MC Neat playing. For those nights it will cost you around 15 euros to get in. Its well worth it though. The music is RnB and Garage mainly.

Corkers Bar

Great Place to start out. Earlier in the night they have 2 for 1 offeres, and although its not amazingly cheap, the atmosphere in Corkers is good and th bar staff friendly.

Newcastle Bar

Wasn't opened yet when I went this year, but last year I loved it! Its looks like nothing from the outside, but it serves drinks buy 1 get 2 free, and once again has a great atmophere and good selection of music. The only problem I found with this place is the toilets are out the back, and quite a walk.

The pricing

This is the major down side of Malia as far as I'm concerned. Its so darn expensive! Last year I spend £600 in a week. For that I had a breakfast in the morning, a few cokes round the pool and a skin full of alcohol at night followed by a pizza slice on my way home.

The alcoholic drinks are around 4euros each. They serve local spirits and anyone who's been to Greece before will know they don’t have measures, they just pour them in. I still think that’s quite expensive though, seen as you can buy a whole bottle of local vodka for about 6 euros!

If you go out earlier in the evening you can catch happy hour at most places, usually 2 for 1 which will make the evening a bit cheaper!

The food was quite reasonably priced though I think. In most places you are looking at about 8euros for a main meal (lasagne or chicken & chips etc.)

Who goes to Malia?

Well mainly the young and the beautiful - last year in August I felt like a minging old bag. I was 24 years old and by far the oldest swinger in town. Most of the people there were 18-21, and always perfectly dressed. The girls even had make up on as they sunbathed down the beach. I just can’t be bothered with all that!

This year out of season though, the storey was a bit different. The average age I'd say was 20-30, which was fine for me. The atmosphere was friendly and everyone wanted to talk to everyone.

Overview

This really is a young resort as I said. I love it personally! To me, there is nothing like sunbathing all day and then dressing up for a night out on the tiles. That to me is what being on holiday is all about.

If you the type of person that likes to do things on holiday, I guess you can from Malia if you want to hire a car, but you'd be better off just staying somewhere else on the island.

A website that is worth checking out is www.malia.co.uk. From here you can get information on lots of the bars and clubs on resort, see pictures (including one of me if you know where to look!) and check out the whether up to the minute.

Thanks for reading.

C
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