Villa Marie Kelly

1 reader found this review helpful

I have just returned from a weeks stay in Villa Marie Kelly, Gouves with a friend. I will not be staying here again after having an awful week. On arrival the staff were rather abrupt in checking us in. They never gave any details on where things we in the apartment complex. When getting to the room, it was very small and at first seemed clean. But upon closer inspection the bed linen was flithy and the surfaces were mucky. There was no indication in the welcome leaflets as to how much things cost such as air conditioning and the safety deposit box. This all had to be found out by going down to reception and getting a very cold response from the staff.
We spent most of our time in the apartment complex next door (Villa Andreas) where some friends were staying. They were much more welcoming and friendly and couldnt do enough to help. Nothing was ever too much trouble. I would recommend staying at Villa Andreas.
Overall Gouves is a very welcoming place with friendly locals, very close to the beach and a small supermarket for everyday needs.

As the heading says, we were appalled by the off hand reception given by the owner. It went down ...

I stayed at the Villa Marie Kelly in August 2009 with My husband and 9 year old son.
If you want a relaxing holiday then this holiday then this place is a one to book.
It's a small family run hotel, with two fantastic bar staff 'Alex' and 'Stu'.
The rooms are of average size, all with balcony's. Very clean. Basic but adequate utensils Ours was 5 metres from the pool and bar, no noise on an evening could be heard which was great.
The bar is always well stocked.
Alex is Greek, fluent in English, he's the most laid back guy in the world. He has a great sence of humour and makes everyone feel at ease. Alex runs night shift at the bar and will stay until the last guest decides he/she needs their bed. If you sit at the bar, on occasion he will have a beer and a chat with you and if you don't, he doesn't pester you. He will always smile and say 'hello'.
Stu runs the bar area from around 8 in the morning until 6 pm. He cooks all of the food which is on the menu. Prices are more than reasonable, 2-6 euros for all dishes, breakfast, lunch, dinner. There are lighter snacks, which are rather large for the 2 euro mark which consists of anything from scambled eggs on toast, bacon/sausage sandwichs etc. There are a few simple Greek dishes on the menu to, for instance 'Greek salad'. If you were just wanting a light snack at lunch then get one meal to share as Stu's portions are massive. Stu's cooking is fantastic.
Stu is British and very 'camp' He is an amusing, witty guy. Stu runs a 'Toga bingo' and also a 'Quiz night' once a week, we had alot of fun on both nights and it's the only time you'll ever see the bar remotely full.
The pool opened early in the morning and there was no rush for sunbeds. The most I ever seen aound the pool at any one time was 6 other guests, none well loud or drunk, just relaxing, taking everything in their stride. The sunbeds were very well spaced out.
There is one pool table and one air hockey table. There are 2 computers which has internet access for 50c for 15 minutes.
The beach is minutes away from the hotel, this is perhaps why the pool seemed so quiet.
There are plenty of beaches along the stretch, which seems to go on the miles. Sunbeds are cheap at around 2.50-3.00 euro with umberella all day, just keep ur reciept and return after lunch.
The beaches are almost white and sea clear and warm. Very clean and safe for children.
Resturants are all of similar price although there are some slightly cheaper if you take a look around.
The Oasis is on the hotels doorstep. Food here is great although waiters weren't as friendly as Medusa's, which is 3 minutes to the right of the Villa Marie.
There all lots of resturants and taverners within 20 minutes walk.
Local beer (Mythos) in the Hotel is 2.50 euro's for a pint. Which is slighly cheaper then a few places we visited, typically 2.50 -3.50.
There are some really nice bars and few within 20 minutes walking distance which have safe play areas for the kids.
There is a very nice bar (can't remember the name) 15 minutes walk from the hotel. Absoulty stunning place, which was all open, it was lite up in a very soft blue.
Be careful here though as we paid 20 euro's for 2 small beers. Which came with a bottle of water, lots of ice and a paper plate which upon it consisted of uncooked carrot, cauliflower and served with a wooden chip fork. So unless you are looking to spend what you almost would on a mea, for 2 small drinks, as nice as the place is....avoid it.
We hired a Jeep for 4 days for 150 euro's. Well worth the money. We had trips up into the mountains, which are a must see. We went to the cave of Zeus, which was 4 euro each and free for kids. It's a hard walk to the top and donkey rides are offered for 20 euros, which I diddn't think was worth it.
Malia is a good day trip lots of nice beaches but very busy place.
There is a Lidl 20 minutes drive away, and is very cheap. It's well worth having a venture here. The supermarkets are very expensive next to the hotel, 5 euros for cornflakes etc. Even native foods were very expensive here. The milk was 2-3 euros for a small carton.
There are 2 hire car places also within 5 mins walk. Mikes tours are good for boat trips although the car hire is a con , a couple whom were staying at the Villa marie told us the car they hired broke down on the second day and Mike tour refused to do anything about it, no refund or replacement. The car hire we used oppersite we couldn't fault, we actually haggled him down for an extra day.
We had an amazing time here, so relaxed and so pleased we picked this hotel and area for the perfect getaway.

1 reader found this review helpful

Hmmm...well what can i say.
Booked 6 months in advance with Thomas Cook and we arrived at a hotel that was closed....yes...closed! Ok so it was the first week of the season but why book guests in to a hotel knowing it wouldnt be open? As Didier Drogba would say, "its a (ahem) disgrace!"
The Marie Kelly remained closed from arrival on friday night to wednesday morning. The weather was bad for two of those days so there was nothing to do save to sit in a bare apartment. There were single guests in the complex too so i felt doubly sorry for them.
We ended up having to gatecrash the hotel next door, who (and fair play to them) were more than welcoming and understanding or our plight (Minos, you are a legend!).
Once the hotel opened, facilities ranged from average to bad. I wouldnt recommend using the toilets by the pool as the doors didntnt shut or lock.
The owners were distant too. I dont think we spoke to them once except to get scowled at for requesting an extra toilet roll. The only saving grace was the arrival of the friendly barman, stuart, who was fantastic.
Other than that you can expect a below average hotel with basic amenities. Pretty crap really. Stay at the Andreas next door and you'll have a better time in Gouves.

7 readers found this review helpful

We were a little concerned about this holiday as it wasn't our first choice, but we needn't have worried - it was wonderful. Villa Marie Kelly was in a lovely unspoilt area of Gouves (all Gouves is lovely), with a few tavernas, gift shops and 2 supermarkets just around the corner. The beach is beautiful sand, the sea clear blue, warm and with the added bonus of some good surf but very safe because you have to go out a long way before out of your depth. Only 4 minutes walk (no exageration) and you can be relaxing on the sunbeds (2 euros a day) by the waters edge. So swimsuits and towels are all you need. The pool is lovely and well furnished with sunbeds and tables and the bar wellstocked and open very long hours. They serve food from 8.00am to 6.00pm but with such lovely eateries so close it's not really needed. We had a one bedroom apartment for the 2 of us and it was spacious, well furnished and very clean. Shower with lots of hot water, an electric oven and hob with integrated grill and sufficient utensils etc made for our added comfort.
The best two tavernas were Mylos and Medusa just around the corner, although even at the end of September Mylos was very busy with local people as well as holiday makers who had made bookings. We loved the Greek food, it wasn't expensive and the service and atmosphere were great. A nice touch at everywhere we ate was the complimentary drink before we left! It is a very long walk from the Apartments to the central shopping area of Gouves but there is a 'train' that drives around the resort and plenty of taxis if you're not feeling like a walk. The walk along the seas edge is lovely especially on an evening as the sun sets and you can visit the little church at the waters edge on the way. There were 2 weddings and a christening while we were there - lovely to see. A trip up the mountain to the old village is also worth a visit it will cost you 6 euros by taxi but of course if you're fit you can walk - we met many who did. We visited the ruins at the Palace of Knosses and did it for a quarter of the tour operator price by going by local bus - well worth a visit and much better to do it in your own time (people over 65 get in for half price) but its very cheap anyway. We also went to the Island of Spinalonga but booked this through Mikes Tours around the corner. Wonderful day out, but we would have liked more time on Spinalonga. When we go again we we will investigate going by local bus as we did to Knosses. I say when because we will certainly go back - Crete is a wonderful island, the locals are friendly, the food devine, the weather great and it's very Greek!

1 reader found this review helpful

Just back from a week at Marie Kelly with my friend. Had a great time - everyone is so laid back. Have been to Gouves twice before and just love the relaxed atmosphere. The studio apartment was bright and a good size and the whole place seemed to be quite clean. We only ate once at the apartments and were not very impressed. Most nights we ate at Skorpios. The lamb kleftico was fab, but we could never eat all the other things on the plate. Staff there are very friendly and each time we went they involved everyone in Greek Dancing.
I can't say the same for the owners of Marie Kelly as they were not at all friendly, but Alex and Vass were both really nice and tried to ensure everyone had a great time. Apartments are very close to the beach and tavernas, but it is quite a walk to the main road for the bus.
We would both go back to Marie Kelly, but next time, I would probably hire a car to go sightseeing.

2 readers found this review helpful

The Marie Kelly apartments are located about one mile from the main resort, close to the beach, and adjacent to a number of restaurants and shops. The apartments are well maintained, with basic kitchen facilties, spotlessly clean with air conditioning (supplementary charge) and plenty of storage space. Our apartment had two sea-view balconies and was close to the bar, but must have been double glazed because there was no excessive noise.
The owners were, Dimitris and Olga, were friendly and helpful, and were always ready to assist with a smile. Olga's breakfast and snacks were always perfectly cooked - highly recommended! There were just two bar staff most days - Alex and Vas - who were perfect hosts and made sure we had a perfect holiday. Nothing was too much trouble for either of these guys, who ensured that this was the best holiday we have had for many years.
Whether the bar was busy or quiet we were always entertained with their astonishing range of bar props - from an array of wigs to other things that are perhaps not best mentioned in this review! We were made to feel part of the family. I know that lots of regulars go back to these apartments year after year, and I know that the owners and staff genuinely look forward to seeing everyone again, which created a great atmosphere.
Vas and Alex arranged a very special night for our daughter's 16th birthday which we will never forget. It all helped to make the holiday very special.
Local restaurants - we would recommend Mylos very highly - consistently excellent food and if anything cheaper than some of the others. Much better than your usual resort rubbish!! Try a Furnisto (Cretian chicken pie), Stifardo (Veal Casserole) or the excellent Italian cruisine cooked by their Italian Chef in their Italian (gas-fired!) wood stove. Good friendly and efficient service too, and a short walk from the apartments.
All in all an excellent holiday choice.

Three girls looking for a relaxing holiday and we found it here. We didn't stay around the pool as it was far too hot, so headed down to the beach to enjoy the breeze and the sun loungers. We enjoyed the apartments and found them to be spacious and clean and we could keep the windows and doors open all night as the shutters could be pulled down to keep the sun out (don't know if you can do that on the ground floor though).
Every night we would try somewhere new to eat and we are a difficult bunch, one vegetarian, one who can't eat fish and thankfully one who is easy to please... we found all the little tavernas and restaurants near the apartment were fantastic and everytime we left our little area of Gouves we were disappointed by the food - we went to Malia once and no one wanted to go back.
There isn't much happening at night but the two barmen at the Marie Kelly kept us entertained every night - pouring drinks, playing pool, teaching us how to speak Greek and more importantly how to dance Greek! They would keep the bar open until we wanted to go to bed, it was my birthday when we were there and they threw me a surprise party and the barman even bought me a cake which had my picture on it - very impressed!
Friends we met at the apartments hired a car for a few days and we all squeezed in and headed off for the water park, this is easier said than done - you think you might be able to see it from a distance or that there would be a signpost so I think we must have went the non tourist route but we got to see some lovely mountain villages as we got lost over and over again. We did eventually make it there and it was really good fun, the only thing that annoyed us was that after paying in you then had to pay to use the sunbeds... there were a lot of mosquitoes at the park and I would avoid the lagoon at all costs as it looked dirty and swarming in bugs but everything else was great fun... beware though it's built into the side of a mountain so there are quite a lot of hills to run up and down.
We had a great time in Gouves and on the coach back to the airport we saw all the posher hotels we could have paid out a fortune for but I don't think we would have enjoyed our holiday quite as much.

Six of us stayed at the above apartments - ages ranged from 16 - 36. We had 3 apartments. 2 out of the 3 rooms were large but the room I stayed in was very small but adequate. Very hot at night so well worth purchasing the air con at 50 euros (a bit steep but necessary).
Safety Deposit box was 15 euro for the week and again an essential investment. Wouldn't leave balcony doors open at night no matter how hot the weather was - as someone got into one of our apartments and took items of value! There are shutters on windows but make sure they work.
Owners - Olga & Dimitris - nice people. Alex, the barman, was friendly and kept the pool bar opened quite late!
Beach only 2 minutes from apartment. Sun loungers only €2.20 for the whole day and plenty of them. The sea was lovely and warm. We spent all our days on the beach and sat by the pool area from 5.30pm until 8pm. Loads of sun loungers then.
We had our breakfast at the Apartments and it was very nice - English Breakfast with tea/coffee and toast for €4.90. Very handy especially for those who go to the beach early as they are open from 8am and some restaurants/cafes don't open until after 9am!
We only tried one of the restaurants, Mylos, and have to say the food was gorgeous. They give you lovely warm rolls with crushed olives (free of charge) before your meal (fully recommend). Would fully recommend the Mousaka and the Chicken Gypsy. Everyone in my party of 6 enjoyed their food - we ate their twice.
Alcohol prices vary in all the different places, some really nice places to drink along the sea front and reasonably priced. If buying alcohol in for your apartments, you will find it is 50-75 cent cheaper in the Supermarkets beside Marie Kelly Aparts (2 min walk) than in Supermarkets along sea front!
Went on one excursion, Spinalonga - cost €39 per person. All the reps recommend this excursion. Four of us went and found that it was good in parts. You are taken by boat to the old island where the Leper Colony was. You walk around for an hour and are then taken by boat to another island where you can swim. This is the only part of the excursion we didn't like as the beach is tiny and there were 6 boats full of people and everyone crammed in on the beach. We had a lovely barbecue on the boat before returning to the port and having 45 mins to shop before going back to the apartments. Long enough day but interesting.
We spent a lot of time in the Harp Bar in Main Street - taxis €5-7 to the Main Street. Staff very friendly (Sharon, Dave & Denis). Even put up a free round of drinks when you visit them quite a bit. Some nights it has live music other nights karoake.
Went to Hersonissos to a couple of the clubs. They were okay. Went into Hersonissos one of the days to do some shopping but left with nothing. There are buses running every half an hour into Hersonissos for €1.20 each way. Taxis into Hersonissos are €15.
Well worth catching the train that runs through the village. You pay €8 for this and at least you have a fair idea of where everything is before you set off walking to find things.
Didn't find things that cheap but overall we had a pleasant restful time in Gouves. The people staying at the apartments were nice and friendly and most of the people returned year after year.

This was our 2nd year at these apartments and we loved them even more. We have become friends with the owners and they have 2 gorgeous girls who are polite, friendly and well mannered. Versilies the barman has become a good friend to us too.
The apartments are clean and the pool area is also. There are also plenty of sun beds etc and the snacks etc sold there are excellent. Overall another excellent holiday. We will certainly be back there.