Marni Village

4 readers found this review helpful

Hi, we have just returned from our holidays in Crete and we have to say that it was our best holiday to date. The apts were great big and plenty of room for a family of four,with very effecent staff from the bar staff to the maids. Everything was as advertised and to say that you were treated like you were the only guest would be an understatememt. It is suited to families very much so. Also to the young however if you had a slight problem with walking it may not suit as the hillsback from Hersisonnis are steep. However to counter that a taxi in not expensive. My sons enjoyed it thourly as did my husband. Thank you Marni for a fab holiday. By the way your barmaid at the square pool near the road is a treasure. Many many thanks Marian & family.

2 readers found this review helpful

We have been to Koutouloufari/Piskopiano (stayed at Serita Beach Hotel twice all inclusive - went back for a 2nd time -what a mistake)spent most of our time in the Koutouloufari, even hired a car )8 times over a period of 16 years with our children when they were very young and have just come back from Marni Village with our exended family, now all grown up, married and with our grand-daughter (14 months). Stayed in a Villa in Marni Village, own pool etc., we all loved it. Couldn't ask for anymore, bearing in mind we have seen the changes over the years. Marni is the best of the 2 villages, no doubt about that. The people are lovely, can't do enough for you. The only problem was we only booked a week!!!!! We have got to know a lot of people over the years and they make you so welcome when you go back. Just read the review, make your own mind up, if you are a moaner don't bother going you will never be happy where ever you go. If you enjoy good food, drink and friendly people, then this is for you. Bearing in mind it is very hot. The Staff at Marni are really lovely, kind, considerate especially Vangellis and all his staff in the Pool Bar, and his bar Dionysis, Kostas in Sergani (beautiful food) Yannis at Fabrica with his Pancakes, just to name but a few in Koutouloufari, then go along to Piskopiano, you will be suprised. So sad we are at home in dreary old England. Enjoy your holiday, it's what you make of it, don't be miserable there is enough time for that at home.

3 readers found this review helpful

Found this place fantastic.
The staff are very friendly, the place is spotless, the food is great in the pool bar, the facilities are great.
Before going last year, we had booked to go to Florida this year. After going to Marni Village we cancelled the Florida trip, lost our deposit and have booked to go back to Marni again in June!!!
We can't wait to go back!!!!!!!

My husband and I have visited Crete many times over the past few years; the place we always return to stay at is the Marni. The friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms and the overall atmosphere of the Marni is excellent.
There are plenty of things to do in Koutoulafari, visit Sara and Angelo at the Sports Cafe for a cheerful evening with bar tricks and laughs, very helpful advice if you have a problem. The Iokasti restaurant is good value, the steaks are excellent. Jorge can recommend a good Cretan wine to go with your meal. Gallini has the most exceptional service and pretty wonderful food. For homely food and good banter it is well worth going to Patriko (just past the Wishing Well, on the road to Piskopiano) and meeting Zac and Manos who run the restaurant.
Never go to the Marni without using the pool bar, this year Illias and Lilla are very hospitable and good fun. Also you must meet Mia in the bottom pool bar during the day or at Dionysos Bar (in the village) during the evening. Both bars are owned by Vangelis and Kateryna who are fantastic hosts and lovely people.
Local supermarkets are good but for convenience use the Sunrise Bakery (at the end of the Marni drive) owned by Dimitris and Jean, both very helpful with duty free stuff. They will go out of their way to get what you need.
Breakfasts must go for are Rahiti (in the middle of the village) Ben and Tosca make the best al fresco breakfasts ever. There is a nice supermarket in that corner of the village, don't know what it is called.
All in all it’s a great holiday place and I would thoroughly recommend it. See you soon Koutoulafari!

1 reader found this review helpful

I booked a ten day holiday for myself and my son in a one bedroomed apartment after looking online independently for a hotel that was close enough to the town, but away from the noise and madness of the main resort of Hersonissos.
On arrival at Marni we were allocated an apartment next to the smaller swimming pool which I was disappointed with initially as I had requested quite adamantly that I would like an apartment with a balcony and we had an apartment with a terrace instead. However, management were very helpful and did offer us an apartment with a balcony a couple of days into the holiday, which we did not accept as it was right next to the road.
As regards to the overall service of this complex, I must say that I was very happy with the service, bar one major downfall. I was very disappointed with there being no children's club/facilities or child minding facilities, yet on the website it does state that there are facilities for children. When I asked about the facilities I was told that the woman that did the facilities for the children was no longer there and there was no one else. I went on holiday with my son who is 11 years old and my friend and her son who had the apartment next door who was 10 years old. We were hoping to have at least one night where we could arrange to go out just the two of us and leave the boys in the capable hands of a trusted child minder/children's activity club.....but it wasn't meant to be unfortunately.
Having said that, the staff were very friendly, helpful and professional and the maid service was exceptional (apartments serviced every other day!!). Also the staff were very knowledgeable about tours that the local companies offered and they offered us many discounts on these. Can't forget to mention the lovely lady down by the small pool bar who works in Koutouloufari village in the evenings as well.......really friendly and a good laugh.
The accommodation was adequate for our needs. The beds can be hard for some people, but you have to accept that the apartments are traditional and are made as such (built off the floor). There were plenty of ants in our apartment (from the garden area), but that was soon seen to by the maid who was very helpful. There was a little table and chairs outside with an outside light which was very nice to eat at in the mornings and in the evenings. I loved the shutters on the bedroom windows.....something I do need as I can't sleep when there is light!!
There are two arranged entertainment evenings....one on a Thursday which is the bbq with traditional Cretan music and dancers who get everyone involved for only 15 euros per adult and 7.50 euros per child. There also is a karaoke night every Sunday (which we forgot!!).
The villages of Koutouloufari, Piskopiano and Old Hersonissos are amazingly beautiful. We loved just wandering through them, walking up and down little alleyways, looking in the giftshops and bakeries, etc. The one thing that was very off putting though were the idiotic tourists on mopeds and quad bikes. There are no pavements, so if you are with small children, do be careful. Restaurants I would recommend are: Galinis (very friendly staff and great themed togas!!...but can be a bit pricey), Rusticos (lovely place to have a meal under a shady olive tree), Fabricos (excellent chocolate crepes) and plenty of others that I've forgotten the names of. Also cannot forget to mention the restaurant in Old Hersonissos (called Myrthos?) where the staff are again very friendly and every Monday evening there is traditional music and dancing in the old square where everyone is invited.
Places that we visited which I would class as highlights of our holiday would be: Palace of Knossos, Agios Nikolas, Gortyn, Matala beach and caves, Kommos beach (near Matala) and of course, the traditional villages up in the hills away from Hersonissos already mentioned.
One last gripe I have and it's to do with Star Beach water park down in Hersonissos. The place itself is wonderful.....go karts, crazy golf, water sports, water slides, beach, shops, etc......one major drawback. The selfish, idiotic, mindless (and usually German) 18-30 men (louts). My friend and I and our sons tried to go round the lazy river but they seemed to take great pleasure in trying to spoil our pleasure in going round. They shoved us, (my friend is disabled as well), splashed us and tried dunking the kids under the water pretty unsuccessfully as by this time, both my friend and I had really lost our tempers with them. There was no need for such stupid behaviour but bearing in mind that they had probably been drinking most of the day (they all just stand or float by the pool bar which is in the lazy river) and were allowed their bottles of beer in the river, its no wonder really!! Again, if you have children, be careful!!
In conclusion, we enjoyed our holiday very much and do hope to return next May, but most probably this time we will be heading for the less touristy areas of the south coast and the 'real' traditional Crete. If I was going to return to the same area of Hersonissos, my advice is try one of the traditional villages............or even Marni Village. I would go back again!!!

Just returned from a week of bliss at Marni Village. It was heaven. Immaculately clean apartment, pools (3) and grounds, gardens were beautiful, staff couldn't have been more helpful, pool bar served good basic food and very reasonably priced.
A short 5 minute stroll however brought the village of Koutouloufari. It was gorgeous. Again very clean. All the bars and restaurants were first class, sympathetically restored and maintained. We didn’t have a bad meal or feel over charged for anything.
There are no cash machines in village so a short taxi ride, 6 euros from reception, to Hersonissos provided this amenity and many more, although we went straight back to the peace and tranquillity of the village ASAP.
I really couldn’t fault anything about this holiday. However if you have mobility problems request an apartment nearer the road or reception as the walk can be quite steep to some of the accommodation.

What a fantastic holiday! We didn't want to come home! The rooms are clean and spacious and are set in a lovely village setting. The staff are fun and friendly and are great with the children. We had been to Portugal in June but this resort was far better.
The Galini restaurant is well worth the extra money staff are more efficient than you get back home! Food is really nice and the children loved it age 7 and 3. Another good place to eat is Sergio’s.
Star beach was nice but very club 18/30 with young children was sometimes a bit much. If you ask the staff they will tell you of a beach with small white stones and crystal sea at the far end of hersonissos, there is a hotel near the beach which does water sports cheaper than star beach and this beach is sandy but busier.

Found the apartment lacked wardrobe space for 4 people and hated the shower area as the floor always was flooded after the four of us had a shower in there, not even a mop & bucket to mop up afterwards. Maids cleaned & changed towels regularly enough. Kitchen had oven, grill 2 rings, coffee percolator, fridge and plenty of cutlery & crockery for anyone who is interested in self catering. Nice & quiet at night so no problem sleeping. Had nice view of the smaller pool at the front of the complex.
There were not enough beds and even fewer umbrellas for the number of guests using the small pool. Some of these were knackered as it was. Tried the bigger pool and found it to be the same. Had to play the 'sun bed game' early in the morning to make sure we got a bed with a brolly for the children. Pool bar at small pool doesn't open until around 12 each day, closes around 6pm. Very relaxing by this pool, quiet even. Bigger pool more lively with better bar & bar snacks served.
Koutouloufari Village about 5 mins walk. Lovely village with many restaurants. Tried several different ones during our 2 weeks and not a bad meal in one of them. Also tried a couple of restaurants further along the road to Piskopiano village and again excellent. Some lovely quiet bars to suit couples.
Hersonissos is a 15 minute walk downhill, 6 euro up in a taxi. More restaurants & bars but not as appealing as in the villages. Usual shops selling tourist tat and a few better shops selling the good stuff. Lots of jewelers. Hersonissos a bit mad, more for the 18 - 30 groups of partygoers & clubbers.
Beach at Hersonissos is not very good. Better going into Stalis or beyond if you must go to the beach. Water sports if you want, are at Star Beach a 10 minute walk downhill, which is not really much of a beach but more like sunbathing space around a few pools, built for the masses.
All in all will visit Koutouloufari again, but don't rely entirely on the reviews as it is only personal opinion.

Just back from my holiday in Crete. I went with my husband and we stayed in Marni Village near Koutouloufari which is a small village but has a good selection of tavernas and shops. It is about a 10 min walk to Hersonissos downhill but on return there is a steep hill to climb. We didn't mind this but some people may find it too hilly.
Hersonissos is not very picturesque and is filled with the usual souvenir shops and bars and tavernas. We liked it best along the seafront where there are a few nice places to eat but we preferred to eat in Koutouloufari.
The accommodation in Marni Village is basic but clean and the staff are friendly. We had no problems except for the weather - 4 days were cloudy and very cold. The village is also very quiet at this time of year - a little too quiet for us - I would recommend you visit at the end of May when everything has opened up.
The price of a meal varies widely - Galini is probably one of the most expensive restaurants and it is a bit of an experience - the waitresses are dressed in togas -it's a bit like a themed restaurant - I thought it was overpriced and the food was nothing to write home about.
Overall we enjoyed our stay, apart from the weather. I would say that Greece is not as cheap as it used to be and eating out is almost the same price as eating out at home but you can find reasonably priced restaurants if you look.

This was my third trip to Marni. On previous occasions I had gone with a friend but this year the family came. Nothing had changed!!! The apartments were spotless as was the rest of the complex.
The staff were friendly - nothing was too much trouble. This is the ideal spot for a relaxing holiday - within walking distance of beautiful restraints or a buzzing nightlife for the younger ones. The perfect holiday!!!!