Hotel Maria Rousse

Wow, what a fantastic time we had! It was our first holiday away together (6 girls all 18) and we didn't want to go home after 2 weeks.
The accommodation was brilliant, big light rooms, and really clean. The location was fab too, just a short walk to the main strip, yet away from all the noise. Watch out for the security guard he’s there all night making sure you go straight to your room, with no guests! Also when you arrive they take your passports and you have to pay a deposit for your room, incase you damage anything etc.The beach was about a 15 min walk away, which was always packed, with plenty of watersports to do.
If you want a traditional Greek meal, take a walk into the old town there is some really great restaurants up there; also the Texas Bobs Mexican was very good.
I wouldn't advise you to go to the waterpark (the nearest one), it was about £25, there are only a few big slides and once you are in everything is really expensive.
Best nightclubs were the loft, club UK and paradise.

We stayed at Maria Rousse Studios 28.7.07 to 10.8.07 apartments basic clean and comfortable. Only downside was having to request clean towels, these were delivered promptly. The food was good and reasonably priced, apart from coffee a bit dear at 2 euros a mug! The bar staff were friendly and provided an excellent service. Owners George and Barbara are on the ball with all aspects of apartments.
The apartments are close to Malia strip where all the nigthlife is but no noise is heard from the studios. Malia strip is "mad" unless you are 18 to 25. Cheap drinks and lots of bars, cafes etc there. Spar supermarket round the corner which has all brands there and cheap. Watch out for the quad bikes - lethal and dangerous, can be driven without a licence on the main road! Old town of Malia great on Friday nights at San Georgio restaurant - Greek music and dancing and food excellent - meal and drinks for 2 approx 35 euros.
4 x 4 trip via Thompson is a good day out including lunch. Santorini trip - expensive and a long day - views stunning but not enough time in each town to get a meal and relax. Drinks and food are very dear at Santorini. The trip to Spinalonga which we did ourselves - great day - take the local bus from Malia then boat from Aghios Nick 12 euros - meal on board (extra) great tour guide(Karen).
Local buses cheap clean and comfy. Heraklion airport nightmare check-in took one and half hours - no time to look in duty free shop, watch for overweight bags also very keen - cost us 40 euros for 4 kilos. Hersonnisos good for shops - about 4 miles away by bus. Stalis - 20 min walk from Malia or bus 2 minute ride - good for bars and shops and a bit quieter than Malia. Galaxy Bar at Malia main road - good service and friendly bar staff - good place to watch the comings and goings from Malia strip, if you don't want to go and see for yourself (we had two trips down there at night - its mad and full of drunk teenagers - mainly British). Taxis are plentiful - 7 euors standard fare before you go anywhere - cost you 10 euros to Stalis for example.
Malia town is a bit run down but plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and a beach if you fancy a 15 mins walk from Maria Rousse studios. Most apartments and hotels have free entry to their pool and sun loungers if you fancy a change. Heraklion town 1 hour by local bus 7 euros for 2 of us each way, market Saturday - good shops and a port etc. Watch for the quads at all times - drivers are mad and don't care where they drive i.e. pavements, alleys etc.
We've been to Crete twice - first time Rethymon now Malia - lovely people and some good leather bargains to be had.

MALIA IS AMAZING!
Just got back from Malia, had two weeks with a group of 13 lads, Maria Rousse was a quality hotel, nice rooms, everything you need. Cleaned regularly and new sheets and towels every other day. The location of the hotel is the best thing, around 200 metres to the strip, we're talking less than 5 minutes. Also there's a Spar about another 100 metres down the road but there's 2 little shops just outside the hotel which are fine for basics.
The best clubs were malibu, banana's, apolloa and occasionally zig zag. All of us went to the same bar every night, union jack, as the staff are legends and they give you good deals. Although deals are available everywhere, most bars do 2 drinks for 5 euros (vodka red bull, beers, vodka coke etc etc). I would recommend Maria Rousse studios to anyone looking to go to Malia, it was a bargain and perfect for us lads!
BRING ON MALIA 08!!!!!

2 readers found this review helpful

Just got back from Parga and we can honestly say it is one of the best holidays in Greece we have had.
Parga is one of the most beautiful friendly places we have been to. The Mara apartments were in a prime spot very quiet, overlooking the olive groves.
The fire flies at night were spectacular (only to be seen in May).
We had only one complaint at the Mara, the water in the shower area seemed to linger which made it a bit slippy. The food in all the restaurants was very good.

We began our holiday in Malia Crete at the beginning of October 2006 where we stayed at the Maria Rousse studios, which is a lovely family run hotel in the heart of Malia.
When having rather a terrible fight getting there we turned up at 8.30pm that night where we were met and greeted by George the hotel manager and his wife, who took our luggage up to our rooms.
The rooms were really tidy, cosy, not a lot of storage however that didn’t bother us, with a kitchenette, kettle, toaster, balcony, and bath room, which had a bath and the whole room was built as a shower cubicle, (which also didn’t bother us).
The pool area was clean and friendly, *** WORD OF WARNING*** wouldn’t try jumping in the pool as it’s extremely cold; found that out for myself when showing off around the pool area.
Night life was brill, its just 1 minute walk from hotel and the bars went on all the way to the beach. my boyfriend and I enjoyed THE LOFT bar as the drinks cheap, you will find that if you paying for brands e.g. Smirnoff, Bacardi, e.t.c you will pay quite a lot as its harder for the Greek to buy over there.
However if you’re buying their home brand, which trust me it does the same thing (getting you off your head) the you can pay for a full pint for 1 euro which is around 80p in sterling and this is not just at the loft this is all over Malia and Crete.
During the week stay we decided the loan a quad, which reading other reviews before we went to Malia looked quite dangerous.
However we went with the best possible advice by asking around bar staff and reps however reps never recommend it as if you were to fall off then they just don’t want the hassle.
However we went with the guys located in between to the bowling and amusement centre (which is open really late, so when you tipsy try having a go at bowling, I beat my boyfriend every time and I’m normally rubbish) and SPAR (which is a cheap shop) the company were very professional, talking through the terms and conditions, insuring us on a 125 power quad, filling a full tank of juice, which we never had to fill up and we kept the quad for 2 1/2 days.
A word of advice try to avoid the main roads in full term taking it slowly around corners.
With it being this time of the year the nightlife had settled down a little and restaurants and some bars had closed down for the season, however with it being a little quieter you found quite a lot of couples venturing out.
would definitely come back to Malia, and if any of you get chance, speak to Avangilos, a.k.a Evain in THE LOFT BAR he’s BRILL, he gave us some pointers of having a great holiday.

Had an amazing time in Malia and would recommend this to anybody who’s up for a good time.
Malia nightlife is awesome and I have not had so much of a laugh, the pr's there are so friendly and really make you feel at home and not too mention the free drinks, recommend visiting the union jack pub at night, the guys are such a laugh and should also visit the loft as only one euro a drink, well worth it. had so much fun! Will be working there this summer. The Maria Rousse studios were really nice and George was very funny guy.
Everything was up to standards and definitely would go back there, apart from the security guard who really likes playing cat and mouse with the guests this is ideal place for young people and even couples who are up for a good time, met some amazing people here and will never forget my holiday. Anyone remember rat boy, ha ha! lotsa love, have a wicked holiday.

The room itself is pretty basic but if you’re young it’s all you need as you aren’t in it much. It got cleaned every third day but towels weren’t always changed then which got pretty dirty. Shower room got drenched every time.
Be careful not to lose or break anything as prices are high. Guaranteed you will get woken up at 6 with everyone coming in unless you’re one of them but noise usually quietens down once they are in the room. Didn’t particularly find the people friendly at the hotel didn’t speak to us once.
Food and drinks cheaper out of the hotel. Didn’t like the way Thompson’s put you on a bus with no rep and just left you in the middle of the road to find you way across with dozens of quads racing past with people who can’t even drive them, you even have to carry your cases yourself to the rooms.
It’s in a handy place not far to walk to main strip without hearing all the bars at night watch out for noisy chavs e.g those in the rooms below threatening to stab people and slamming doors-spoilt the holiday that did. Wondered where the heck I was stopping. Overall a nice place to stop but not a couple holiday at all.

Yassou party people! Had a boss 2 wks @ Maria Rousse Studios in Malia! 27th July -10th Aug 06.
The owners were sound, George was very helpful carrying our cases up to the room! The pool area was good had the tunes pumping in the day & night. Couldn’t fault the food or drink. Interent access 1 euro for 15mins. Theres a pool table and sky telly 4 chillin. Apartments were modern, clean, spacious & very practical.
Situated in a good location not far from bars & clubs (beach road place to b seen!) It can be noisy in the early hours as my room was 2nd floor up opposite the pool area and you've got party people walking past every second. Even though I was the loudest there. It does get annoying after nights with no sleep, and days with hangovers.
Rooms are cleaned every 2 days-(well towels & bed linen changed).Overall good holiday Thompson were a bit of a let down, no rep on transfer coach when arrived and were left 2 find our own way to hotel when the Greek driver dropped us on a main road. Return journey was dreadful coach arrived late as flights delayed with terrorist attacks which Thompson didn’t give much information on!
Malia was booming! Bikini Beach boss in the day with Dj pumpin the tunes out! Will be returning next year. So many clubs/bars, restaurants & fellas to choose from!! woooh MC23 was the best of course an not just in malibu bar but in bed!!!
**Watch out for the security guard he only gives you 30- 60mins for non residents to b in your apartments at night if your lucky!!!!**
P.S don’t hire a quad- I had a crash an also got a 83 Euro fine for going up a no entry street!!! Hope your Holiday is going to be even wilder than mine!!!

Superb place to stay if you are a group of lads or girls, but wouldn't recommend it for couples or families or OAP's. Far too many chavs there which were pretty annoying. I didn't think too much of Thompson, as when we got off the bus we were jus pointed to the resort by the bus driver no help was given by Thompson. And again for the Journey back to the airport we just had to jump on the bus which we weren’t too sure was our bus or not. So won't use them again!
But the people at the Maria Rousse were fantastic, all friendly and helpful. The bar was great, served good food and drinks all day which was handy. The rooms were cleaned every other day which was nice because no one likes sleeping in sand. Try and get a room upstairs because ours was downstairs and we could hear everything which was going on from the people above. Which if you are a couple who don't want to go out every night and get drunk, you like a quiet night which we didn't get most nights.
Beach was a bit of a stomp but its nice to walk past the shops and restaurants so after the first journey you just get used to it. Would recommend going left at the beach and go near the Ikaros Resort.
But again as for a resort Malia is fab, and the Maria Rousse overall would receive a 10/10.

Maria Rousse is by far the best hotel in Malia. We couldn’t fault the rooms, they are very clean and look brand new. Cleaned every other day, and the bathroom doesn’t need a shower curtain because it is a wet room!
We loved the pool again the best we had seen by far, really clean and a good size. The owners were really nice. Bar wasn’t too bad was top quality and not expensive either. Loved the studios, loved Malia we are definitely going back!
Not sure about Thomson though careful the coach doesn’t go without you because they really don’t care! Wont be traveling with them again.