Enjoyed this apartment for almost 5 weeks in July and August very much.
The apartment is a clean family home and exactly as in the pictures.
We were welcomed by Maria, Michalis' mother (who lives upstairs of the
apartment) with fresh fruit and Greek delicacies. Maria is a superb
host, who took care of our every wish and also maintained the garden
while we were away. The well-equipped kitchen allows for easy cooking
every day, and we enjoyed our dinners on the terrace in the setting sun.
The terrace is large and sunny, and the seating area is comfortably
shaded throughout the day. The description does not mention the outdoor
shower, which is very convenient when you return from the beach. The
bedroom is spacious enough and features air-conditioning. It’s one
window has shutters that darken the room well enough should you travel
with a baby or toddler that still naps during the day. The bathroom is
quite tiny but suffices. Note that the bath only allows for sitting and
is really as big as you can see in the photo.
Your immediate view is on Malia Port, which features a petite sandy
beach very suitable for a quick visit with your baby or toddler in
between afternoon naps. A second and really great beach is at
(literally) 3-minute walking distance. While the beaches in Malia's
centre are tiny, overcrowded and noisy, these next-door sandy beaches
are spacious, quiet and beautiful. While most of the beaches feature
some rocky areas in the sea (and many fishes - great for snorkling), you
can choose to go to Potamos beach (15-minute walk) with three different
small bays. A favorite of tourists and locals, perfect for toddlers, and
even on a Sunday in July there is more than enough space to choose a
spot at the seaside in any of its three bays.
While you can walk to Potamos beach we really recommend renting a car
(2-minute drive). Not only is a car necessary to get groceries from the
main supermarket in Malia (otherwise a 30-minute walk), but Crete is
too beautiful an island not to explore by car. Note that the minimarket
behind the apartment is not stocked well enough to fill your (large)
fridge.
We absolutely recommend renting with Artemis Rent A Car rental (contact
Popi or Sophia). We got a really good price for a 5-week period via
email. Artemis not only transfers you from and to Heraklion airport,
they were even nice enough to wash and clean the car halfway through our
rental period. One of their branches is conveniently located at a
7-minute walk from the apartment. In the final week, we accidentally
scratched our car bumper but their standard insurance covered it, and
the folks at Artemis were very professional and friendly about it.
All in all, We had a wonderful time and will absolutely return here in
the future!