Cretan Malia Park, a member of Design Hotels, is a boutique style resort, just 30 minutes by car from Heraklion International Airport. It is a family-friendly resort, eco-friendly, using locally sourced produce or produce grown on site, providing a holistic approach to well-being and a focus on slow-paced living, surrounded by exotic gardens with swaying palms, Indian figs and, bananas trees. The hotel is stunning and breathtaking, and you are immediately overcome with a comforting sense of peace and tranquility.
The resort offers family and eco-friendly luxury. It’s core value is sustainability, winning several awards, including Blue Flag certification for its private beach. Solar power provides 80% of the electricity and the bathrooms are eco-friendly with the water recycled for the gardens.
Cretan Malia Park has an unspoiled private sandy beach, with plenty of sunbeds – a perfect setting for relaxing with a cocktail while taking in the beautiful surroundings. The main pool is spacious, with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas. There is an indoor gym, tennis court, and basketball and biking. There are spa treatments to be enjoyed, and a wellness programme which provides meditation, yoga and pilates classes.
The resort has 204 rooms, with each having a pool, garden or sea view. The hotel is chic, using traditional materials, textures and colours of Crete which are blended with indigenous themes. We were very fortunate to be staying at one of the 17 rooms with direct access to the hotel’s dreamy river pool framed by the lush gardens. The family rooms, junior suites and the two-bedroom Deluxe suites are more spacious, with separate living areas, large terraces and bathrooms with tubs.
The food here is absolutely amazing, and the hotel’s restaurant are overseen by Executive Chef Lefteris Iliadis. For just chillin’ and sampling the finest Italian cuisine, we really enjoyed the Almyra, located on the beach front overlooking the sea. Using sustainably sourced local ingredients it offers alfresco Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner, and a wonderful setting to enjoy the glorious sunset.
For an authentic Crete menu we highly recommend the Mouries restaurant. Designed like a Cretan courtyard, it features high quality meat and seafood, with wild herbs and seasonal vegetables picked from the hotel’s own 8,000 square foot organic garden. Here, the meats and fish are cooked in Mouries’ outdoor woodfire oven and grill, This is also the restaurant to go if you want to delight in a traditional Cretan breakfast, where you’ll be greeted with a staggering array of traditional dishes.
If you’re looking for a buffet-style Mediterranean cuisine across breakfast, lunch and dinner then check out the Mediterraneo. Overlooking the lush gardens, it has a varied menu while having a strong focus on Greek recipes, using ingredients from the hotel’s own grounds.
For lunch, we often headed for The Beach Shack. This is situated right on the beachfront, offering tapas-style snacks, all served at the bar or sunbed.
It is no surprise the resort is part of Design Hotels – it’s such a beautifully designed hotel and complex. All the staff were incredibly friendly and professional, making your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as it possibly could be. So, if you’re looking for sun, sparkling waters, relaxation and delicious food in a magnificent setting, I would highly recommend.