Mare Hotel Apartments — Hotel in Municipality of Agios Nikolaos

Trip Review – Olympus Mare Hotel Apartments (Stayed 10–15 September, All Inclusive)||We arrived in the early hours of the morning after a private transfer (around 50 minutes), and were greeted with a lovely handwritten note and food waiting in the fridge for us – such a thoughtful touch and very much appreciated after travelling. I can only imagine how long the coach transfer might have taken, so the private option was well worth it.||Breakfast (8–10am) was a buffet with a great selection, and we honestly couldn’t fault it. We chose the all-inclusive option mainly as a backup since we like to eat out, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of all the meals. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner were consistently very good, and the timings worked really well for us.||What really makes this charming little hotel stand out are the staff – they are so friendly, welcoming, and nothing is ever too much trouble. The hotel is also spotless, well-maintained, and in a great location close to restaurants, bars, and the beach. We tried a few local tavernas for dinners and lunches as well, and the food in the area is excellent.||The beach and nearby bars are fantastic, and the overall atmosphere of the place is relaxed yet vibrant. For the price and location, this hotel is a real gem and I would highly recommend it.||If I had to suggest anything to make the stay even better, it would be:|Suggestions for improvement:||Restaurant ventilation & seating – It would be great if the restaurant could open up seating along the rear wall to outside, allowing more fresh air to flow through. The air conditioning wasn’t very effective, and at times (particularly during lunch and sometimes dinner) it became too hot to sit and enjoy meals comfortably.||Shower facilities – The communual downstairs bathrooms would benefit from a full update. At the moment, there’s little to no space to hang clothes, lock the door, or keep items dry. The open shower cubicle design also floods the entire room, which made it difficult to get ready, especially after leaving our room at 10am and needing to shower before a late 21:00 transfer. Adding more hooks, shelves, and practical storage and enclosed shower would make a big difference.||Thank you for a...

I travelled here in June 2023 with by best friend and the hotel was far better than we anticipated. We arrived at about 10:30pm and upon arrival we were greeted by the lovely and very professional Anna. She was at the end of her long shift and still had the time to be hospitable and helpful. The room was a one bedroom apartment with sea view and was absolutely beautiful. Nice bathroom and kitchenette area although we barely used it as we booked all inclusive. We had missed dinner due to travelling from the UK all day on the first night but we found a plate of food each in the fridge much to our delight and hunger! The meals were always amazing with lots of choice of fresh food including meats, salads, pasta, fruit and vegetables and lovely desserts. Lovely wholemeal bread too. The view from the apartment was beautiful and reduced me to tears. The bar area was lovely too however it is not clear what drinks are included with all inclusive, you can still have some cocktails with the package and of course local Cretan beer and wine but branded spirits cost extra. This was not a problem for us but if this is one of the main things you are going for I would just be aware. The pool was cold and not very big but nice enough to swim in and the sun lounger area was a real sun trap which was perfect. Every meal at the hotel wether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner was such a pleasant experience usually hosted by the lovely Sofia. We really felt at home and treated well by all staff members but Sofia was special and really looked after us. The location is perfect because you have the beach right across the road or bigger, sandy beaches a 20 min walk in both directions with smaller beaches along the way. Just be aware that sun loungers at beaches cost between €8-€17. The town center is literally within a 5 min walk as well with lots of shops, bars and restaurants. I would highly recommend doing the semi submarine boat trip and the boat trip to Spinalonga island with a 30 min swim in blue crystal clear waters. The pick-up points are a 5-10 min walk away from the hotel and they are amazing for sightseeing. The hotel is very family friendly but also appeals to couples and friends on group trips. We will definitely be...

We spent a week at Mare Olympus with our family, choosing the all-inclusive option. Unfortunately, from the very beginning of our stay, it became clear that this package does not function as it should. Children were unable to get basic drinks like Coca-Cola or Fanta – the only options were water or an overly sweet juice mixed with water. The hotel bar was practically non-operational – it was often left unattended, and guests would walk away discouraged, unable to order anything.||One particularly disappointing aspect was the behavior of the bartender, Natalia – she was condescending and unwelcoming, giving the impression that she was serving guests against her will. One evening, we tried to use the bar at 10:52 PM, only to be told it was already closed, despite the advertised hours indicating it should still be open. When we pointed out that this shouldn’t be the case, it seemed like the restaurant staff also started treating us differently, as if we had done something wrong.||On the positive side, the food at the restaurant was delicious and varied – there was something for everyone, which deserves recognition. Unfortunately, the service was slow and disorganized. There appeared to be a staff shortage – most of the responsibilities were handled by one person, Sophia, who did her best, but simply couldn’t manage to serve everyone on time, often leaving guests waiting for drinks.||Reception, however, was outstanding – Maria is a wonderful person who truly cares about the comfort of the guests. The room we were given was spacious, well-equipped, and met all our expectations – especially considering this is a 3-star hotel. The location is also excellent – right by a pebbly beach, near a tavern, with a beautiful coastal atmosphere perfect for relaxation.||To sum up – the hotel has potential and several strengths, but it definitely needs to improve its service if it wants to continue offering all-inclusive packages. As it stands, it’s hard to describe the experience as fully comfortable or carefree, which is what such a vacation package...