Maria Hotel Sisi — Hotel in Municipality of Agios Nikolaos

Of course Crete is a beautiful place to spend a holiday, and when you’ve been invited to stay in a friends villa it feels more special than a hotel. As there was a small change over before we could stay at the villa we booked into Maria’s family hotel, and I’m so glad my partner chose Maria’s. It’s not a super luxurious expensive hotel, but it’s beautifully clean and has a smallish but lovely pool, with a very inviting covered pool bar/cafe were you can get breakfast and all day snacks and drinks.||||So far I’m making the place sound pretty much like thousands of others you’ve perhaps stayed in, but the difference here (as a family run hotel) is the family- We were made so welcome on our arrival by Maria, and noticed the children helping out in the pool bar, so while my partner unpacked I had a coffee by the pool, where all the other guests were, and they ALL smiled and said hello... A lot of English hotel guests abroad don’t usually do that, but it showed that these guests were all in a lovely mood, and I surmised it must have been to do with how they were made to feel staying at this hotel, by the lovely family.||||We met Yannis (Maria’s husband) quite late in the evening when we returned from a night out with friends, and he was totally charming. Last night we went to a recommended restaurant and just as we were getting the bill, Maria, Yannis and their children showed up for a family meal, recognised us straight away and waved etc- Next minute the waiter brings us even more Raki, and while I thanked but tried to politely refuse, he insisted saying it was courtesy of Yannis and the family!||||We only stayed 2 nights at Maria’s before moving on to the friends villa, but we were made so welcome by such lovely people I felt I had to write this.||||If you find yourself in Sissi near Malia, don’t hesitate to stay at Maria’s Hotel!||||Se efcharistó pára polý...

We loved the location, friendly and hard working family and chose the basic rooms where the cleaner came in daily to clean to a high standard leaving origami towel designs to surprise us with. The pool was cleaned and checked daily, there was always a sun lounger to be had and they say first impressions last the longest. Ours was a great first impression where the owner, Yannis, warmly met my 9yo and I at 1am in the morning showing us to our room. We were so thirsty and hungry having been traveling since lunch the day before. The other owner, Sophia (Yannis wife), soon rustled us up cheese toasties and a drink when we explained we were hungry....sweet. The hotels namesake and mother to Yannis is there too and had such a warm happy genuine smile. We loved our stay. The other guests were so friendly singing and dancing, and got us joining in for a song or two before we went to bed, they continued enjoying the night but the rooms have double glazing and we barely heard anything. We later found out many of people were return guests. Everyone is welcoming and non intrusive, nice balance. The picturesque town and harbour are a short 5-10 walk away where the folk are chilled and welcoming. Plenty of great spots to eat morning and night and great place to be if you don't want total silence or party central. Anything you need, just ask Yannis or Sophia and they will always help. Would highly recommend for the budget traveller or if you want a bit of luxury, check out the refurbished rooms which have been fitted out to a very high...

Our stay at Maria’s Hotel was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and kindness, and it felt more like staying with family than in a hotel.||Sofia, our host, was absolutely lovely — always helpful, friendly, and genuinely caring. The rooms were cleaned every day and kept spotless, and the space itself was bright, spacious, and comfortable. You could tell that everything was looked after with pride.||One of the most touching moments was something small but so meaningful. I had asked Sofia if I could take a rose branch from the garden to plant at home, and on our last night, we found it carefully placed outside our door. She hadn’t forgotten—such a beautiful and thoughtful gesture that said so much about the kind of person she is.||The Wi-Fi worked perfectly throughout our stay, which was a nice bonus, and we always felt relaxed and at ease, whether sitting on the balcony with a morning coffee or coming back after a day out exploring.||Maria’s Hotel is peaceful, welcoming, and full of heart. It’s clear that Sofia takes great care of her guests, not just in the big things but in all the little touches that make a place feel special.||We left with full hearts, happy memories, and a little rose branch to remind us of a perfect stay. We’ll...