Maria's Studios — Hotel in Municipality of Sfakia

I stayed at Maria's for one week it was the best week of my whole stay in Crete so far. The accomodation ist fantastic, very quiet, the local population is very friendly and considerate, I was doing a freelance job on my laptop, no one interferes, Maria is the nicest and most professional landlady, she also has a little café that is the cleanest and cosiest place imaginable. You feel very welcome but they leave you totally in peace, which is also great and Maria is very helpful and the internet works constantly 24/7 and it's a fast connection and you can see a little shallow bay, just steps from your room that you can walk to and sit there and there is the quaintest little marina just next to it sheltered by huge volcano rocks that you can sit on and watch the awsome surf. Just a hundred yards along the shore the other way from that inlet, there starts a great sand beach. And there is no mass tourism at all. I was there around March 20th (today is March 23th) and I saw only one more tourist, an Austrian girl reading on the beach. There is a great minimarket just where you join the road (that thouroughfare connects you to the road leading to Chania, which is 50 miles distant) that main road is some 150 yards from Maria's meaning that you hear no traffic AT ALL. The minimarket is run by a trio of siblings which are very helpful they order anything from Chania from their suppliers with delivery within a day if you want something special, but they have fresh meat, various kinds of yellow cheese etc. and they are fun talking to. They all speak pretty good English. The mountains towards the hinterland are fantastic, today I can see some snow on three or four of the peaks. It is great for hiking it is not too steep you can walk to a nice village less than 2 miles from Maria's tucked in fold of that nearby mountain, by the time you got there you or in this case myself, which I did three days ago, I enjoyed the very relaxing smell of olive trees and all sorts of local flowers and bushes and trees. ||Now the accomodation is very good. The beds are up to standard, not too hard and not too soft, just perfect, very roomy, if you are 6"4 no contraints, there is a wardrobe, a mirror an easy chair, two tables, various power points, it is very clean, tiled floor, very hygienic, modern, a kitchen area with sink and three electric plates, television of course, no noise from outside, you can leave both doors, facing the opposite way, open as you like, no one will bother you, the perfect place, ever, to relax. Then the Venetian fortress or castle, which is in an incredible state of conservation, is only some 300 yards away. I have been to 60 countries but I think I have not come across a structure from the 14th century that is that well preserved. Another good thing is the road along the coastline east. I highly recommend that. I was coming from Ierapetra (biggest town on the south coast exactly 200 km to the east) using the southern route on my way back from eastern Crete stopping here but my destination is the Chania ferry port. Don't let anybody tell you that this southern route is no good compared to the one along the northern coastline. (I say this because someone in Eastern Crete told me it is very adventurous, not fast enough.) It is fantastic, here you see Crete the way you expect to see a place, not one hotel next to the other as on the north coast in the inhabited places. Here in the south it still is Greece like I experienced it as a child in 1978, still original, every 5 miles or so another settlement with its own, original, unadulterated character, so you really see what Crete is like. So Maria's is on the southern route if you want, for instance, to go from one end to the other on one coast and back on the other coast, which are the two "arteries" that you have across Crete,near the coast, respectively, or you can just use the new, very good road, so I am told, from Chania across the mountains to the south coast and you are 10 miles from Maria's. The reason I write all this is because I am most grateful for this reception by Maria and all those I met on my walks. Also, I recommend for people to come here during the winter, I don't understand why you would wish to spend the winter in sub zero temperatures or such, if you it is here, in Crete, about 15 degrees Celsius during February, and sunny, and about 20 degrees in March. It is fully operational at Maria's, don't think that they open only during high season, the give the best satisfaction all year round (I think), after all they live here. I was going to write this in the room tip but it won't fit:||fantastic views, historic castle, absolutely quiet, no harassment of any sort, sandy beach, little marina, close to thouroughfare but far enough to not hear any traffic at all, thouroughfare just one car a minute, helpful personnel, unobtrusive, nice café, supermarket 200 yards away, English speakers everywhere, very good climate, very healthy, clean, relaxing rooms, property, environment and area, people friendly, relaxed, no aggression, no tourist trap, just the opposite, totally natural interaction, cultured people you can become...

If you choose any apartment in Frangokastello you wont be disappointed by the location - most are either on the beach or have views of it and only a short stroll away. Most, unlike Maria's have their own Taverna offering freshly caught fish and seafood and meat. Maria's studios offered canned beers and soft drinks and basic sandwiches. What was very disappointing is that unlike every other place offering sunbeds, you paid 5€ no matter whether you were staying there, buying food and drink etc. And you got a surly guy approach you with an outstretched palm saying 'five' no matter what time of day you were there! We visited Loutro one day and returned around 5.30pm - he appeared with the 'five' demand - we pointed out it was the end of the day so he 'kindly' reduced it to 2.50€! ||We had no plug for the sink which only had cold water (kitchen) and they couldnt provide a tea towel so bought one in the minimarket. The 'Thomson' old fashioned tv only had 3 channels and none were English. Wifi was good though so when we had a long day sunbathing and eating we could still stream on our tablets.||Room was basic but clean, bathroom had a surprisingly modern shower cubicle not keeping with the rooms. ||We must have caught the owner at a bad time as other reviews mention how nothing was too much trouble - we didnt get that impression at all, although the young lady (possibly daughter) was very friendly and professional. The Morroccan man that works every summer there and seemed to run the beach food and drinks orders was also lovely and friendly. Shame the others let them down.||We would return to Frangokastello but would pick a different...

Superior room booked for extra money to give my son a bit of privacy as per photo online. What we got was a studio for 2 with a single bed squeezed in. Not enough beds around the pool (43ish) or umbrellas (13) for the amount of rooms (42ish). Beds were being reserved at 5am with towels & signs at the pool stating towels removed if left for more than an hour were not adhered to! 20 mins walk to main strip. Staff were polite but we felt uncomfortable between all of the regulars! Never had these problems before in Greece, we've always felt safe & welcomed. Back to Pefkos or elsewhere...