We booked this hotel as a last minute trip based on the reviews on this website and were not disappointed.

Our welcome from Sophie and the family was lovely despite us being 7 hours late due to plane delays and she quickly sorted out our room (number 8). This room was ample for our needs and, although it was on the front of the hotel where the road was, we managed ok with the traffic noise. (Perhaps this was because we paid the extra for air conditioning and so didn't need to have the window open). The fridge and TV was fine but there was no dvd player as advertised in the brochure. Our only slight moan was we didn't get any fresh towels for 4 out of 7 days but ,as we didn't persue it with Sophie and perhaps there was a lack of towels for our room partly due to my husband being ill, it was not entirely the hotels fault.

Breakfast was very nice and consisted of a choice of 2 cereals, cake, continental hams etc and toast with jam etc. A hot breakfast was extra (4 Euros). You could eat al fresco or inside the main eating area with the patio doors open and breeze blowing through - lovely. We ate most evenings at the hotel as the menu was varied, service quick and the food as as cheap as the local tavernas. A nice extra touch was the raki shots (firewater - beware) and free fruit platter given for dessert with water & honeydew melon, grapes (good bunch) and another fruit - much more extensive that the freebies at the other eateries used.

We had to walk about 300m to get to Mikes Apartments to use the pool and get to the beach. The beach is very rocky and sea rough so we really appreciated the oasis of the pool with its ample sunbeds and parasols, convenient pool bar and clean toilet facilities. Food at the pool bar was reasonably priced for lunches and although the drinks were fairly priced too, we often walked down the road to the local shop with our small coolbag and bought our own cans, cakes, nibbles etc to save a bit of cash and get a bit of exercise. Computers with internet access were also available in the lounge part of the pool bar but as we didn't use them, cannot comment on price etc.

We were able to book trips from the Reps visiting the hotels. We went on the train for the "Grand Canyon" adventure (which was a waste of 4 hours - just a bumpy ride to one place with only tavernas for 40 minutes and back again) and went on the Elafonissi trip to see a decent beach (a lot nicer than Maleme but be aware it's very windy, no shade and costs 7 Euros to rent 2 sunbeds & a parasol). We independantly caught the bus outside the hotel to Chania for one evening (2 Euros per person each way and quite nice as they are UK style coaches - Sophie was great with the bus times - thanks) and spent a lovely evening watching the sunset over the pretty harbour and doing some shopping - well recommended!

We enjoyed ourselves immensely at Mikes Hotel and it was just the place for a quite retreat from the UK. It's not for people who want nightlife and maybe a bit too quiet for families who need to keep kids entertained but if it's a taste of Greek hospitality you are after - Mikes is the place to go!!