Ariadne Beach in Malia

We recently stayed at Ariadne Beach in Agios Nikolaos and were very disappointed with the overall experience – especially considering the way this hotel promotes itself online.

The hotel advertises itself as a beachfront adults-only oasis offering peaceful relaxation and a high-quality all-inclusive experience. Unfortunately, our stay didn’t reflect any of that.

We had booked two rooms, and in one of them, we were three people. The third person was expected to sleep on a sofa – not a proper bed – and it wasn’t even made up. Only after calling reception was it prepared with bedding, which is simply not acceptable in a hotel of this price range.

Housekeeping was unreliable. Toilet paper was not refilled regularly, and one day we ran out completely. Even worse: used toilet paper has to be disposed of in a small bathroom bin – which was not emptied daily, leading to an extremely unhygienic situation. Glasses provided in the room were never cleaned or replaced during our entire week-long stay.

The hotel markets itself with “beachfront bliss” and “direct access to sandy and pebble beaches.” In reality, the beach is public, very rocky, and you need to pay for sunbeds. Entering the sea is uncomfortable and even painful due to large stones underfoot.

The pool area is too small for the number of guests. There were nowhere near enough sunbeds, which led to frustration and competition every morning. So much for peaceful relaxation.

As for the all-inclusive package, it is misleading. Many alcoholic drinks are not included and have to be paid for separately. On top of that, after 11 PM, drinks at the bar are no longer included – which is honestly outrageous. On the day of departure, once you check out, you also lose access to all-inclusive services – something I have never experienced in over 30 years of traveling in Greece.

The food itself was okay in terms of taste, but the variety was very limited. If you have dietary restrictions or just want more options, you’re out of luck.

To make matters worse, one of our rooms had cockroaches. That alone would justify a formal complaint.

Overall, the hotel fails to deliver on the promises it makes on its website and through booking platforms. From poor hygiene and misleading “all-inclusive” offerings to discomfort at the beach and inadequate guest facilities, the price-performance ratio is extremely poor. I would not recommend staying at Ariadne Beach.

Imposibility of paying by card, always asking for cash.
Extra charges for commonly free accomodation facilities, for example, payment gor umbrellas and chairs at the pool.