MATHEO HOTEL VILLAS & SUITES

Please read this before booking this hotel! To begin with, the hotel is very clean and well maintained. The pool is spotless and pleasant to spend time in and around. The area around the restaurant and pool is also a big plus. However, the first thing you are met with at check-in is a tourist tax of €70 for a seven-night stay. This came as a surprise because it is a significant amount of money that could have been spent on many other things during the holiday. We then asked about pool towels and were told that they could be “rented” for €5 per person. The towels were very worn out and faded. They were not replaced or washed at any point during the week, which meant they became quite dirty by the end of our stay. All of the pool towels were different colours, brands and styles, and they clearly looked old and heavily used. Personally, I got the impression that they were towels left behind by previous guests and that the hotel now charges guests to use them. If the towels were considered dirty when returned, there was also an additional cleaning fee. For €5, I could have bought a brand-new towel in a local shop. At a four-star hotel, I expected pool towels to be provided as part of the service. There were many small things that, together, created the impression that the hotel is more focused on making money than providing good service. For example, at a four-star hotel I expect at least shampoo and conditioner to be available in the room. They do not have to be luxury products, but there should be something. There was nothing, so we had to buy our own. The minibar was also completely empty. And the WiFi didn’t really work so well up in the rooms, but it was ok in the poolarea. At the pool area, guests are not even allowed to bring their own bottled water if it was purchased outside the hotel. I understand not allowing outside food or snacks, but water should be an exception. The exact same bottle of water costs around €0.80 in a nearby shop but €3 at the hotel. In addition, you are not allowed to use the sun loungers that are placed in the water unless you buy something from the hotel bar. Again, this is another small thing that contributes to the feeling that the hotel is more profit-driven than guest-focused. At many other four-star hotels, for example in Turkey, I have never experienced anything like this. The biggest issue for us, however, was how incredibly noisy the rooms are. We stayed in a standard room and could hear our neighbours talking and showering. Every sound came through the walls. The hotel attracts many young guests who party at night and return late, which meant that we woke up several times every night because of noise from the corridors and nearby rooms. On top of that, the housekeeping staff started cleaning rooms and corridors at around 7:00–8:00 a.m., waking us up once again. We did not sleep through a single night during the entire week, which is very disappointing when you are trying to relax on holiday. The food was also disappointing. I am not a picky eater, but I found the quality well below expectations. The dinner buffet was almost the same every evening, the meat was often dry, and dishes that ran out were not always refilled. One particular incident left a very negative impression. During lunch, I ordered a Caesar salad. When I took a bite, I felt something unusual in my mouth. It turned out to be a piece of paper that had somehow ended up in the salad. I informed one of the waiters, who took the piece of paper to the kitchen. I expected someone from the kitchen to apologise or at least acknowledge the mistake in some way. Instead, the waiter returned without saying a single word and simply walked past our table. We did not even receive an apology. The rest of the staff were, for the most part, very friendly, so my criticism is not directed at them. My criticism is aimed at the hotel’s management and the way the hotel seems to prioritise profit over the guest experience. I believe the hotel would benefit greatly from focusing more on hospitality and improving the quality of the food. Overall, I believe this hotel offers a three-star experience rather than a four-star one. Unfortunately, I would not choose to stay here again...

We had a wonderful stay at Gallini Palace. The hotel has a very clean and peaceful environment, making it perfect for families as well as couples looking for privacy and relaxation. The rooms and common areas were always well maintained and spotless. The hospitality was excellent from the moment we arrived. The staff were friendly, professional, and always willing to help with a smile. They made us feel welcome throughout our stay and ensured that everything was comfortable for us. The atmosphere of the hotel is relaxing, with plenty of private space to enjoy your vacation. We truly appreciated the warm service, cleanliness, and family-friendly environment. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay memorable. We highly recommend Gallini Palace and would be happy to visit again!

Stayed in this hotel on a girls holiday in a group of 7. Staff were lovely for the whole trip, especially the waiter from lunch (we didn’t catch his name) and the security staff. Breakfast was a small buffet, but nice; dinner was okay however we chose to eat out most days. Lunch was always lovely, and the chef was very knowledgeable about my gluten intolerance. Rooms were smaller than the photos, quite cramped for a room of 3 girls. The pool area was lovely with incredibly comfy sunbeds!!! Only downside is the walk into malia is quite inconvenient, with many men catcalling out of their cars. Overall would definitely stay again!

We came to this hotel as a girl group of 7, we had a great time at the hotel, the rooms are a little smaller than the pictures but wasn’t an issue at all. The pool is lovely and relaxing with music playing and the views of the mountains and the sea is beautiful. We had a really positive experience with one of the waiters, a man who spoke to us every day and was very friendly but we didn’t get his name. We never had a bad experience with any of the staff at this hotel and felt safe whilst staying. We did breakfast and dinner in the hotel, breakfast was just a buffet which was nice and fine for breakfast. However, as a group we decided to go out for dinner majority of the nights, but did go to the hotel 1 or 2 times for dinner and it was nice and a medium variation of food. Our friend is gluten free and they were very good with accommodating to her needs when ordering food. We also ate lunch in the hotel which was lovely but not included but we thought it was reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend.

Rooms were nothing like the photo, bedding only changed once, poor choice of food, the lady who I think owns the hotel is downright rude. Pretty much demanded the tourist tax immediately on arrival and must be cash! Only good thing is the pool which is really good if a little cold.