Name: Zafiria
Rating: 3.5

- onthebeach.ie

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Zafiria

This is a great beach hotel.  It’s older (think roadside motel from the 1950s) but it has been retrofitted with tiny private bathrooms.  It’s immaculately clean.  The shower is so small, I couldn’t stand with my hands on my hips or bend over when I dropped something.  But the water was hot and it’s functional despite a miniscule sink.  We had a nice room on the top floor with a large balcony from which we could see Matala bay and the beach.  The beds were not that comfortable with thin mattresses.   I liked the old polished wood in the lobby.  The place has gleaming marble-like floors throughout including on the stairs.  The stairs were a tad slippery but there are handrails.   The whole place has a low key beachy vibe.  

The breakfast offerings were meager but bread, cheese, cereal & pastry were filling enough.  The outside patio was lush with plants and made a nice oasis.   There was also a bar & some inside tables but the bar never seemed to be open.   The staff always had a warm greeting and a smile for guests but there was a sense that they were not open to chit chat.  (that may just be my American perspective)

Up in back there is a huge pool with lots of lounge chairs.  It looked like there was a bar area.  It was too cold for the pool to be opened but it is probably a rockin’ place in season.  

There is a tiny parking lot that fits about 6 cars if everyone parks neatly & courteously.   There are for-pay lots about a block away.  Everything in town is in easy walking distance.  


Good beach hotel 

We arrived in Matala without booking a room and decided we liked the look of Hotel Zafiria. We were not disappointed. Our room was en uite with a great hot shower (not always the case in Cretre). It was clean nd comfortable. The staff were chatty and always helpful. Room rate included a buffet breakfast

Nice hotel with friendly staff

Horrible experience! We had booked a 5 night stay with my partner as we were driving though Crete for our summer holidays. Having been to Matala and Crete a few times before we thought we’d get a budget hotel to save some money but never going back to this place again!

1. When we came in to the reception to check in, the person I spoke to -who I assume is the owner - was just plain rude. He gave no explanation about anything, e.g. what time was breakfast served, where was the pool, when the cleaners would come etc. But just gave me a key, showed me to the building across which is where the room was and left.

2. So I go upstairs and enter the room and surprise surprise, IT HAD NOT BEEN CLEANED. Some people might think this is not important but let me remind you, there is a second wave of COVID-19 happening so I would expect them to at least check if the room is ready for the next guests! 

3. The hotel advertises there is free parking. INCORRECT. There is an unsecured “designated” piece of land with space for 7-8 cars (including the staff’s vehicles... really?) so if there is no space there (which is usually the case) you need to find a spot on your own! Free hotel parking is false advertising. 

4. The room was tiny. It was just a bed with two bedside tables and a stand with a mirror (with a tv on a wall that I am sure no one ever uses). In the bathroom, the shower area was so small one person could not even fit in it.

5. The linen and towels we got were NOT clean. One towel had brown stains on it (not kidding) and the sheets where so thin from all the years of washing they were falling apart and you could see right through them.

6. The room was extremely outdated - The mattress was the most uncomfortable thing I have slept on and I have stayed in hostels and bunk beds and never complain about these things. You could literally see that the two sides of the double bed had sunk in and therefore after the first couple of days we started waking up with back pains. Also, the fridge was making so much noise (probably because it was so old) it was waking us up and unfortunately with this heat we needed to have cool water so we couldn’t just unplug it!

7. In the bathroom the stand over the sink had a disgusting smell. We even tried to clean it with wet wipes and sanitizer but the smell never went away...

8. The breakfast system they had was a joke. A small bench with a few things (fine, it is a budget hotel, we get it) and two ladies that supposedly serve you from the “buffet” to make sure no one is touching the food etc. Let me tell you, NO ONE wears masks and if they do they just put it under the nose / chin or even elbow. Apparently it is just an accessory and is only used in case the authorities make a surprise visit. The food was just just bad.

9. Finally, in our first morning when we decided to go downstairs to get to the beach we had to walk past animal feces at the stairs area.

I don’t post many reviews but this experience had to be shared. Avoid if you want to enjoy Matala. It is a shame if you have to waste your time with all the hotel problems rather than looking for the next beach and / or restaurant visit.

Rude owner & zero comfort

We loved this hotel with its outdoor pool situated under the cliff with pool bar and lit up at night. Great outdoor courtyard with excellent live band playing. Walked across the road where steps led down to the beach. Hippie vibe retained but updated. Loved also the back lit caves on the cliff opposite.

Well positioned well appointed hotel which while not luxurious, was clean spacious and comfortable.

Zafiria

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