Not sure where you are staying, we stayed at the Louis Creta Princess and the beach immediately infront of the hotel was not too good. Sort of shingle and shale. It wasn't lovely yellow sand. Trouble is I am not sure if this is the main Maleme Beach or if there was another one somewhere else. Wasn't a problem for us as the pools were so lovely and it did mention how the beach was in the brochure and all the reviews I had read.

the beaches are not great and it's very quiet....depends what you want. It's livelier and the beaches are better just a 2-3 kms east, between Maleme and Chania. The ill-fated German parachutes landed at Maleme in the 2nd world war and the memorial is there. A few years ago this area west of Chania was predominantly German but now it's Scandinavian. The Brit count is diminishing too. They want the Brits on the east side of the island so that the west does not get spoiled - the west is the most beautiful you see. I've been travelling there since the mid seventies so I've seen the changes.
Good luck!

Thanks for your replies.

The area I was looking at is near the hotel mentioned, so I guess there may be an odd spot of sandy beach where all the promotion pictures are took.

We would have use of a pool, but with all that lovely warm sea we want a decent beach to complement it.

We stayed at Stalis in August 2003 but thought it was a bit too busy.

I'd better carry on searching for that ideal accomodation and location somewhere in Greece (as many more will be no doubt).

Thanks again.

We stayed at the Maleme Mare in August 2006, would highly recommend. The beach is pebble and stones, didn't see any sand, however down the road in Platanias the beach is sandy.