We stayed in a lovely family run place a few years ago called Soula Studios booked via Thomas Cook/Sunset holidays. It's set off the main road but very central in the resort and I remember it was very comfortable and clean for the price we paid - which wasn't much. Stalis is really nice and sounds just what you're looking for.

Hi,

I stayed in Stalis last year at the knossos studios with first choice they were very nice but quite small (room sizes) the owner wasnt particularly nice she knew who she wanted to be friendly with and straight across from there is the fan apartments with kosmar and they look fantastic. If we go back to stalis thats were we are going to try for. And if you do go to stalis go to the artemis restuarant at the end of the road they are fantastic and so is the food and you can get sun beds at the beach in front of them very reasonable and the beach is lovely.

hope that helps

We stayed BB at the Neon Hotel on the beach road, at the Malia end of Stalis in June last year. This is nice quiet area, only marred by the quad bikes that zoom up and down the beach road.
The Hotel as a swimming pool with free sun beds and sunshades, a bar serving snacks and it is only a few steps from the beach.
The room was not very big, but it did have a fridge which was a bonus and A/C which was included in the price, along with breakfast, a safety deposit box, sea view room and the owner Nikos let us keep our room till 7pm on the last day at no extra cost.
There are plenty of Bars and Restaurants nearby, and lots more all the way down into the main part of Stalis.
We booked the hotel and transfers with the owner through their web site and the flights with BA.
If you're looking for a clean, well kept budget hotel in Stalis , I can certainly recommend the Neon.

Thanks for your replies. I will have a look at these properties.

I would reccomend self catering as there are so many lovely places to eat out and very cheaply too.

I stayed at the Fan apartments and they were fantastic!

Hi

You might want to consider Socrates II Apartments/Studios. Although actually really located just inside Malia on the Malia/Stalis border they are one a quiet side road, far enough away from the noisy nightlife of Malia not to be disturbed but near enough to walk there if you should wish to visit.
My fiancee and I (both in our forties) normally like to holiday in different places but we both like the Socrates so much we have holidayed there for the last 2 years and have again booked for 2007.
Only available through Thomson either as a package holiday or as accommodation only if you want to arrange your own flights.
Although not central, only about 20 mins from Stalis if you like walking.
By far the best accommodation we have come across.
Have wrote a Socrates review on this website if you would like to know more.
Regards

Thanks Rocky
I have seen this property in the brochure. As we like a good night out most nights would we have to fork out a fair bit on taxis or are there adequate bars and restaurants nearby. We don't mind a 15-20 minute walk as long as there are a few bars along the route. Would the Socrates fit the bill or is it 20 mins or so from the nearest bar. Thanks.

Hi

There are many restaurants and bars on the beach road between the property and the centre of Stalis. They start immediately you get to the beach road no more than about 3 mins from the apartment entrance about 200 yards in distance.

To get a better picture of where the Socrates is located if you visit the main Malia Web Site, (unfortuately this forum wont let me list the web site address - if you are willing to let me have your email address I will forward the web site address onto you) go to accommodation, then Apartments. Socrates is about 10th property down page. If you then go to view the location map you get to see a google earth map than you can pan in or out of and move.

The beach road is the road parallel with the coast about halfway between the Socrates and the sea. The large built up area to the east is Malia itself stretching from the sea to the E75 main coastal road.
Stalis does stretch out a bit along the coast but main coastal part of Stalis is near to where the E75 road turns sharply away from the coast.

Some nights we have ventured out on foot into stalis calling at various bars/ restaurants on the way and have never yet had to use a taxi.

We are both in our forties and would say we are both fairly fit so are fairly quick walkers. If you were taking an easy stroll then possibly could take 25/30 mins to reach main centre of Stalis, but along the whole way you are continually passing by restaurants and bars.

Hope this helps a little.

Regards

Hi

Just one point I did forget to mention about malia/stalis. You say you are thinking of going in August. The beach road which is the one with all the restaurants and bars between the two resorts does not have any pavement for most of its length so you are constantly walking along the edge of the road. During late July and August the road can get quite busy with british teenagers who have decended upon malia using the road as some sort of race track tearing up and down on scooters or noisy quad bikes.

The noise you get used to, but at times you need eyes in the back of your head when out walking.

Stalis is a great resort but out of preference we would probably prefer to visit upto mid July or from early Sept. for this reason.

Regards

Thanks for all the info Rocky.
We have to go in August as we work in a school. So unfortunately have to stick to peak times and top prices . Is it possible for you to pm me with the Malia web site you were talking about please. I think it's worth having a look at. Thanks