Agia Marina is a thriving seaside resort community on the northwest coast of Crete, about five miles west of the city of Chania. The long sandy beach is dotted with quaint hotels, restaurants, bars, vendor shacks and water-sports facilities. Many of the bars and nightclubs are open all night and the party atmosphere in Agia Marina is nonstop. More peace and quiet can be found in lodgings farther into town.
Perched right on the shoreline, Galini Beach and Eden Hotel is a small, family-friendly resort with three different rate plans: bed and breakfast, half board and all-inclusive. Apartments and studios are available as well as double and triple rooms. The outdoor swimming pool and kiddie pool are both just steps from the beach and the bridge over the main pool leads to the restaurant. After downing your included breakfast (no matter which plan you choose), you can either ask the staff to prepare your lunch basket or build it yourself from the breakfast buffet. Guests are also also permitted to dine in the fancier restaurants in the neighboring upscale Galini Hotel.
The family-run Sandy Beach Hotel has 30 rooms, all with balconies overlooking the sea. Bright white with blue trim, the hotel is on a gentle slope that ends at the beach bar where you can take breakfast, sip cocktails and enjoy snacks during the day. While few services are available on the premises, the owners will make arrangements for all sorts of amenities including massages, bike rentals, boat trips, chauffeured tours, taxis or car rentals.
There are only 14 rooms in the Philoxenia Hotel, each with a balcony providing a view of either the mountains or the sea. The two studios have a balcony or a yard, a full kitchen and enough beds to accommodate a family or a group. The hotel is on a quiet street but it is only a short walk to the beach where you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of this resort town. Breakfast is included in the room rate and there is a small Greek cafe on the premises where you can order breakfast or dinner and have it served on your balcony. The lobby bar also prepares great fruit smoothies, alcoholic beverages and strong Greek coffee.
The Oasis doesn't look like much on the outside, but the view from the balconies is breathtaking. Moreover, the rates are incredibly low and the hotel is right on a public section of the beach. Below the hotel is Morfonios Taverna, operated by the Oasis owners, which serves a huge selection of seafood and Greek delicacies to eat in or take out. The Oasis is a great option for those who prefer to spend their time exploring the sights rather than hanging around the hotel.
