The Mistral hotel is situated in the village of Maleme 15 km west of Hania
western Crete. It is run by a family of two brothers and the mother and it has the warm family atmosphere. The small number of guests (max 25) make it rather a personal holiday where every guest is a friend.

The Hotel has large swimming pool as well as sunterace with sunbeds. The hotel offers breakfast lunch and dinner and a variety of traditional Greek specialities is available from the ALA carte menu nearly all hours. The hotels pizzas are famous.


There is a TV lounge with Internet cafe and the reception is open for money exchange 18 hours a day.


The pool bar is open all day and until late at night. It has a lively bar and most of our guests together with our Greek friends stay until late at night around the bar drinking and chatting. Therefore the hotel is recommended to people who are looking for rather a lively place.

On most nights there is evening entertainment including Greek night with Greek dancing and music, a tequila night and a quiz night that all run on a weekly
basis.

We take people once a week to the town to see the old venecial harbor and the shops. All of the above are free of charge for the Mistral guests.

There is a full range of excursions and activities program offered at the Mistral (ie. Horse ridding, Samaria gorge, Knosos, photo safari, Elafinisi island, 3 boat trips, bicycle ride, scuba diving).

We run the hotel on a Half Board basis for all the guests. Breakfast is a rich cold continental buffet and the evening meal is Greek cuisine 3 course meal inclusive of wine and coffee.

Hotel Facilities:
• Outdoor Freshwater pool
• Sun terrace with sunbeds and umbrellas
• Bar
• Restaurant
• Lounge with TV
• UK resident femail host

Hotel Information:
• Distance from the beach: 250 m.
• Transfer from the airport:aprox 30 min by taxi.
• Transfers included.
• The Hotel is on the coast road to the west.
• It has 20 rooms all with en suite WC air conditioning, balcony, tel, safetybox. 18 rooms have sea view and 2 garden view.

Points of interest: The palace of Knossos - Heraklion's Archaeological Museum is the ultimate shrine to the Minoans.

Eating out: Abundant fresh fruits and salads with olives and feta cheese Grilled Fish. Traditional metsina and ouzo.

The Inland
Explore the hills of northwest Crete in the spring with the magnificent colours of the flowers. Stop first at the rotunda church at Episcopi village, then on to Topolia to walk up to the cave of Agia Sofia & have lunch in candle light at the restored village of Milia. The menu is restricted to only what the area produces & you are most likely to have to survive on bread, olives and cheese. There you can buy locally produced organic olive oil, cheese & honey.

Therissos Gorge
A half hour afternoon drive through the 10 mile long gorge & a short stroll to the square of the historic Therisso. A quick visit to the local small museum & the statue of "Eleftherios Venizelos", who is granted as the greatest politician of last century. Then to the local taverna of "Adartis" nibbling on local specialities like "staka", "sfakiano yiahni", "ssinglina" & sipping the local strong "marouvas" wine.

Archaeology
Very little of Crete has changed & much of its turbulent history is still very evident from the Saracen Arabs, Venetians, Turks & Germans.

Monasteries
A visit to the monasteries of Gouverneto & Agia Triada, both built in the 13th century, to attend the unique service of that evening & capture the spirit of the Greek Orthodox Easter. Most likely, dinner at "Kalinteris" taverna, trying the delicacies of the Sfakia area this time.

Flights
Flights from either Gatwick or Manchester are available at cost which is typically between £180 and £250 per person and can be arranged directly through us at Club Individual.

Transfer from Heraklion airport is not included but we can arrange for a taxi transfer which is around 60 UKP each way & can be shared between four people.