Maravel Star Art Hotel

A traditional Cretan-style room, a nearby beach and a hotel with enough going on to keep a non-diving day from turning into a furniture inspection. Maravel Star Art Hotel suits divers who want the practical comforts of a proper base, with a restaurant, bar, outdoor pool and air conditioning waiting when the salt and sun have done their work.

The hotel team speaks English, German and French, so you can deal with the useful things without resorting to semaphore. The hotel website is also available in those three languages. Rooms come with sea or pool views, and the property includes a garden, terraces and a shared lounge and TV area for the hours when your legs have voted against further activity.

You are in Adelianos Kampos, on Crete's north coast, about 7 km east of Rethymno. The nearest beach is 70 m away, close enough for a quick look at the water before breakfast or a slow shuffle back after swimming. The beach is sandy, with sun loungers and parasols available.

Rethymno brings the town element to the stay. The Fortezza Castle is about 5 miles away, while the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno, the Centre of Byzantine Art and the Venetian-era old town sights are around 4 to 5 miles away. A public bus runs to and from Rethymno every 30 minutes, which is considerably less faff than finding somewhere to leave a hire car in the old town.

A few nearby addresses cover the basics beyond the hotel: Finikas Taverna is about 1 mile away, while Eyes Live Lounge and Siesta Beach Bar are each roughly 1 mile away. Platanes Beach is about 1 mile away, and Rethymno Beach around 2 miles.

The room choice matters here because the layouts are not all aimed at the same sort of stay. A couple who wants the sea in view should look towards a sea-view room, while the Sea Front VIP option gives you more room to spread out and includes a king-size bed alongside a single bed. For three guests, the garden-view double room has two single beds and a sofa bed; the larger economy garden-view room works for up to four and uses a king-size bed with two sofa beds.

Every traditional Cretan-style room has a separate living room, which gives you somewhere to sit rather than treating the bed as dining room, office and decompression chamber. Air conditioning deals with hot Cretan nights, while the refrigerator is useful for keeping water cold when you return from the beach or a day out. You also have a private bathroom, towels, toiletries, hairdryer, wardrobe and clothes rack.

Views are either towards the sea or the pool, with a flat-screen TV and satellite channels for the evening. Daily housekeeping keeps the routine simple, and free Wi-Fi runs throughout the hotel. The hotel was renovated in 2023 and has 78 rooms.

Breakfast is a buffet with a continental style, served in the restaurant. The same restaurant covers lunch and dinner, with Mediterranean cooking in an air-conditioned indoor setting. That gives you a straightforward option on the days when the sensible plan is food, shower, chair, repeat.

There is one lobby bar, with cocktails, plus a snack bar and an on-site coffee house. Fruit and special-diet menus are available on request. Wine and champagne are also available, with drinks charged separately when you choose half board.

The standard package includes breakfast, rather than locking you into every meal. Half board is an option, while packed lunches can be arranged for days built around excursions or an early departure.

The outdoor swimming pool gives you a second place to cool off, with sun loungers and pool or beach towels available. The garden, sun terrace and outdoor furniture are more useful than another promise of adventure: they give you somewhere to sit with a book, a drink or the expression of someone who has spent too long looking at a dive computer.

Massage is available, and the hotel also has live music, themed dinner nights, karaoke and a nightclub with DJ. You can choose the level of evening commitment accordingly. A shared lounge and TV area covers the quieter option.

For a day away from the water, the hotel can arrange cultural excursions including Samaria Gorge and Arkadi Monastery. Walking tours, bike tours and water-sports facilities are also available, while car hire makes longer days around Crete easier to organise. The nearby beach is sandy and has loungers and parasols, so doing very little remains a perfectly workable itinerary.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 23:30 and check-out from 07:00 to 11:00. You need photo identification and a payment card at arrival, and the hotel needs to know your expected arrival time. The minimum check-in age is 18; children over 12 are welcome, while cots and extra beds are not available.

Heraklion International Airport is about 45 miles away by road, and Chania International Airport is also about 45 miles away by road. An airport shuttle can be arranged with the hotel, and car hire is available. Free public parking is available nearby rather than as a parking area within the property.

Free Wi-Fi covers the whole hotel. You also have a 24-hour front desk, express and private check-in and check-out, concierge service, luggage storage, daily housekeeping, laundry, dry cleaning and a reception safe. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.