Iolida Beach Hotel

Spanning 9,000 acres, there's a lot of space at this hotel for the guests to move about, and rooms are spread between two buildings. A 24-hour circular, wooden reception desk first greets hotel patrons, along with striking graffiti art and cushioned ottomans in various prints and colors pushed together for seating. The funky design is also evident in the hotel's exterior and interior, which carries a geometric theme -- from its zigzag bookshelves to the shape-riddled facade.

There are two large pools, one by each complex; couples tend to stick to the southern pool, which offers a more relaxed, quiet setting and families dominate the northern pool that has the beach and a playground adjacent. The hotel is equally popular among families and couples.

Along the scenic and sandy Agia Marina Beach, the Iolida Beach Hotel is split into two buildings; guests have to use a walkway over a busy, main road to go to different parts of the property. The hotel is nicely situated next to the beach and in an area with ample dining and shopping options nearby. There's also a supermarket right by the hotel for guests who want to cook themselves.

Guests can easily use public transportation or a car to get to the town of Chania, which is a short 15-minute drive away. There are several popular beaches in the surrounding towns; Rethymno is an hour drive away. The Chania airport is a 30-minute drive from the hotel.

There are three options at Iolida Beach Hotel: 49 one-room apartments; 88 two-room apartments; and one three-room apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a private whirlpool. The one-room apartments are 366 square feet and the two-room are 420 square feet. All rooms are clean and spacious, and come with fully-equipped kitchenettes that have mini-fridges and hot plates.

The rooms aren't decorated as brightly as the public spaces, but instead feature earth and sky tones; geometric prints are carried from the exterior, as seen in the striped headboards and the patterned bedding. Decor is basic and all beds are singles pushed together. The small but adequate balconies come with tables and chairs, but the quality of your view depends on which building your room is in.

The bathrooms are clean and have small walk-in glass showers. Expect to find towels arranged in animal shapes, like kissing swans or elephants.

The sandy beach area has multiple umbrella shades and sun loungers, but it does get crowded. Guests can make use of either of the two pool areas; both have a children's pool and a bar. The northern complex by the beach has a playground area --containing slides and swings for children -- and an adjacent sun lounging section.

The southern complex is typically quieter and popular among couples; it has a swim-up bar and is next to the Stone Grill Restaurant which has colorful plastic pod chairs scattered throughout. The Marina Restaurant, housed in a large complex with vaulted wooden ceilings and eclectic blue cutouts of seals lining the walls, is buffet style with both local and international cuisine.

A small underground gym that has cardio and strength-training machines is available. A conference hall, currency exchange, underground parking, and game room are also at the hotel.