Megim Hotel

Megim Hotel is a simple, value hotel with little to do on-site. The grounds are limited and largely natural with grassy areas and plenty of native trees providing shade, some with pretty flowers. There is a lovely patio heavily shaded by trees and vines, furnished with some wooden tables and wicker chairs. The lobby is basic with a few mismatched, blanket-covered sofas and a front desk adorned with trinkets. The hotel lacks common spaces for guests to linger, so it tends to be quiet and attracts couples looking for an inexpensive base for traveling around the area. Guests report that the owners are friendly and helpful.

Megim Hotel sits on a long, relatively empty road on the southwest coast of Crete. Nearby, there are farms, a few other small hotels, and a rocky beach. It's a 13-minute walk to the nicer Grammeon Beach and a little taverna, though the road is narrow and unlit at night. There is no local bus stop by the hotel, but there is a hotel shuttle which brings guests into nearby Paleochoras. There is also free parking for guests with cars. It is an eight-minute drive into town, where there are restaurants, shops, supermarkets, and beautiful, sandy beaches. Gorgeous Elafonissi Beach is a 75-minute drive away, whether taking the safer route around the mountains or the more dangerous route through tight, underdeveloped mountain passes. It is a 90-minute drive to Chania, a popular tourist city with the historic Old Venetian Harbor, full of museums, restaurants, and shops. Chania International Airport is just under two hours away by road. 

Guest rooms are small and simple, with little decor to speak of. At 130 square feet (12 square meters) there’s just enough room for the double beds (or two twins), dressing tables with hairdryers, and luggage racks. The mostly bland spaces have stark-white walls with a couple of small paintings, neutral-tone curtains, and a maroon cushioned headboards that match the desk ottomans and provide a much-needed pop of color. Wall-mounted tube-style TVs hang across from the beds and the mini-fridges, which are also mounted on the walls. Wi-Fi and in-room safes are free. All rooms have furnished balconies, most with sea views. Bathrooms are tight on space, either equipped with curtained showers or tubs. Narrow shelves under the mirrors have a little space for toiletries and there are dishes with free soaps and shampoo.

A free breakfast buffet and space on the beach are the extent of this hotel’s extra features. The breakfast room feels like a kitchen in an old Greek home, expanded to fit extra tables and chairs. One corner has seating around a fireplace and TV, while another has a cabinet with books, knick-knacks, and trophies, giving it a homey vibe. Breakfast is basic international cuisine, plus a few Greek dishes. Guests find it satisfactory but nothing special. 

The beach is a minute walk from the hotel, down a dirt road. It is somewhat rocky, but quiet and secluded. Colorful, free lounge chairs with tiki umbrellas line the space in front of the hotel bar. The bar is rustic and simple with a wood-plank floor, log support posts, and a thatched roof and walls. One open wall faces the sea for a picturesque view. The free Wi-Fi can be reached on the beach.