I haven't travelled very much and haven't stayed in many hotels to offer comparisons.
For me though, at the time I went in 2nd half of August 2011, it was a fantastic holiday.
It was my first holiday alone and didn't want to feel like Billy-no-mates which is why I chose the Mistral specialising in single/solo travellers. I used this site to help choose the Mistral hotel. I booked the flight and 1 week in the hotel a week before I left. Donna at reception is brilliant. My flight was 2 hrs late but Vas was still there to collect us in one of the minibuses which was a relief. When we pulled up at the hotel I was very pleased with what I saw and my room overlooking the small pool was superb for me. Most guests were friendly when I made the effort to go and say Hi to them rather than sit and wait for them to come to me. There's a smaller quieter pool at the rear of the main hotel building and a larger one at the front. Very quickly I found myself loving that all I had to think about was which pool to go to and who to chat to next.
I'm vegetarian and the food for me was superb. I even had special dishes made for me! The meals are set with plenty of dishes to choose from so I quickly loved not even having to decide what to order. When I go abroad I want to sample what the local people eat so I was happy. We all ate around 2 long tables which was opportunity to get to know different people and then chat about who fancied doing what the next day. Breakfast time soon became a leisurely 2 hour affair so I could again chat with different people. There was plenty of different things to eat for breakfast all of it semed nice and fresh.
Before long I became a sun lounger slave, which I've never done before, and felt I could totally relax, chatting to whoever I wanted to whenever I wanted to.
To start with I was unsure about the value of the trips so just went on one. It was fabulous! More so because you go as a group together with someone from the hotel driving. Donna and Harvey took us in 2 minibusses and it was such fun the whole time. I loved it!
I hired a car for 2 days to explore more but, by then, I'd become so relaxed I couldn't be bothered to make full use of it prefering to relax at the hotel and chat to some of the good friends I was making there.
Near the end of my week I decided to stay another week so Donna helped me arrange everything. Yep, I was loving it that much!
It was strange when most of the guests left and a new group arrived who turned out to make my second week even better than the first.
There's complaints on here about cliques which I was a little concerned about before I went. There are some friends who meet up at the Hotel so are a "clique" I suppose. But I made a little more effort to go and talk to them and they were great rather than expecting a group of friends to move en mass to talk to me. And I didn't like everybody, I wouldn't expect to, but each week it was only a few people out of 30 or so. Most people were so lovely, friendly, interesting and fun. They made the holiday for me....thanks guys and gals.
What else: Yes the hotel is on a road! But it's not too bad and didn't spoil my stay at all. There is a fuel station next door but it's not very intrusive and we only smelt it a few times. Again, it didn't spoil my holiday. Down the lane opposite the hotel is the beach which is a little stoney but it didn't bother me for a swim in the sea for a change from the pool. And the sea was warm. A short easy bus (air conditioned coach actually) ride away are lovely sandy beaches with plenty of room that some people often went to. Sunday evening some of us went to Chania to eat and that is somewhere you should have a look around with excellent restaurants (away from the water front are cheaper too). Then it dawned on me how much I'd relaxed because I struggled to think about what to choose from the menu!!
I did another trip the 2nd week and that was fantastic aswell. I also did the watercolour course which I really enjoyed. I decided against the gorge trip because I couldn't be bothered to get up really early but the people that went said it was good.
The Greek dancing was good fun. The central bar was ok but then I don't really drink and would rather dance to the tunes we asked to have played. All good innocent fun. The bar would stay open until the last guest left which would often be quite late. My 2nd week was in a room overlooking the front and bar and it didn't bother me. No Animators thank god! There was no pressure either to feel you had to stay up if you simply wanted early nights.
Yes, the internet was slow; we were on a Greek Island so I wasn't surprised.
A special mention to all the staff who were either very good or excellent and all friendly especially if you make the effort to talk to them. Nothing was too much trouble.
I've made some great friends from this holiday and will always remember what a fantastic time I had here.

This place is a unique experience for any single traveller, I was a bit unsure when I book for the first time but never regret the choice. I have read the reviews and emailed the hotel to inquire for availability and prices. Donna has been very prompt in answering and assisted me throughout the booking process. Upon arrival in Chania I was welcome in the airport by one of the two brothers who own the hotel. I was a bit surprised that owners are personally taking care of guests for arrivals and departures, but what a nice personal touch it gives to your experience!

The Mistral is more of a boutique-hotel, with a nice and clean design, comfortable rooms and special amenities. It features two pools, outdoor jacuzzi, a very lively bar and relaxing lounge areas. Evenings are rather social events with dinners served at big tables where guests can indulge into the delicious Cretan specialties and enjoy a good conversation. The general atmosphere is very friendly while the staff would go out of their way to make sure everybody is having a good time.

If this is your first single trip, go to Mistral and you'll never regret it! Besides awesome food, great time and wonderful weather, you'll make loads of new like-minded friends.

Been in love with the Mistral for six years now. How not to be? The hotel is relaxed and intimate yet offers loads of personal space if that is what you want. I have made so many lovely friends over the years, many of whom I see beyond the summer break. And Vassilis, Adonis, their staff and lovely Donna are also now my friends, almost family. When you stay at the Mistral the feeling is one of being cosseted, nicely spoiled with good food and a lovely ambience. And the laughter - how can so much humour and fun be squeezed into one or two short weeks?

So, come next August, I will be chilling at the bar, swimming in both the pools, perhaps having a massage, catching a bus to Chania, and probably hiring an inexpensive car to explore the amazing coastline. Hope to see you there!

I’ve been a guest in the Mistral during July 2011, being there for the 5th consecutive year and certainly not the last! In fact, the high percentage of repeating customers speaks for itself, the Mistral, as a family run hotel, offers great service for the money – consider 7 nights in a 4 stars hotel, two meals per day (breakfast and dinner), airport transfers included and many many extras for less than 700 euro! Booking 2 weeks price goes even cheaper! Vassilis, Adonis, Donna, Vicky and the rest of the team do their outmost to satisfy even the pickiest customer, but certainly can't succeed over a spiteful attitude. I remember a guest as constantly complaining about everything, from the size of the sun-beds (large enough in my opinion), to the whiteness of the tablecloth or the lack of free personal masseur for hotel guests!!!

Rooms: I've stayed both in Superior and Deluxe, the Superiors are a bit more noisy but have an unbeatable view over the sea, the Deluxe rooms are located in the back but for an extra 9 euro/night it's worth the privacy. Cleaned every day and never felt any strange smell. Any problem I had was fixed within minutes after letting the reception know about it.

Food: excellent Cretan cuisine with Bio ingredients from the hotel own garden, the vegetables taste like heaven! Breakfast is more than decent with a good mix of local products (jam, milk, eggs, bread, fruits very tasty). Dinners are very well prepared by Vicky and the quantities are more than enough (of course, if you're the "all-you-can-eat" type, may feel like needing to count and coordinate with others as the food is served on big plates to be passed and shared among 4-5 guests). Wine (both red and white) is of decent quality and gets re-filled all along dinner, but if one doesn't like it why would make sure to have the glass full before desert?

Service: from the arrival at the airport (transfer is free of charge, with more-than-decent minibuses, btw - I don't expect air-co during a sun-and-sea vacation) where we were personally greeted by the owner himself and until saying good-bye-see-you-next-year, I've felt like part of a large family where every need is taken care of. Evenings around the bar can be very entertaining, I've never noticed the quality of music as I been mostly catch up in conversations with others but the cocktails are awesome and worth the 3-5 euro prices. During my stays at the Mistral I did almost all the extra-trips, good value for what you get and certainly much cheaper than going to places on my own. The fish-lunch trip in Falasarna is a 7 stars one, too bad they do it only once a week :)

Extras: the free Olive-Oil Toiletries are outstanding, internet Wi-Fi is free of charge, plain water at discretion (many 4 stars hotels charge for water!).

All in one in Mistral you can spend a Healthy, Sociable Holiday for a Honest price. Of course, attitude does matter (like everywhere!). Will I return? Definitely!