We arrived at the hotel at approx 5am, we were unsure whether we were at the right place until the reception door was unlocked and we were waved in. The owner spoke to us in German as he didn’t speak English and showed us to our room.
Unlike the Internet images, our room was in the oldest block and was v.dark and small but basically clean. The room remained dark during the day as the narrow balcony faced onto a wall – blocking the sun. The room had a small bathroom with a good shower. The room was cleaned 6 days a wk, although this was often not until the afternoon “siesta time”. The sheets and towels were changed regularly.
The hotel has 2 pleasant dining areas and the food was ok (buffet style) but the continental breakfast became v.repetitive by the 2nd wk. There is a good pool with pool bar which opened at lunchtime but was usually closed by midnight.
All holiday info and signs were in German as was the rep (we had no rep) and most of the other hotel guests were German speaking (many Austrian). The TV was on during evening meals - usually in German, sometimes Greek. We were told this was the 1st yr the hotel has been open to Brits who could occupy a max of 3/50 rooms. Along with other British guests we were at best ignored by the majority of other guests, some were rude and openly hostile.
Stalis itself is a large resort and the hotel is at 1 end across a v.busy road which does offer a good bus service, but can be v.noisy and hard to cross – so use a subway.
We found Stalis not as friendly or charming as many other places we have been in Greece. The resort centre is away from the main road but still has a v.busy beach road along it with few paths. The beach is v.crowded if not with people, with sunloungers.
By bus we visited: Hersonisoss – similar to stalis but more city like; Aghios Nickolaos – a v.pretty harbour resort worth a visit and Ierapetra (South Crete) which was quite nice with a less crowded beach.
Be aware, when you arrive they take your passport – ours were returned the next day. If you get bored of breakfast 9 muses taverna does good breakfast (and other meals) at good value. Imagine bar (opposite) was a nice place to stop off for last drinks in the evening. Maria’s taverna is v.good – best food we had, although we only ate out 3 times as were HB.

We booked our transfer through A2B transfers so they were pre-paid. Our transfer to the resort was by taxi – shared by others going to a different resort. We were left on the main road of Stalis with the hotel not in sight (at 5am).
Our return transfer was confirmed to the hotel. We were not told that on return to the airport it would be a bus. Other British guests who had booked the same company left 1hr before us and were picked up from reception by taxi. 15 minutes after ours was due we asked hotel staff to call our transfer company who was told that a bus had waited 15minutes for us and that we were not there. They then told us on the phone that the hotel staff had said we were not there, despite the fact that we had been there with the hotel staff waiting for the taxi. Eventually we were told to get a taxi ourselves which would cost 40euros, £30 and to get a receipt – we were assured we would be refunded at the airport kiosk. We arrived at the airport over an hour late. The same lady we had spoken to snapped at us to “ask for a refund in England – there is nothing I can do” When asked why she turned her back and walked away.

Needless to say we will never book this transfer company again – we will never return to Stalis or visit Crete again in a hurry.
As far as the family who run the hotel are concerned – they are nice enough and are trying to make the hotel suitable for their British guests, we think it will get better.