In the early 1920s, grandfather Demetrius Marakakis bought this land by the sea, to build the house in which he brought up his family. That house, till this day remains intact, while in the space next to it is now our hotel. He decided to build a kiln for making handmade bricks and tiles (material used to manufacture homes at the time). Besides, this was the only source of income for the brave inhabitants of this otherwise barren area by the sea. It is highly probable that you may come across pieces of bricks made from the kiln at that time during your walks by the sea. The furnace operated until 1965 whereby it stopped its function due to the evolution of technology.

In the early 1970s, tourism makes its appearance in the area. Our parents Kosmas and Aspasia Marakas decided to build the first rooms for rent there, in the area of the grandfather’s kiln. The facilities offered to their clients then were the basic necessities; however their hospitality was boundless and authentic. Guests were mainly residents of the city of Chania and the first tourists of the time who chose to spend their summer by the sea.

Tourists at that time came to Crete as little explorers, with their small backpacks and with great enthusiasm to discover the island’s natural beauty and the rich history of this place. They left spellbound by the beauty of the place and the hospitality of the residents. Those who left usually returned and brought with them others … Tourism grew rapidly in the region during the decades of the 80s and 90s while increasing the demands. Our parents always followed the growth and developments providing the best for their customers.

Our parents business was passed on to us in 2002. Then we made the decision to rebuild, from scratch, our little hotel with the form it has today.

«Marakas» is the name we decided to give our hotel as this is the name of our family and as this hotel is a small family business in which we have offered everyone a piece of our soul. It is the result of a long journey with its difficulties and wonderful moments crucial to the lives of us all. Our proposal of hospitality at our hotel means comfortable, beautiful and functional accommodation. Our goal is to put to use our experience in tourism in the best way possible for our guests.

For a decade and by 2012 we had the opportunity to work with a large travel agency which gave us the opportunity to enrich our experience in the tourism industry making us always seek the best way possible to please and accommodate our guests. Our collaboration came to its end in 2012.

In 2013 a new cycle begins for our business but also for our family as these two seem to be interrelated. The experience our family has in tourism dates back to 40 years and the result of this experience is the restored version in our hotel today in which we hope that our guests will feel … simply… at home.

K.Maraka