A basic, family-run apartment hotel built around a pool, the simple Kastro Beach Apartments is located an easy walk from Malia's main strip, close to the area's sandy beaches. Central location and affordable prices make the Kastro Beach Apartments a popular option with young couples looking for a relaxing, budget-friendly base close to Malia's bustling nightlife scene. Later in the season, the apartments are popular with older couples and families with older children who especially appreciate the kitchenettes in all rooms, and proximity to the beach and area sightseeing.

This budget hotel offers travelers easy access to Malia’s nightlife and a fun vibe that attracts primarily groups of friends. The property consists of four buildings in different locations, but all are a short walk to the main area with the outdoor pool, snack bar, and raved-about owners. The 45 simple rooms are a bit dated and there are extra fees for air-conditioning, safes, and Wi-Fi, but all come with kitchenettes, outdoor spaces, and flat-screen TVs. Many guests praise the hotel's Greek Night with dancing, drinking, and food, while others warn of the owners' hard sell to attend. Overall, it's a good pick for party-minded adults who don't mind being a 20-minute walk from the beach. Those looking for more amenities should check out Danelis Apartments, which has a well-reviewed restaurant, free air-conditioning and Wi-Fi, and hospitable owners. 

The 314-room Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa lives up to its motto of “modern and fresh,” with sleek white designs, international dining options in elegant settings, and luxurious indoor and outdoor pools. Families and couples have lots of activities to choose from including private beach access and water sport rentals, tennis and volleyball courts, and a beautiful spa with beauty and body treatments. There's a chic conference room and several PCs available for guest use. Rooms and suites have posh white furnishings, mini-fridges, and balconies; bungalows offer sea views and private pools. Travelers might also want to consider the Rodos Palladium.

The lower-middle-range Primavera Beach Studios & Apartments offers good value for money, a stone's throw from Malia's main drag and a sandy beach. Nearby bars and clubs draw a largely British crowd, and features here include a sports bar serving meals and a small outdoor pool that plays host to parties. The 27 studios and apartments are designed for guests traveling in groups, with mostly twin beds, kitchenettes, and outdoor spaces. They're basic though, and some amenities incur fees. While the young-adult presence finds the property ticks a lot of boxes, it's not suitable for families or older couples. Budget-conscious families should check out the Notos Hotel, which is quieter, albeit more remote.

The 290-room Pegasos Beach Hotel -- with Pegasus designs interspersed throughout -- is an upper-middle-range Greek oasis for families and couples with a private Faliraki beach in short walking distance, three pools, and casual dining and cocktails at three bars. Rooms are large, with contemporary decor in chic neutrals with bright touches, and sea views from some balconies. Grounds are laced with landscaped lawns and palm trees, and stylish outdoor patios enable al fresco dining while overlooking the sea. Activities are readily available, from tennis to ping-pong. However, there is a fee for in-room Wi-Fi. For a hotel that offers free Wi-Fi in select rooms, try the Hotel Rodos Palladium Rhodes.

The upscale Mitsis Blue Domes Resort & Spa has a stunning hillside location overlooking the Aegean Sea. While there's not much besides other hotels in the immediate vicinity, the all-inclusive features ensure guests are kept busy and fed on-site. Features include daily entertainment programs, beach access, sports activities, water sports, spa, and fitness center; plus a total of 14 swimming pools. There are also 10 restaurants and six bars (all included in the all-inclusive rates). The 449 modern guest rooms come with minibars and private balconies; some have sea views and/or private plunge pools. There are ample kid-friendly amenities, including playgrounds, shallow pools, and a Junior Club. As an alternative, travelers can also consider Mitsis Norida Beach Hotel which includes a similar list of features with lower rates, though it's not as nicely presented.

The Matina Aparthotel is a family- and budget-friendly beach hotel, with 143 separate apartments that have full kitchens, traditional -- albeit somewhat worn -- furnishings and facilities, a beach within walking distance, three pools, a lively late-night pool-bar scene, casual dining, and a mini market. Apartments are large, and some have balconies with partial sea and pool views. But there's a fee for air-conditioning (air-conditioning is a must in the summer months). Travelers might want to consider the nearby Maria Apartments Pefkos, where air-conditioning is free.

Kavos Plaza is a favorite hotel among British youths who frequent the seaside town of Kavos to party. This budget pick is less than a five-minute walk from the restaurants and bars in Kavos. There’s a restaurant on-site and an outdoor pool area with a nearby snack bar serving food until late and drinks 24 hours a day. Rooms are cheery and clean with kitchenettes stocked with cooking utensils and dinnerware but the hotel tacks on a fee for air-conditioning and the safe in the room. There’s no private beach, but the ocean is a short walk away. For a bed and breakfast pick in the area, Oasis Beach Club is a popular choice for its charming staff.

The 356-room Rodos Princess Beach Hotel is a budget pick offering a lively vacation near the beach. The animation team is praised here, along with the several pools, which include a pool with slides for kids. There are a kids' club with playground, water sports rentals at the nearby beach, and many dining options on-site. The rooms are plain, lacking decor, and a touch institutional, though they do have balconies with pretty sea views (and Superior Rooms are available with more modern decor). Guests with limited mobility should be aware that the beach is only reachable via steep steps. As an alternative, the Boutique 5 Hotel has closer beach access.

The 44-room Hotel Axos is a budget hotel with a fun and welcoming atmosphere. It's a good value, and not exactly the kind of place to get away from it all -- there are theme nights, a lively bar, and a location on a busy street. The beach is a five-minute walk away; there is a large pool and a children's pool. Expect many families, as the hotel offers larger Family Rooms and provides baby essentials, like cribs and high chairs. Rooms are spacious, with fun wall art (like Marilyn Monroe prints) and private balconies.

The SENDITO Apollo Blue is a large four-pearl, beachfront resort in a somewhat gritty spot in Faliraki, the northeastern coast of Rhodes, close to the airport. Its 154 rooms range from Singles to Junior Suites and have views of the grounds, pool, or sea. A free breakfast with a vast assortment is included in room rates and there are several restaurants and bars, including one at the main pool. Other features include a tennis court, a spa, and a fitness center, as well as a children's pool, a playground, and a kids' club. Note that the resort can get crowded in high season and there have been complaints of noise in rooms. Those looking for something a bit quieter may want to compare rates at the Lindos Sun Hotel. 

The 584-room Lindos Princess Beach Hotel is a family-friendly, mid-range all-inclusive resort that offers a nearby private shingle beach, stylish indoor and outdoor pools, retail shops, international dining options, laundry services, and coffee and tea in the lobby. Rooms have terraces or balconies but somewhat outdated decor, and amenities, including tube TVs and a fee for Wi-Fi. Travelers might want to consider the Lindian Village, where the Wi-Fi is free and the rooms more stylish.

The 89-room, upper-middle-range Hotel Lindos View is intimate and small. It offers panoramic views of the sea and the Acropolis of Lindos, a stylish restaurant, a futuristic-looking lobby bar, a bamboo-trimmed massage room, 24-hour front desk service, and two outdoor swimming pools, including one for kids. The apartment-style rooms are spacious and decorated with industrial-chic accents. Be aware that in-room Wi-Fi and air-conditioning come with fees; travelers might want to consider the Lindian Jewel Hotel and Villas, where these amenities are included in the room rate.

Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa is a full-service luxury resort located on a bluff overlooking the water, not too far (about two miles) from the town of Mykonos and the airport. The atmosphere is airy and relaxing, with a private beach and stylish indoor and outdoor pools. The hotel caters mostly to couples and families with children, offering pools for adults and kids, but has business and conference rooms for business travelers and events. All the pools have nice design elements or features -- one has a step bridge. Rooms are outfitted in white decor and are spacious with breathtaking views. It's an ideal scenic island retreat, though somewhat isolated. At the same time, it feels as if everything has been taken care of to the point that guests don't really need to leave the property unless they want to explore other parts of the island. As the surrounding area is hilly, the hotel provides a minivan to shuttle guests around.

A  35-room designer hotel in the middle of the historic center, A for Athens, located across from the Acropolis and next to the Monastiraki metro station, is a value choice for travelers who want to be in the midst of everything -- it's a five-minute walk to the nightlife of Psirri, Monastiraki, and Plaka. But the convenience comes with a great deal of noise from the busy street outside, and the roadside musicians in Monastiraki Square below. While the hotel's spectacular rooftop bar is a popular nightlife spot for non-hotel guests, it also also adds noise.