Livikon by the Sea

Very nice hotel with a good restaurant in the heart of Sfakia. The stuff is friendly and some of them are active and willing to say a few words, which is nice. Hotel is recently renovated and it was pretty and quiet. There is a restaurant downstairs, but if you close the balcony door it is quiet. There is a daily room cleaning and it is really clean and fresh. Balcony has got a nice view to the ocean and you can hear the waves. I also ate at the hotel restaurant and the food, service was great.

We spent two weeks here in July 2024, wanting somewhere not too touristy to relax, forget about real life, and do some low key exploring from. This hotel suited us perfectly. The room was average sized, clean and had a small balcony overlooking the harbour. Storage space was a bit limited, but there was a lobby area which we used for bags and clothes. There was also a small fridge and kettle. There are a couple of local supermarkets nearby for basics. And there are also several cash machines within a couple of minutes walk. It's well positioned right on the front where there are a dozen or so different eateries (including at this hotel) to try out, so there is plenty of choice. We had room only and tended to have breakfast at a cafe slightly further along the water front. Despite being on the front we found the room to be quiet, most places on the front closing by 10pm, and first sounds in the morning week around 8am as ferries begun to get going. Just the sounds of a very small port coming to life. We had a hire car and managed to get a parking space every day (except one) at the public car park on the right as you drive into Hora Sfakion - the hotel will give you a permit to display. A car gives flexibility to explore the beaches to the east and get up to Aredena. Sfakia is a bit of a hub for ferries serving south west Crete, and so exploring the various beaches westwards is very easy (though they can get crowded on weekends and at the height of the season). There is also a small beach about 5 minutes walk to the west. Perhaps not the prettiest beach in southern Crete, but a good swimming beach and, as it isn't a destination beach, it was rarely busy. We came away with very fond memories of Sfakia, south west Crete and the people. It's somewhere we will come back to.

We stayed here overnight last year before we caught the boat to Loutro and had thoroughly enjoyed it - so we made a beeline to return this year for 1 night on 3rd September. On arrival my husband literally abandoned the hire car with me inside behind the bakery whilst he set off to ask the hotel where we could park. There were signs threatening to tow your vehicle away and signs for parking for guests of another establishment. The guy at the Livikon kitchen stories - who also allocates your room key advised we could not park there and told us to put a Livikon business card on the dash board which he had signed, stated it was prepaid and to park anywhere just not behind the bakery. There literally is no where to park- seriously. Not a space to be had - there was a space by a tour company hut near the restaurant and my husband parked there, leaving me in the vehicle whilst he returned to the same chap at the Livikon to check if this would be ok - he said not. So we followed other vehicles that were parked along the roadside towards the port and found a space there. Put the card as instructed in the window and set off for the hotel. My husband advised the guy where we were parked and he said it would be ok. Only it wasn’t - after check out the following day the port Police had put a ticket of 40 euros on the car, no one knew where we could pay this and proceeded to waste more valuable time if our trip being sent to the police station up the hill, the police tossed the Livikon business card across their desk and said it was “worthless” then we were sent to the post office - all didn’t know so my husband abandoned the car with me in it very close the the hotel and returned to speak to the hotel. The same guy then advised we shouldn’t have parked there. Sort this out Livikon - be courteous to your guests by offering some parking somewhere in the vacinity- this is ridiculous and spoilt our stay. We were then sent to the Port police in Rethmyno who also wouldn’t accept payment resulting in us liaising with the car hire company who happily took it off us. Unnecessary expense enforced on us all because the Livikon cannot provide some spaces for their guests or even direct them properly to where they can park. The room itself wasn’t as nice as our stay last year albeit the neighbouring room but it was tired. Small balcony overlooking the bay and you could just catch a glimpse of the sea from the bed unlike last year. There is a kettle in the room with milk cartons and sugar - where is the coffee and tea?? Complimentary water? Had to purchase our own from the shop. Wouldn’t stay the night again from this experience, it will be for lunch on any future visits only.

Great people,service,clean and great position in the centre of the town. The people were very accommodating and friendly. The position was centre of the town with great views.highly recommended to visit an unspoiled part of Crete. Nearby beaches by ferry also a must do

Excellent hotel with fabulous customer service. Ferry was late, very few taxis on Easter, driving an hour and a half in the dark on winding roads on a very long day by myself. I was due to arrive late and I called to tell them that. They did not have my reservation. They worked with me to get a room after hours. Rooms are renovated, cute balcony, ocean side, very peaceful in this cute town. Would absolutely stay again.

Easily the most wonderful place to stay in Chora Sfakion. We spent the 4 weeks of April in this charming, unpretentious and beautiful hotel, run by the most hospitable owners, who were constantly helpful and generous with their attention to our every need and expert advice on the whole area. We felt part of their family within a short time. The hotel rooms are spotless and kept that way, and every room opens to a balcony looking over the sea. Each night one is lulled to sleep with the sound of the waves on the shore and by day, there are endless places of historical interest and extreme beauty to enjoy. We swam every day in the pristine sea, either at the beach right there or one nearby. The hotel also has a taverna which serves delicious food from breakfast to dinner. We cannot recommend this place highly enough and were very sad to leave.