Creta Aquamarine Hotel

We stayed here as a couple and both had a great time. It’s a smaller, family-style hotel, which made it feel more intimate, and we didn’t have long waits for food or drinks. The staff were kind and helpful whenever we needed directions or instructions. The pool was big enough for everyone, with a small area for kids, and it was cleaned daily along with the surrounding area. Our room was cleaned every day too, and the towels were changed daily. Meals are buffet style with plenty to choose from, including traditional Greek dishes each time. We never struggled to find something we liked. The beach is about a three-minute walk away, and there’s also a bus stop close by. Really nice place for a summer holiday. I’d recommend it and would happily come back.

The pool was a lovely place to relax, and the location right by the beach is fantastic. I also found the staff genuinely nice and helpful, and the price felt like good value. I enjoyed my stay, though the cleaning could be better, especially with sand so easy to track in from the beach. The bed sheets could have been cleaner too. At several meals there were very few hot vegetarian choices, so it was a bit hard to find something satisfying. I’d also have preferred drinks in glass rather than plastic cups, which would feel nicer and be more sustainable. Rooms near the patio can get quite noisy at night because of parties at the neighboring venue. A few small improvements would make the stay even better.

For my first trip to Greece, I couldn’t have picked a better place. The staff were so lovely, the food was yummy, and the pool and cozy atmosphere made it a great stay. The beach is a three-minute walk one way, and the other direction takes you to main streets lined with little shops, tavernas and car rentals. I’d really recommend it, especially for those lovely heartfelt smiles every morning 😊

The hotel has plenty going for it, but also some real drawbacks, so it depends what matters to you. We arrived before check-in after an early flight and were glad to get a room straight away, so we could sleep for a couple of hours. The design is simple and the room has its issues, but all we wanted then was a bed. The location is great for getting around on foot. There are shops, restaurants, tavernas, car rentals and pubs nearby, the beach is very close, and the bus stop is just around the corner. Buses to Rethymno old town or the central bus station come every 30 minutes. The staff were friendly, especially at reception, and did their best. The room was freshened up daily, towels were changed each day and the bed linen every three days. The air conditioning worked well and didn’t cost extra. There was also a Greek dancing night on Friday at no extra charge. Breakfast was an open buffet with enough variety for us. We skipped all-inclusive because reviews said lunch and dinner were repetitive, and that turned out to be true. We paid extra for lunch at the hotel twice, and the food was good. We enjoyed the stuffed grape leaves and meat. For 20-25 euro you can also have a meal at one of the tavernas nearby, so it comes down to what suits you. There was a vase with fruit and cake available between meals. The biggest problems were the plumbing and noise. The water pressure was low, sometimes so weak that the shower barely dripped. Washing salt and sand out of long hair like that was hard. Maybe the pressure is better on the ground floor. There was a sewage smell in the bathroom and in a few other spots around the hotel. On hot days, with the low water pressure, that’s how it is. If your room is above or beside the kitchen on the garden side, you may hear a loud outside unit running constantly from 7am to 10pm, even with the windows shut. Some people say it’s the kitchen elevator. Garden-side rooms can also hear live music and karaoke from the neighbouring hotel, though it stops by 11pm. The pool looks good in pictures, but the padding needs renovation, with loose pieces in the water. The location and friendly staff are good, but the pool needs work, and the plumbing and sewage systems need serious repairs.