Hotel Bueno

The breakfast was varied and a good deal at €8 per person. Our room was a good size, and the little pool at the hotel was great for young children. There’s also access to another pool near the beach, where we could always find loungers. The service was lovely and friendly.

Bueno was a mixed stay for us. Its location was excellent, near the beach and restaurants, and only about a 10-minute drive from Rethymno. The receptionist also took our complaints seriously, although the cleaning never really got to a good standard during the week. When we arrived, there was gum on the hair dryer, marks on the balcony table, a plaster and dirt behind a bathroom stool, hairs in several places, and dirt on the living-room wall. We showed the photos to reception, and even though it was a holiday, the room got a rough clean. Later, after we raised the issue again, the receptionist said she’d be present at the next cleaning to make sure it was done properly. The place still felt dusty. The rooms need an update, too. After using the air conditioning for a few evenings and sometimes overnight, we noticed an odd feeling in our lungs, and my mum coughed a lot when it was running. I looked inside and found the filters looked as though they hadn’t been cleaned in years, with lots of black spots inside the unit. Reception took the filters, and we were told the air conditioner had been cleaned inside and out while we were out. The filters were clean when we got back, but the black spots inside were still there.

The one bright spot for us was Socrates, the barman, who kept smiling and waving during our stay. Thank you, Socrates. Our problems began on the second day, when a large amount of money vanished from the safe in our locked room. We insisted on reporting it to the police, and George seemed annoyed. He called us liars and insurance scammers, including in front of other guests at the bar when we returned from the police station in Rethymno at midnight. We were already shaken and upset about losing €1700, and the way George treated us was completely unacceptable, whatever he believed had happened. The room, 215, was shabby and poorly maintained. George said it was our fault for not messaging him two weeks before arrival to request a “good” room. I wouldn’t advise anyone to stay at Bueno. We were able to spend a few days in the south, and Tui helped us move to the excellent hotel next door, the Trefon, for our second week.

I only stopped at the outdoor bar. The beer was the cheapest we found in town, and the service and seating were great for sitting back and watching people go by.