Menelaos Apartments

Menelaos and his parents treated us like part of their family and were such warm, friendly people. We spent 20 wonderful days with them. The apartment was bright, spacious, clean, and had everything to feel at home. I highly recommend staying here.

The apartment feels homely and is both lovely and practical. Menelaos is a great host, happy to answer questions and share local tips. The beach is about a 5-8 minute walk, and Rethimno is around 15-20 minutes by bus. I really recommend seeing the town. I’d gladly stay at another of his places if I visit Crete again.

Menelaos was a wonderful help throughout my stay, especially when I was out walking alone in the mountains. He acted as a remote trekking buddy, answered the phone promptly whenever something came up, and helped me feel supported. After my walks, his parents would greet me with tea and cake. They spoke little English and I spoke no Greek, but we still built a warm connection. The beach was a ten-minute walk away, which worked well for my rest days. The apartment matched its description: spacious and well equipped, with a particularly useful kitchen looking over the family vegetable garden. Fly screens on every window let me keep them open for fresh air, so I didn’t need the air conditioning, which I prefer to avoid. The place is in a great family setting, with relatives living in nearby buildings. I first booked in October 2019, cancelled twice because of the pandemic, and finally made it to Crete for the first time in Aug 2022. I’d spent a lot of time choosing based on location, facilities, a family friendly environment, and price, and sticking with that choice turned out well. After a long travel day, I arrived at 9pm to a warm welcome from Menelaos. He helped me settle in by ordering a takeaway salad and bringing me a big plate of fresh fruit. The stay made for a wonderful trip, well worth the wait. Many thanks to Menelaos and his extended family.

We stayed five great nights in the three-bedroom apartment. It was fresh, clean, quiet, and well equipped, with friendly faces around us. The veranda was lovely and private, and there was plenty of parking. It’s close enough to the tourist road and Rethymnon. We appreciated the welcome treats and the other thoughtful touches of Greek filoxenia, along with the tips for food, beaches, and places to see. We’d come back for sure.