Rethymno Village

For exploring the island, the location worked well, with reasonable distances to Kissamos and its lagoon ferries and boats, as well as Heraklion and the mountains, including the observatory at 1,700 m above sea level. The beach is across the street, about a four-minute walk away. In high season, parking right in front may be difficult, and it probably can’t be reserved. Free parking would be a useful option to reserve. There’s no exercise room either, though a small gym with 2-3 multifunction machines and a treadmill would be enough. We found the hotel excellent value. All-inclusive breakfasts, lunches and dinners were enjoyable, even if the menu repeated somewhat. The buffet still had enough variety for different tastes, including children, with pizza and fries usually available daily. Drinks are self-served from taps. Local beer and white and rosé wine are included, while stronger spirits cost extra. Reception and restaurant staff were very friendly. The rooms are quite spacious, with a small fridge and regular cleaning. The fairly large TV is easy to watch from the bed, though the Polish channels are currently just music channels. Pools were clean, and in October it was easy to find a spot, with sunbeds and umbrellas included. Beach and pool towels can be rented for a non-refundable fee, presumably to cover laundry.

The hotel was nice, clean, and had good food. Staff were polite and friendly. The one downside was the smoking area: people smoked everywhere, including beside the pool and dining room.

The staff, rooms, food and location were all amazing. Local bars and taverns are lovely, and you can easily take the number 20 bus from near the supermarket into old town. Just remember to buy your tickets at the supermarket. Absolutely stunning, I’d go again.

A good, family-friendly choice. The staff were polite and always smiling. The pool area is laid out really well. Buffet choices and quality are basic, but there’s plenty of food.