SOLIMAR Emerald Hotel

The location made it easy to enjoy a quiet stay while still having the beach, shops and bus stop close by. Rethymnon is about 15-20 minutes away by bus, and the city centre is roughly 6 kilometres from the hotel. On our last day, we could use the pool and all-inclusive offers until our pickup at 4pm, even though checkout was at noon. We spent a week at Solimar Emerald in August 2024 and were thrilled with the stay. It’s a small hotel where it’s easy to feel like part of one big family. Rodoula greeted us warmly and showed us to a very spacious, clean room. The hotel isn’t brand new, and the wardrobe had some wear, but that didn’t bother us. The staff were friendly and spoke English as well as Greek. Zara, who organised the entertainment, was enthusiastic without being pushy. There was perhaps a bit too much French for our taste, but around 80% of guests were French, so we understood. We enjoyed the varied evening programme, especially cocktail night and karaoke. The food was varied and good. Twice a week, guests could make their own gyros pita and tzatziki. Soli and Gino, the two very friendly cats who often came around, were another highlight for us. It was a really successful holiday, and we’d recommend the hotel.

The reception team were very warm and friendly, and seemed to have kept their spirits despite everything else. But the rest of the stay was a nightmare, and we felt people should choose somewhere else if they expect dignity and respect. Our room overheated, the air conditioning couldn’t keep up, the window was broken and there was no running water in the kitchenette. We reported a wasp infestation, especially concerning because my partner has an allergy, but nothing was done. We only saw the entertainer once during our five nights. We also saw no evidence that the pool was being cleaned. Staff responded aggressively when we complained, in front of several other holidaymakers. The food was repeated, sometimes left out in the sun, and served as reheated mush in what didn’t seem like a hygienic setting. It gave us stomach aches and sudden changes in bowel movements. The pictures below show grime and filth in the kitchen. We had to eat out to avoid malnutrition. Despite the all-inclusive offer saying alcohol and soft drinks were covered, they charged for water. A four-star hotel? It felt like a one-star nightmare.

The pool looked green and murky, so although we did swim, we didn’t use it as often as we’d have liked. It could have been cleaner. Our room was basic but clean, and the showers were quite cold. In the hot weather, that wasn’t much of a problem. We stayed five days and found the staff so welcoming and keen to help that we felt right at home. There’s a lovely beach just across the road, and the location is handy for visiting different towns around Crete. We were very impressed with our stay.

The location and staff were the good parts. The rooms need renovating, the food quality was poor, and the all-inclusive drinks were undrinkable apart from the beer. For what we paid for all-inclusive, I’m totally disappointed. It doesn’t deserve four stars, two at most, and I wouldn’t want to come back.