Scala de Faro

Breakfast was just okay, though the freshly squeezed orange juice was delicious. Get there early if you want a bread roll. The receptionist was happy to bring clean towels when we needed them, which helped with the bathroom problem: there’s a bath with a shower above it and no screen, so the whole room gets soaked. The first person to shower had to use the bathmat and a towel to dry the floor before the other could go in. We stayed four nights in the Junior Suite with bath. The website promised views of the Old Town, but what we saw from the windows was a derelict building with discarded timber and pipework, air conditioning units and an extractor fan. I’ve attached photos. There was nowhere to put clothes in drawers, so we lived out of our suitcases. The third bed held our cases; otherwise, our things would have been all over the floor. There was a hanging rail with about six or seven hangers. The safe was in a low cupboard and meant getting down on hands and knees to use it. At night we had to move the roller bed to reach one window and close its shutter. There were shutters outside both windows and net curtains inside. The room had a fridge with complimentary water each day and a coffee machine with free tea and coffee. Other drinks were available, but there was no price list. Scala de Faro is in the beautiful old Venetian Port of Chania, right on the waterfront, and the location is perfect. The building itself is lovely too. Reception is on the ground floor, but bedrooms are on the first, second and third floors. The elevator starts on the first floor, so you have to carry bags up a flight of stairs first. There are no porters. Since the port is pedestrianized, luggage also has to be carried from the drop-off point or car park, roughly 300m along cobbled streets, as far as we could tell. We weren’t aware of any buggy service. The hotel describes itself as having nine unique rooms and suites on three floors, facing north or south, with views either of the sea or the Old Town’s scenic back alleys and mountains. The Junior Suite description mentioned a comfortable bedroom, a luxury bathroom with vanity mirror, special tile work, hydromassage and ample room to relax. Our experience fell a long way short of the five-star luxury the website led us to expect. Maybe we’d have left with a better impression if we hadn’t felt so misled. We complained through our travel consultant, but the hotel didn’t respond.

From our room, the harbor and lighthouse views felt almost otherworldly. The staff were genuinely friendly and made everything easy, and breakfast was good, although the choices were fairly limited. Scala de Faro costs a bit more than other places around the port, but for that setting and service, it may be worth it.

Anita and everyone else on staff were so kind and ready to help. The location, rooms, service and breakfast were all 12/10. This was the best hotel of our trip to Greece, and I’d definitely recommend it.

The premium sea-view room was worth it for the view. The bed was amazing, and the toiletries had the classy feel you’d expect from a 5* residence. The staff were beautiful and so helpful. Thanks for making our stay memorable.