Hotel Vecchio

We felt welcome straight away, thanks to such a warm, friendly host. Even in the extreme heat, we enjoyed having a properly cold shower. Our previous place only had hot water twice. The hotel is right in the old town, yet it's quiet, and we could arrange to collect our luggage later.

The pool was a real plus, cool and lovely after sunbathing, and the hotel was mostly peaceful. It's also close to restaurants in every direction. The room service was disappointing: unless sheets or towels looked dirty, the maid just folded them again, and she kept moving our things even though I left them out of the way. The bed was stiff and creaked whenever we moved. Breakfast was fine but nothing special, and the AC cost €7 a day, which felt necessary in the heat. It's cheap, and some corners have clearly been cut. Still, it's an okay place and I'd recommend it with those drawbacks in mind.

A lovely building on a quiet street right in the city center, with big rooms and a courtyard pool. You can relax in the courtyard chairs and listen to the water trickling if you're not swimming. Breakfast was good, and the staff made us feel welcome. Being able to check out at noon was a nice bonus.

The old town of rethymno is lovely, and once you wander into the lanes off the main streets, places feel close together. There are loads of tavernas to choose from. We walked around the fort, then headed to the light house and stopped for a drink on the way. I'd come back. The hotel is a must for me: nice breakfast, clean rooms that were cleaned daily, a fridge in the room, and a pool for an early swim or one last dip before bed.