VIVIAN Art Apartments

The staff are really friendly, and the cats around the property are adorable. These are great little apartments, modern, well organized, and very clean.

The view from the apartment is lovely, and the bed was comfortable for two, spring-loaded and about queen size. But we paid $525 for four nights at $130 a night, around 15-20% above the neighborhood market rate, so we expected basic cleanliness to be taken care of. We ended up leaving after the first night because the apartment was so dirty and the owner's response felt hostile. We came away feeling this might suit someone willing to overlook cleanliness for a decent view, but we wouldn't recommend it otherwise. We arrived late after a six-hour drive, so although we noticed some dirt, we felt stuck for the night. By morning there were more problems. We had to clean the bathroom ourselves because the tub still had soap residue, and rewash all the dishes because cups had old coffee stains. The bathroom counters had permanent moldy marks, the washer had mold on the door rim, the fridge trays were stained, the sponge was old and dirty, and there were brown streaks across the bathroom walls. We also found the apartment's general cleanliness unsettling. The storm shutters wouldn't stay open long enough for us to enjoy the view, and the apartment overlooks an abandoned lot full of junk. It's in an industrial, supposedly up-and-coming part of Rethymno, beside an abandoned junkyard. The streets are dim at night and felt a bit dodgy, so we'd suggest arriving in daylight. There aren't many restaurants nearby, and having a car to get into town would help. We contacted the owner to ask about leaving early. We knew our cleanliness standards might be higher than average, so we offered to forfeit three nights and get a refund for one, which we thought was very generous. The owners got defensive, accused us of trying to trick them and screw them over, and said our plans had changed. We just wanted a clean place for my birthday. We left the morning after our first night because the owner felt so hostile, and even after I sent a sincere note explaining why we left, he stayed defensive. We drank lots of Raki to forget the nightmare. We'd expected more from a professionally managed accommodation, though we admit we may have higher cleanliness standards and did try to make the best of it. The place felt more like a lived-in Airbnb.

The sea view was lovely, and the apartment was clean and cozy. There was plenty of room for two adults and two children. The kitchen had everything we needed, including a kettle, toaster, coffee maker, and washing machine. They changed the bed linen and towels every three days.

The bathroom is tiny, though the bed wasn't very uncomfortable, and some apartments have a washing machine. There's street parking, but finding a spot can be difficult. These spacious apartments are on a hillside at the edge of Rethymno, quite close to the beach. There are several tourist apartment blocks nearby, but the area doesn't feel very pleasant at night.