Svea Hotel

The restaurant was a real highlight, with delicious dishes made from fresh local ingredients and served with care. I also stayed at the hotel, where the rooms were spotless, comfortable, and thoughtfully laid out. The whole place had a warm, welcoming atmosphere that brought Cretan hospitality to mind. Staff were polite, professional, and always ready to help with a smile. I had a great stay and meal, and both went beyond what I expected. I'd gladly return.

The staff were okay, and the hotel is near the Old city. That's about all I liked. Hygiene was very poor: the furniture was dirty and worn, and the towels, sheets, and curtains had stains, including the ones described as new. The bathroom sink was tiny, and there were ants and bugs in the room. The restaurant operates almost all night, and the noise made it feel like sleeping on the street. Air conditioning costs 8 euros a day. At breakfast, bread was left uncovered and often had lots of flies on it. The breakfast itself was very poor too.

The location was perfect, close to both the beach and the old town, and the room and balcony were fine. The bathroom, though, was awful: so cramped that one person could barely fit. There was no hair dryer, despite the listing saying there should be one. We paid for the air conditioning, but it didn't work at all. Breakfast was included, but what they served was shameful. A few of the staff were really nice and positive, but that's all.

The staff made this a joy, from the bar and restaurant team to the cleaners and hotel staff. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and always had a smile. I had breakfast included, and the morning meal changed a little each day. It came with small toasts, butter and jelly, juice, fresh fruit sometimes with yoghurt, and tea or coffee, plus a changing extra plate. The ground-floor restaurant, Gorillas Place, is open 24/7, so food or a snack is always close if you wake up hungry. My room had enough space for two, with a fairly firm bed that I slept well in. Although the balcony faced a street of restaurants, bars, and little shops, the noise never became disturbing. There were plenty of outlets beside the bed, plus air conditioning, a small fridge, and a wardrobe. The AC starts when you put the room key in an activation plate, which I didn't understand at first. The bathroom was small and basic, but worked fine. They cleaned daily and changed towels every other day. I would have liked a makeup light near one of the three mirrors. I recommend it if you're after a comfortable place with a great vibe, don't need luxury, and prefer swimming in the sea to using a pool. I'd love to return to Svea Hotel. Thanks to everyone there!