Harmony Rethymno Beach Hotel

The hotel is right by the beach, and with all inclusive there was always food and drink when I wanted it. The food and drinks were lovely. It was my first holiday abroad, and I absolutely loved my stay. The rooms had air conditioning and the staff always kept them clean and tidy. Everyone was lovely, working what must be insane hours without stopping. Any problems were sorted quickly. I’m so grateful for the chance to stay here. Be proud of your beautiful hotel and excellent staff.

The beach and the way into the sea are pebbly, so bring water shoes. The food was varied and exceptionally tasty, and the rooms were clean, tidy, and well cared for. The property is large and well maintained, and the staff were extremely friendly and ready to help with anything. We stayed at the beginning of June and had a really pleasant time. Free internet worked very well across the grounds and on the beach. There’s a game room for evenings; billiards and other games, apart from board games, cost extra, from 1 to 3 euros. For a trip into Rethymno, you can buy one way bus tickets for 1 euro at the hotel shop, and the nearest stop is within a five minute walk. We had a wonderful holiday and highly recommend the hotel for a relaxing, comfortable stay.

I was part of the trip, so after reading the reviews and the hotel’s latest reply, I want to respond to some of its points. A hotel can defend its reputation while still replying to feedback professionally and constructively. Guest impressions are subjective, and not every stay will suit every traveler. That doesn’t make a review unfair. It can show where things need to improve. The room upgrade mentioned in the reply was paid for. We were charged an extra €150 for a sea view, so it wasn’t a gift. Our account of the stay was accurate: there was no shampoo, toothpaste, or slippers in the room, and when we asked, we were told to buy them ourselves. If daily housekeeping is always included, the lack of proper service during our stay should have been looked into rather than denied. Criticism can help improve service. A defensive response that challenges or diminishes a guest’s account risks damaging trust and the hotel’s image, while constructive replies can encourage people to return. I hope management rethinks how it responds to negative reviews, since both positive and negative feedback offer a chance to improve service and reputation. I also see in the comments below that someone received a room upgrade for free.

The food was tasty, and you won’t go hungry, though there isn’t much of it. That’s the only good thing I can say. The room had no shampoo, air conditioner, slippers, or even toothpaste. When I asked for slippers, I was told to buy them at the store. There was just one bottle of water in the minibar. When we asked where to get more, we were told to refill that same bottle from the cooler. I only saw the cooler once, by the bar. The room wasn’t cleaned. They call this all inclusive and four stars, but the experience was awful. I’ve only given it one star because of the food.