Aristea Hotel

The hotel is very homy . Front desk ladies are very pleasant and helpful . Hotel is located close to everything and it’s walking distance . Crete sea is right next to it . Feeling of safety is in the air . Loved our stay .

A 3 star hotel charging 4 star prices. Stayed in a beach view apar**ent with breakfast included. The view to the beach was across a park and car park. The breakfast was average and usually barely warm. The pool bar was reluctant to supply a cup of ice for our room to have a drink on the balcony. We had to buy a whole bag of ice from the supermarket and carry back. So disappointed we were unable to use the pool or beach as guests were not supplied with pool towels but expected to buy from a supermarket. The stay at this hotel spoilt our experience of Rethymno.

We booked in via a package holiday company. Just a basic room on a B&B basis. Our room was “in the basement” and on first entry we had our doubts. However, we need not have worried. It suited our needs down to the ground. With temperatures in the low thirties, apart from two days, the room was cool and so no air conditioning required. (An extra charge, along with a room safe key and the “extortionate” local tourist tax of €0.50 per head per day). Vicki the British expat head receptionist is an absolute star. Knows the area like the back of her hand and will not only answer all your questions, but anticipate most of them too. The other receptionists are equally knowledgeable and speak good English. The hotel is located 70 metres from the beach. A taxi rank is 150 metres away and if you walk there you save a couple of euros on the ride into Rethymnon town. Not that it’s expensive- €6 from the rank, €8 from the hotel. Buses go to town too. The 6km walk to town takes about 45 minutes. There are a whole bunch of good tavernas within a 10 minute walk. Including one of Rethymnon’s specialist fish restaurants. Breakfast is a self service buffet with hot (egg, bacon, sausage, omelette etc), continental and sweet/savoury pastries plus coffee, teas and fruit juice offerings. Plenty of it and they don’t mind if you squirrel some away for lunch. The hotel serves generously sized poolside snacks from 1100 to when the evening barman decides he won’t rustle up any more. A chunk of the menu stops at 1530. The bar is reasonably priced and does not play loud music so great to relax in. For those departing late there is a locked luggage room to stash your bags during the day. Our studio type room had a bedroom, bathroom and a living area with a kitchenette. Ideal to eat in on the veranda if you do not want to go out. There is a mini market directly opposite the hotel and a larger supermarket is a 15 minute gentle walk away. This suited our desires and plans to a tee. Not that it is expensive to eat out we never paid more than €45 for mains, dessert and wine plus water. The local portions are generous. We didn’t find a dud eatery either locally or in town. It had been 35 years since we were last in Greece. Why did we wait so long? Certainly we will be considering returning here. The pool is not huge, but you can swim in it and there is a shallow kids section too. There are poolside loos and showers.

This property was suggested by ebooker's rep. after failing to original book online. This studio apar**ent was superb with all necessary newly equipped furniture and fantastic sea/beach view from the bedroom. Also in quiet location in front with open square. Restaurant , Bar, & reception staffs very helpful. Option to have towels & bedsheets change frequently. I would definitely go again here