Aristea Hotel

Just returned home from this lovely Hotel, room was a good size, clean and well maintained. Really close to beach. Good pool bar for drinks and food. Staff were really friendly and helpful. Self catering, we had no problem buying food from shop opposite hotel and two more shops 250yds up road. Bus service is cheap and frequent, bud stop 250 yds from hotel.

A 3 star hotel charging 4 star prices. Stayed in a beach view apartment 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.

We visited July just before the school holidays. Fabulous location, just on the edge of town on a lovely uncrowded beach which also had turtles nesting in the sand. You also get free sun beds and water when you buy drinks from the hotel, which was a great bonus! We strolled up to town most evenings and got a taxi back (to the end of the seafront road) for 6 euro. Rethymon is a lovely town. The hotel facilities were basic: in the room (electric portable hob and microwave, small fridge and tiny freezer) and very small gym. The pool area was clean but became very crowded especially as it got closer to the school holidays. Bedding and towels were changed every few days however the rooms should have a basic clean, bin empty everyday. Also woken at 9am a number of times for the change (we like a lay in on holiday!) However, the atmosphere was fantastic, the reception staff Vicky and Vivi always friendly, chatty and helpful and Babi, the barman was brilliant! Created a great atmosphere and old friends and visitors were always dropping by for a catch up. He made our stay extra memorable. The bar food was very basic, but ok if hungry. We hired a car and visited Lake Kournas to see the turtles and palm beach. We also went for a walk to the local Mili gorge (Vicky organised a taxi back for us!), boat trip to the beautiful Balos and Gramvousa beaches (very busy!) and evening trip to the lovely Chania. So loads to do as well as the lovely beach and everyone helpful and friendly. We ate both in town and local taverna’s, a couple of our favourites were Manolis on the beach front and 1-1 behind the hotel. Also fabulous coffee/bakery shop down the road! All in all we had a lovely stay due to the staff mainly, so would say it’s a nice 3 star as the hotel would benefit with updating.

Absolutely wonderful. Rooms lovely . Cleanliness brilliant. The one problem is the reception closes very early. Arrived at 03.00 am had to walk down very dark road trying to find hotel Just named envelopes lying on desk with key.

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 .

I recently spent 14 days at the Aristea and it's now my "Happy Place". There is such a warm atmosphere because the staff all enjoy their work and get on so well together, and bring you into their happy family. The hotel is very clean and attractive looking with a lovely inner courtyard. You couldn't ask for a better location; literally one minute and you're on the beach. There are beach beds along the sands in both directions but, if you buy 2 drinks from the Aristea bar, you can get a voucher for beach beds and umbrella at the first beds on the right hand side. It's about a 30 minute walk into Rethymnon with tavernas on one side and beach on the other and it's well worth a visit. My room was very spacious with plenty of storage space and a wonderfully comfortable bed. The maids were very efficient and friendly, you had a choice of towel change every one or two days and sheets were changed regularly. The bar and pool area were kept very clean and there were sufficient beds for the size of the pool. There was a room with an assortment of books but, sadly, it seems that every other nation has more book readers than the UK. I didn't have breakfast but it looked very good as did the meals in the bar area. The best thing in the bar area however was the crazy Greek barman, Babi. He was certainly an asset to the hotel and brought in the punters from all over. I have a happy, if somewhat blurred, memory of an evening doing raki shots with 'the boys'. I'd never done shots before or seen so many people having birthdays on the same day😣. I think Babi might have watered mine down a bit because I didn't have a hangover and I certainly deserved one. If you want to keep your room for longer because of a late flight, you need to ask the day before and, if possible, they will provide for a reasonable €30. Now I get to my favourite bit of the review - Reception. Namely Vivi and Vicky. They were marvellous and made me feel at home immediately. If you want to know about anything, anywhere, or anyone, just ask Vicky. She is always happy to help and will always have the answer. Vivi is always ready to help and never runs out of patience. I had an accident and had to go to the doctor for stitching up which wasn't a lot of fun but, when I arrived back at the hotel, Vivi came running out and gave me a big hug and I really needed that hug. At one stage I was really down and quite close to going home but you both kept me going and I can never thank you enough. Well, that's enough of that. I booked my next holiday at the Aristea while I was still there and I can't wait. If you decide to vist, you won't be disappointed. Many thanks to all at the Aristea xxx

This property was suggested by ebooker's rep. after failing to original book online. This studio apartment 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

Got a room in the basement and there was a smell of basement i the room. It was not possible to open the windows or doors to ventilate the room because the noise from the others guest was to much. There was no wifi coverage in the room. The kitchen was poorly equipped.