Aquila Porto Rethymno

10 min walk away from the old town opposite the beach we found the location was very good. The hotel is stated as 5 star but in my opinion I would say 4*. Good points : the staff are so friendly, the waitress are super and always work so hard and have warm welcome, Nicolette was just great! Reception staff are helpful and very friendly with a warm welcom. Our Room was cleaned to a good standard but the taps needed a bit more attention . Breakfast is the best dining part, always a good selection and it’s hot. Coffee or tea served, plenty of juice options and there is even Prosecco if that is your thing. The cold selection is fantastic with a wide choice and plenty of fresh fruit, cereal yogurt. Sunbeds on the beach are plentiful and free for guests, the staff come round for your drinks orders and check you are a guest, you can even order food but we didn’t. Spa staff come round and try and get you to book a treatment. Not so good points: we stayed half board so we had to pay for our drinks at dinner time. The food was repetitive and wasn’t hot, the only ‘hot food I had was from the bbq on Greek night. It was warm at best and sometimes not even that but it did get topped up so there was no reason for it to be just warm. The drinks aren’t cheap if you are not all inclusive,€7 for a pint of local beer, €3 for a bottle of water, €8 for a glass of house wine, €3 for a small Coke Zero. Then we had two drinks at the bar and to be honest it was the only time we stayed at the hotel for a drink as we were charged €68 for 2 x double vodka & double gin……this was without tonic (€5 each bottle) 😳 I have never paid such prices for a drink in a hotel bar in Greece before and it spoilt us enjoying evenings in the hotel with guests we meet there. Another point I have to mention is in your room there is a coffee machine you can used and the pods are €2 each…..in your hotel room!!! We have NEVER HAD TO PAY FOR COFFEE IN OUR ROOM, EVER and we found this very disappointing, not sure on how much the mini bar drinks but didn’t want to chance the bill. Rounding up: the pools were too cold to use (mid September & positioned in the shade) The halls are a little tired and dated, and dining area standard. As I mentioned I do feels this is a 4* and definitely not like some of the 5* hotels around Rethymno.

What a beautiful hotel with stunning spa facilities.. my therapist was Efi who was very polite, courteous and friendly before during and after my treatment. I had a deep tissue full body massage which was amazing and exactly what I needed without even realising it. Would definitely recommend to anyone staying here.

I was just given a very impromptu birthday gift of a massage from a very dear friend whilst on holiday. My therapist was Kostas and he gave me a deep tissue massage and finished with a revitalising facial massage. The care and consideration that goes into everything is extremely professional and the atmosphere was very therapeutic. The overall experience from beginning to end was wonderful. I left feeling very relaxed and happy. I would definitely recommend.

Lovely hotel. Had spa massage with Kostas which was excellent.

We’ve enjoyed our stay at Aquila Porto Rethymno. The location is excellent, right on the seafront and within easy walking distance of Rethymno’s old town. The staff are lovely — friendly, helpful and attentive throughout our stay. Breakfast is also a highlight, with plenty of choice and very good quality. The rooms have been updated and are comfortable and well presented, which is a definite positive. The main area that needs attention is the pool area. The pools are quite small and dated, with limited sunbeds. The pool area doesn’t open until 9am, so a queue forms beforehand as guests wait to secure one of the limited beds. The area would benefit greatly from a modern makeover and better provision for guests wanting to use the pool. The corridors are also quite dark, with old and tired-looking carpets, which could certainly do with updating. During our stay, the clientele has been predominantly older, around 70+, creating a quiet and traditional atmosphere. This may suit some guests perfectly, but it is worth knowing if you are looking for a more vibrant resort. Overall, we’ve enjoyed our stay, particularly because of the fantastic location, wonderful staff, good rooms and excellent breakfast. With some investment into the pool area and corridors, the hotel could be greatly improved.