Crete Island Hotel Tips by AcornMan Top 5 Page for this destination

Makri Steno - Rethymnon: Makri Steno - Rethymnon

When I was researching places to stay in Rethymno before my trip one of my top choices was Makri Steno because it was inexpensive (35 Euros per night for two people with en suite shower and toilet) and it's located inside the old city. When I was walking around I happened to find it, and based on its location and what I could see through the front door it looked like a great place. In fact, I wish I had stayed there rather than Hotel Brascos because it's on a nice quiet side street and it's very close to all the major sights in the old town. If I ever go back to Rethymno I'll definitely stay here.

Address: Nikiforou Foka 56, Rethymno - P.O Code: 74100

Comparison: about average

Directions: About two blocks north of the fortress entrance.

Other Contact: email: makristeno@freemail.gr

Phone: +30 28310 - 55465, 23606

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Pension/Guesthouse

Sunset - Falasarna: Sunset - Falasarna

Located at the end of the paved road in Falasarna, just up the hill from one of the better beaches there, Sunset is a great hotel with spacious and comfortable rooms, a terrific view, and a good taverna. The price was good too (35 Euros per night in early June for a double with en suite shower, toilet, sink, and fridge). This place actually has quite a lot of rooms, but it still feels like a family-run operation (probably because it is). I was very happy with my stay there and would gladly return.

Comparison: about average

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Artemis Rooms - Frangokastello: Artemis Rooms - Frangokastello

The first hotel you'll encounter to the west of the castle in Frangokastello is Artemis Rooms, a nice little place with its own taverna that serves very good food. Rooms on the south side have a view of both the beach and the castle, making it quite a location. The prices are very reasonable too (we paid 30 Euros per night in early June for a double room with en suite shower, toilet, sink, and fridge). And the beach is an easy walk down a well-maintained path that leads straight from the hotel's parking lot to the water. If my travels take me back to Frangokastello I'd gladly stay here again.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Just west of the castle on the south side of the road.

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Pension/Guesthouse

Hotel Glaros - Paleochora: Hotel Glaros - Paleochora Glaros Beach Hotel Review

We had no hotel reservations when we arrived in Paleochora, so we decided we would spend no more than one hour looking around for a place to stay. 45 minutes into our search, after looking at several other places, we came across Hotel Glaros and knew right away that it was perfect for us.

Unique Qualities: Beautiful greenery and colorful flowering plants cover the front of the hotel and provide shade for the large outdoor patio area where breakfast is served. It is spacious and clean, with en suite showers and toilets and air conditioning. But the best part is the husband-wife team who run the hotel. Minalos was born on Crete but lived in the US for more than 30 years before returing to Crete in the early 1990s to open this hotel with his wife, Themis. They are both super-friendly and made our stay very enjoyable. We only planned to stay for two or three nights but ended up staying five. If it hadn't been the end of our trip we would have stayed even longer because we had such a nice relaxing time there. Plus, it was the only place in all of Paleochora that we found that has real double beds, not just two twin beds pushed together. If you've traveled much in Europe, and especially in Greece, you'll understand what a rarity this is.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Hotel Glaros is located on a small one-way street that doesn't have much traffic. It is a north/south street located just to the west of the main north/south street in Paleochora.

Other Contact: info@hotelglaros.gr

Phone: +30 28230 41635 / 41613

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hotelglaros.gr/index.html

Sea Front - Rethymnon: Sea Front - Rethymnon

Another place in Rethymno I seriously considered staying was Sea Front, located just across from the town beach near the inner harbor. The location is quite convenient because there's so much to do and see in that area but I'm glad I did not stay there because it's a loud part of the old town due to all the shops, restaurants, tavernas, cafes, and pedestrian traffic. Some of the nearby bars had fairly loud music too, so it would have been difficult for me to get much rest staying in a place like that. The price quoted to me while I was researching my trip was 35 Euros per night for two people with en suite shower and toilet.

Address: Arkadhiou 159

Comparison: about average

Directions: Near the beach in old town, near the inner harbor.

Other Contact: seafront@rethymnoatcrete.com

Phone: 0030 28310 51981, 24533

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Pension/Guesthouse

Website: http://www.rethymnoatcrete.com/seafront.htm

Hotel Brascos - Rethymnon: Hotel Brascos - Rethymnon Brascos Hotel Rethymno Review

Rethymno is a big, noisy city, and the only real tourist attractions there are all within the old city. Hotel Brascos is close to the old city (just about a block north of it), and well within walking distance, but it's situated on a loud and busy intersection. The only reason I stayed there rather than somewhere in the old city is that I got a really good deal on the room through a travel agency (just 33 Euros per night for two people, including breakfast). I believe the normal rate is quite a bit higher than that.

If I ever go back to Rethymno I'll definitely stay somewhere inside the old town because that's where everything is and it's also a lot quieter, but Hotel Brascos was just fine for our short stay. As long as you don't mind the traffic and the short walk to the old town it's a good place to stay.

Unique Qualities: The room itself was nothing special, but it was fine, and we really didn't expect much for such a low price. Our air conditioner did not work the first night, but they did fix it before our second night. Otherwise our stay was just fine. The hotel is nicer than I thought it would be, and the breakfast buffet (included in the room price) was outstanding. The breakfast alone made it worth staying there.

Address: Moatsou & Daskalaki

Comparison: about average

Directions: One block east of the Public Gardens and one block north of the old town.

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.brascos.com/index.html

Hotel Rea - Heraklion: Hotel Rea - Heraklion

If you must stay overnight in Heraklion, you may have a very difficult time finding reasonably priced accommodations. Inexpensive places to stay are almost as rare here as they are in Athens. Fortunately we found a little place called Hotel Rea located on a very quiet side street that cost much less than the competition in far louder and busier parts of the city. Our room was like a cave, which made it easy for us to sleep during our first night on the island. We had an en suite shower and toilet and a fan, but no air conditioner, so this may not be a good place to stay during hotter months. It's certainly nothing special, but it was quiet and conveniently located and the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Address: 1 Kalimeraki & Handakos

Comparison: least expensive

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hotelrea.gr/