Aquila Porto Rethymno

Prime Location: The hotel is ideally situated across the road from a clean, sandy beach with crystal-clear water, offering sunbeds for guests. It is within walking distance (10-20 minutes) to Rethymno Old Town, bars, restaurants, shops, and historic sites.

Recently returned from a 10 night stay with my husband and 17 year old son. I chose the hotel based on food reviews and the location and it didn't disappoint. We stayed in one room and booked through TUI. If you want lots of outside space and prefer to sunbathe round a large pool, geared up for children, then you may be disappointed. If you prefer the beach or smaller pool area and want to be near to the Old Town, then this is a great hotel. Location The hotel is situated on a busy coastal road by the sea and a 10/15 minute stroll into the old town passing several bars and restaurants, some of which we ate or had a drink in and they were reasonably priced. The old town is simply stunning and the locals were so friendly. There is a Venetian harbour, lighthouse and fortress all within walking distance. Rethymno also has a little red train which takes you round the old twon and an open top hop on/hop off bus. There are several water sports. Room We didn't pay for a sea view and were in one of the older rooms overlooking the road at the back. This was quiet though and we slept well at night. The room was spotless and cleaned every day. The shower ( over the bath in our room ) was powerful and didn't leak, there was enough storage for the 3 of us ( I asked for a few extra coat hangers and a shower mat as slippy without, which was provided within a few minutes) . The beds were very comfortable and I noticed the hotel app states you can request different types of pillows although we didn't as the ones provided were perfect. The room itself wasn't 5 star but was what I expected given we've stayed in other hotels of the same/similar star rating. Food We always go Half Board which suits us. The dining room has seats inside and by the pool area. We always ate in the dining room as it was cooler with the air conditioning. The dining room was the perfect size for us, not too big and the food was excellent with a great variety. Tuesday night was Greek BBQ night with a range of meats and there were other themed nights. As other reviews state, the drinks were a bit pricey but it is a hotel. A large bottle of water was 5 euros, a soft drink was 4 euros 60 and large beer 7.50 euros. It wasn't much cheaper in the nearby bars. The desserts were also varied and beautiful. The staff were super efficient, polite and welcoming. We really enjoyed meal times which is always our favourite part of a holiday. It was also nice to have tea/coffee served at the table at breakfast rather than queing for the coffee machines. Service / Hotel Staff This deserves a special mention as we couldn't fault it. The shortfalls in sunbeds and space was made up with the hotel service. We received a warm welcome each time we entered the restaurant and shown to a table. The reception staff and of course lovely Eleni ( animation team ) were fantastic and this is what makes a great holiday to us. They genuinely want their guests to have a good time. Eleni ran the activities herself.

I was incredibly disappointed with the quality of the accommodation. I've stayed in 3* accommodation in Greece, which was far better than Aquila Porto. It was such a let down to pay for a 5* hotel, expecting a bit of luxury and ending up with a room that was beyond repair. Take a look at the pictures and make your own mind up. A huge let down! 😞