Aquila Rithymna Beach - Rethymno, Greece     

100% satisfied. Very good location, friendly staff, perfect food.

I have reviewed this hotel before but in view of the unfavourable reviews the hotel has got lately I thought I would give you my opinion of the hotel this year. My parents in their 70,s and my sister and her daughter aged 7 all visited togeather so we were a mixed age group and we all had a very good visit. We have all visited before and were made very welcome as return guests. My neice was even invited to take part in the "blue flag" ceremony dressed up in greek costume. I would probably agree with some reviewers who say the main restaurant is a scum We only ate breakfast in there which was ok as there is an amazing choice and breakfast is not a meal to linger over anyway. I cannot imagine having a relaxing enjoyable evening meal in there. We decided to "pay up" and ate in the taverna or A la carte both being excellent. Neither was full this was obvioulsy to our advantage as the service was excellent, but I would suggest if the hotel would like to fill these places they do prehaps need to drop the prices a little particually the buffet nights in the taverna which seem a lot more expensive than they used to be. It can actually work out cheaper in the superior Ancient Eleftherna restaurant. Hoswever we were on holiday and it was worth paying extra to have an enjoyable evening. It is not made clear by the hotel but you can use your 12 euros half board allowance and eat a la carte lunchtime at the taverna. This is very enjoyable and well worth the oney as it usually does not come to much over 12 euros anyway excluding drinks. We then ate out in Rethymnon in the evening. I would reccomend eating in the old town in the back streets not on the front or round the old harbour. We ate at two restaurants both very good called the veneto and the pigadi both had lovely outside courtyards to eat in. I found the thomson rep to be most helpful and not a "chocolate teapot" at all as she was rudely described by one reviewer. she booked me any trips I wanted and had any information I needed, as an adult I felt no need to be "nannyied "by her. I would definately reccomend the 4x4 adventure but be warned it does involve a steep walk over the cliff to see preveli beach There is a couple of tavernas and a stoney beach this side of the cliff if you don't feel up to a steep climb in the blazing heat! All in all I have no faults to make with the Rithymna beach except one and this is quite important and needs to be addressed by the hotel the air con is apparantly very old and not as efficient as it used to be. A couple of nights I found it hard to sleep and opening the balcony did not help as it was just as hot outside. It seems at its most efficient in the late afternoon so if it can be cold then why not all night as well. I hope the hotel will soon do something about this. The grounds are beautiful and very well kept All the swimming pools are also lovely . No trouble getting a sunbed except once possibly as the seas were rough that day , any way on my last couple of days more sunbeds were put out. We found all the staff from the manager downwards exrtremely helpful My parents had an evening flight but they were able to keep their room until their coach departed, and the gust relation department have offered to look after some of my stuff as I am visiting again in september. I would advise anyone to go to this hotel I am sure you will have a good time..