Aquila Porto Rethymno

Wow!!! We had high expections for this holiday and we were not disappointed!! We requested our 2 rooms to be close together and we were opposite! The food is superb, varied, tasty and lots of it. Staff cannot do enough to make the experience enjoyable! Ernest was a star at the pool service as were the staff on the beach. Toula in the cafe deserve a mention for being fabulous too!! The menu doesn't show all cocktails that can be ordered in the all inclusive package so ask staff if there is something you would like. Sunbeds are limited on the deck pool but we always managed to get a bed if there by 10am. The only downside was the hotel tax of €10 per night per room is a hefty bill at the end of the week. The aqua aerobics is only twice a week, would have liked there to have been more. The location is perfect (yes there is busy road and it's noisy but small price to pay) beach is opposite and the old town 20 min walk away which is worth it. Loads of lovely shops, bars and restaurants Rooms were clean and comfortable (you do have to ask for milk for the room) A really great holiday had by us!!

Staying all inclusive with family. Lovely hotel and our room is very nice with a balcony looking over the pool, with a view of the beach. Most staff have been very helpful and friendly, particularly in the restaurant, reception, around the pool and beach and the maids. Ernest was particularly pleasant and efficient around the pool. Unfortunately this is let down by the bar staff. Service is extremely slow, even when it’s quiet. We ordered drinks one evening and when they hadn’t arrived 45 minutes later I asked the female waitress if she could tell us where our drinks were (one with bleached hair pinned up and wears glasses). She briefly looked over her shoulder in the direction of the bar and abruptly told me there were many more tables before us. I said “but 45 minutes” and she walked away. So rude! Had she actually gone to investigate and come back to us to tell us how much longer they would be, I would have been much happier, but she was downright rude and dismissive. After an hour we saw another table get their drinks within 15 minutes. I asked the male waiter about our drinks and he went to the bar to investigate. He returned with our drinks and offered us drinks from the menu that weren’t in the all inclusive package. Presumably as an apology but no one actually apologised. The waitress’s manner was disgusting. We’ve given up on the bar for the rest of our holiday. We’ve eaten in the a la carte restaurant this evening. The food was average (much better in the main restaurant) and although the a la cart restaurant has air conditioning it wasn’t on and it made the whole experience very hot and uncomfortable. There’s the usual sprint for sunbeds at 8.30am every morning with people putting their towels out and then not lying on them for hours. But I guess you have selfish people all over the world these days. For the first 3 days of our holiday we were raving about this hotel and its facilities but the rudeness from the waitress and slow service in the bar has tarred that for me. If you avoid the bar and stay in an all inclusive deal it’s brilliant.

We popped in to their cafe/restaurant on the beach front for lunch and were made to feel awkward and unwelcome. We were visiting there as we weren't staying. We had popped in as we were considering staying there next June. We felt judged with our clothes etc. Whilst they accommodated my request of a green salad as it wasn't on their lunch menu (we paid Vissili next door for that). It was an uncomfortable experience. So they won't have our hospitality next June.

We stayed here for a week to be close to the town and be in the middle of everything and for this reason the hotel was perfect. It’s in an ideal location to walk to everything you need and lots of options for trips across the island. The staff are all lovely and work hard to make you feel comfortable and welcome. We stayed in a side sea view room which was nice, modern bathroom and decor. The bed was very comfortable too. The balcony was quite small but with a nice view of the beach/sea. It was cleaned every day and the cleaning staff were all excellent. The pools are very small but if you like the beach it’s no problem as it’s just across the road and plenty of beds. Just be aware the sea can get VERY choppy and waves can be strong. The pools at the hotel don’t really have lots of beds and can get shady at the larger pool at the back but are nice and clean. If you’re looking for pool sunbathing with cocktails for 2 weeks I wouldn’t recommend but if you’re looking for a comfortable stay with lovely staff in the heart of Rethymnon it’s great. For us the food was fine but not 5* for the evening options, felt slightly limited and if you want to eat at the hotel every night you may be a bit disappointed. The main issue with food and drink is the price of drinks - we were half board and so had to pay for drinks at dinner. We tried to avoid ordering any wine and even then ended up paying around 15 euros just in drinks for a meal for 2 - a bottle of water, small beer and a soft drink. This feels very steep especially when water is less than 1 euro in all supermarkets. Overall the hotel was very nice and fine for a weeks city break with a beach but not a 5* luxury all inclusive due to the standard of food and amenities not quite being there.

Beautiful hotel with lovely food (show cooking everyday with a variety of options like gyros, burgers, roasted lamb, pasta, sushi etc..) kind and helpful staff, very clean room and facilities, and fantastic evening entertainment. All the guests we spoke to in the hotel were also very lovely and we met some great people. Everyone was in high spirits and couldn’t praise the hotel and Crete enough. Great location to the old town with a long ***** of trendy bars and restaurants which are lively in the evenings. The harbour is fantastic and I recommend ‘Seven Brothers est. 1969’ for dinner along there. The main pool is a lot warmer as it is exposed to the sun during the day, however the pool deck pool is more shaded and colder. Like most hotels, you do get a note if you leave your belongings on the sunbed and not around, however we noticed that a formal notice says that you have 1 hour to be away from them, whereas the staff said 20-30 minutes, which made us feel very rushed to get lunch and come back. The staff are incredibly attentive, but maybe too attentive as we was checked 1-3 times a day if we needed anything in our room which was great at first but become a little annoying near the end, as the timings were inconvenient.

From the minute we arrived at the hotel we were struck by the warm and efficient service. I had emailed in advance to request a double bed, Eleni from customer services was so helpful and when we checked in staff welcomed me as a returning guest, had stayed previously at the Aquila beach. Our room had a good sea view was very spacious and well equipped. It was cleaned daily and was spotless. The restaurant staff were very friendly service was excellent. Food was of a high standard and plenty of choice. We loved the sax player on Sunday morning. We mainly used the beach. Plenty of beds, service for drinks was great with Dimitris working so hard, always service with a smile. My husband loves a negroni and the barman mixed a stunning one for him every night. Bar staff and service again excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed the gala night food and wine superb. The location to the town could not be better with some great shops near to the hotel. We would highly recommend the hotel and we will be back after a wonderful 10 day break. Thank you to everyone at the hotel.

This is without doubt an amazing hotel. We were in room 414 and although we did not get the sun on the veranda for us this was a plus as the room did not get too hot, although there was air conditioning if we required it. The room had plenty of hanging and storage space. The room did not have a bath but a walk in shower if which we preferred. The bed was extremely comfortable. The TV was just okay but did not have an HDMI outlet to plug in a Chromecast to it (something that more and more hotel TV have). All in all we were very pleased with this room. The staff at this hotel were amazing and go out of their way to please guests. The attention to detail from them cannot be faulted and they were always on hand to help in whatever way they can. A big five star thank you goes out to them all including the room cleaners. I must mention one point here. It clearly states that there is a dress code for dinner. Some guests tried to ignore this but we're turned away. For me it was the correct decision by the restaurant staff. I am a difficult eater regarding spicy food and so was a little concerned regarding Greek food. I need not have worried as their was such a vast selection of different food that I could pick and choose and in the fourteen days we were there never got bored with the food. One small criticism that my wife and I have is that the entrance to the hotel reception is up an arc stairway that because of the shape does not have the banester all the way along it and this can become an issue to handicapped people. I am sure it was designed to complement the hotel but it is not very user friendly. Lastly it was a very busy area and I was of the impression that we would be a little secluded but it was just the opposite. So if you want an excellent hotel located within an area of restaurants and bars then this is the hotel for you. Do also take the hop on hope off bus. It's a nice 90 minutes trip.

Pro: Immerse yourself in the heart of this hotel's prime location. The staff's helpfulness is a standout, and the pools offer a refreshing retreat. Beach lovers will appreciate the proximity just across the street. Ample lounge chairs are available, with the first two rows requiring a fee. The lobby's sitting room is a cozy spot with comfortable chairs and couches. The evening entertainment was good. Cons: I stayed here almost 30 days, and they gave me a room with a terrible bathroom. I found out later that many of the rooms were upgraded and had proper bathrooms. The hotel website needs to mention the type of bathroom given to me. I was duped. It's 2024, and this type of bathroom should not exist in a five-star hotel. The so-called double beds were just two single beds shoved together and uncomfortable. I am a world traveler, and these, by and far, wore the worst beds I have come across. The mattresses were cheap and way too soft. The one chair in the room and two on the balcony could have been more comfortable. Sometimes, during my stay, my room was not cleaned until after 5 o'clock. There was no price list for items in the refrigerator. If you need water, you can get a six-pack of large bottles for 2 Euros at a store close to the hotel. The hallways are far from the two elevators. The hallway carpet is dingy. The hotel does not deserve a five-star rating. I would not stay here again.

I really want to go revisit this hotel, lovely room, every morning there was a giant breakfast buffet with absolutely everything. The staff is very friendly and polite from the desk at the arrival, the cleaning personnel, the waiters, the wonderful SPA massage to the cheque out. There was a lot of entertainment going on every day. The hotel is situated a long the esplanade to the Old Town, with is a lovely walk. Lots of nice restaurants, shops and people. It takes 1 minute to go to the sandy beach with sunbeds and parasols, getting in and out of the water is easy, and you can walk quite "far" from the shore and out into the clear water. Red flags are up when the waves and understream is to rough. We had only one bad experience during our one week in Crete, but that had nothing to do with the hotel. (We got abandoned at the excit of the Imbros Gorge after walking 8 km by All Crete Tours at health risk in 40°C) I would highly recomend this hotel 🥰 the whole holiday was pleasant experience and even Imbros Gorge made its own story to be told 🤣