“Still marvelous on return visit 14 years later”

Return visit: just as exceptional as 14 years before. Boutique, charming hotel, elegant, spacious, romantic bedrooms with lovely, high quality, roomy bathrooms in the heart of old Rethymno near the harbor and the fort. Ekeni is a marvelous host: kind, caring, efficient. The breakfast is fabulous: e… more

Return visit: just as exceptional as 14 years before. Boutique, charming hotel, elegant, spacious, romantic bedrooms with lovely, high quality, roomy bathrooms in the heart of old Rethymno near the harbor and the fort. Ekeni is a marvelous host: kind, caring, efficient. The breakfast is fabulous: either sit inside or outside at the little tables. Highly recommend this hotel for its elegant charm, friendly reception, and calm oasis in the heart of the bustling city.

less

“Great Location - Uncomfortable Bathroom”

The location and price of the hotel, right in Old Town, was great. The hotel itself was comfortable and quiet and the owner seemed like she would accommodate us the best she could. What was unfortunate was the bathroom - the door didn't ever really close. It was a swinging, glass door with a fro… more

The location and price of the hotel, right in Old Town, was great. The hotel itself was comfortable and quiet and the owner seemed like she would accommodate us the best she could. What was unfortunate was the bathroom - the door didn't ever really close. It was a swinging, glass door with a frosted appearance. There was a gap between the door and the wall so, in addition to it being frosted, it didn't lend for much privacy. My husband and I were traveling with a friend so this made bathroom time a little uncomfortable, especially because the hotel room itself was not large.

less

“Less hotel, more rooms to let”

Excellent location, right in the heart of the old city. Perfect for exploring all major sights in Rethymon. The building is an old Venetian house, beautifully restored. Steep stairs with no lift - the hotel does warn prospective guests about this. Whilst our stay was pleasant enough, there is not m… more

Excellent location, right in the heart of the old city. Perfect for exploring all major sights in Rethymon. The building is an old Venetian house, beautifully restored. Steep stairs with no lift - the hotel does warn prospective guests about this. Whilst our stay was pleasant enough, there is not much emphasis on service. The reception desk is only open during business hours. Rooms are not serviced daily, even for basics such as rubbish removal (toilet paper is not flushed in Crete) and beds are not made. A kettle is provided, but not even the minimum tea/coffee is provided. There is a small bar fridge, but electricity was interrupted when the rooms was not occupied, so it was not possible to keep items cold. Our "triple" room was extremely tight for two adults; not sure how we would have managed with a third person, even a child. Main door is locked when reception not open - it was very difficult to unlock from outside until the local restaurateur came to our rescue and showed us the "glitch". Also main door is locked at night, with exit requiring use of the key - this would be problematic in the event of a fire as we could not identify any other fire escapes. Overall, this was an ok place for a base to explore Rethymon, with the convenience of the central location over-riding all the negatives. However, this property could be so much more if hospitality, rather than utility were to be the focus. It is unlikely that I would stay here again as there are many well-priced options in Rethymon that offer better value.

less