Rainbow Apartments

Quite pleased with the apartments,very clean although the cooking facilties are not up to much,just 2 hot plates and a jumbo size saucepan and a frying pan so our plan to have some meals in didn`t really work out,a toaster would have been nice or maybe a mini oven to heat something up. Swimming pool lovely and location really good, very close to the local attractions.
The 2 guys who worked in the bar Thomas and Eddie were a little strange, they were your best friends when you were spending money on drinks or food but if you came anywhere near the bar area and didn`t straight away order something, they were not happy and they will continually keep asking you if you want a drink,which was a little unfair when they had the tv screen near the bar area and you felt unable to watch it without buying drinks which by the way were so expensive,far dearer than the local bars in stallis.
Also Thomas is a football fan and often cancelled quiz nights ect if there was a game on and put it on the tv screen regardless if anyone wanted to watch it.One night when we were playing bingo,he decided to stop the game halfway through so that every one could watch the football,which only a friendly match and only about 3 people bothered to watch it.
Apart from all that Crete was lovely and if you take away the two idiots behind the bar so was the apartments.

2 readers found this review helpful

In June this year I will be returning to Rainbow Apartments for the third year running. I have been visiting Stalis, Crete for 17 years and this is by far the nicest hotel I have stayed in (hence my continued booking)
The rooms are clean and much better that most hotels in stalis. Some of them have microwave ovens, they also have a tv and also proper double glazed sliding doors (if you know crete you will know this is rare) Maria and the family and staff and extremely friendly and welcoming and will do anything to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Swimming pool is gorgeous - I usually go in June when there are not so many tourists and therefore the pool area is peaceful and quiet and you can really relax. They have internet facilities which is useful
There is a sweet little garden in the front and the rooms upstairs give a few of the sea which is about 5 minute walk over the main road.
If you want a real taste of Greek Cuisine, may I suggest that you try out Tsourlis Ouzerie which is next door to Rainbow (come out of the main gate, turn left and walk for 30 seconds - literally) you will find it tucked away. The food is BEAUTIFUL, not expensive and is open all year round because the Greeks tend to go there in the Winter as well as the summer.
As for drinking establishments... well Nemo Bar is nice. If you have small children, they do cater for them as they have mini golf and internet (not that you really want to be on the computer but its worth knowing). Also the beach is gorgeous.
Beachcomber is my favourite bar as well as Kings Head which is a bit of a walk from Rainbow but I do love it there too. Last July I had been unwell and in bed all day (not alcohol related) and felt the need for sustinence so George Vasilakis (the owner) made me a mug of tea and a plate of buttered toast!!! Such service!
All in all, you will have a lovely holiday... Stalis is a lovely place to be and although is now a lot more commercial than it was in 1993, it still retains a certain Cretan feel to it. Happy hols!

3 readers found this review helpful

Me and my partner went here on our 1st holiday together. When we 1st arrived we thought 'oh no'as from the outside it looks a little dated, but we got around the back to the pool area and it was so lovely. The weather was 28/30 all week. It was in the perfect location, literally 5mins away from the fantastic beach, and the local restaurants. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, even giving us a free drink to welcome, always a plus!!
They held themed nights,and bingo is a must, free food, wine and a great way to meet new peeps there. The room was very basic, but you dont go on holiday to spend it in ur room, so we werent too bothered about it, our only critism was the bathroom.Clean but in serious need of update.
Our rep was lovely and we went to Spinalonga. A must. Oh and the water park is fantastic.
If your into clubbing, Malia is near/but also far enough away.THANK GOD. We gopt talking to many peeps who said we by far had the best beach. Overall we would say we had the best holiday ever. Cheap enough, hot enough. We went Paragliding at 4500ft, wicked and it only cost 80 euro for us both. My better half wants us too go back, but she`ll have to wait.

6 readers found this review helpful

i stayed for 4nights in these apartments. the view of the sea was fantastic but the room itself was a let-down. the bathroom was horrendous. The shower wasn't closed-off and the shower head was very moldy; so water sprayed all over the bathroom. i ended up using the tap to have my wash because the state of the shower head of dispicable. when the cleaners came in to clean the room, all she did was turn on the shower and literally spray the whole bathroom with water, soaking everything in sight (including the toilet).
The cleaners didn't change the bedsheets or towels either and when we complained to the staff, they were unresponsive and basically brushed off our complaints. Maria, the woman that owns the apartments, was rarely available and left 2 other men in charge instead. One old man listened to our complaints but did nothing to actually deal with them. The other man, the pool-bar worker, turned us away and treated us in a patronising manner...his answer to anything we said was that he can't help us with anything to do with the rooms and that it was pointless even talking to him. The problem was that maria left these two men in charge for the majority of the time and so we had no other choice!
the hotel is close to the beach and there are plenty of bars/restaurants there...but the staff at the hotel ruined our stay.

3 readers found this review helpful

thomas and eddie were great crack and very helpful. pasta nite was great free food,bbq on sunday was great value + free wine till 11 pm. very clean and located 5 mins from beach.nothing was a problem to staff .will be back.

2 readers found this review helpful

we stayed at rainbow this year and had a great time, Thomas Hannah and Eddie ran the bar and are really lovely.Diane does the cooking only problem with diane is that shes a man u fan otherwise shes lovely,apartments are very clean,your made to feel really welcome,will definitliy go back
lynne&steve clarke

2 readers found this review helpful

Great hotel and great welcome along with the great bottle of raki at the end of the holiday.
The new 1 bed apartments give you loads of space and everything you need to be comfortable. Lovely position for stalis which is a really relaxed resort. For something to eat Maria's Golden Beach is always good, and is just five minutes away on the corner as you get to the beach. We also loved El Greco's for piza and sword fish it is wonderful, love the place.
For a small trip, sisi is lovely, and elounda are not far and the boat trip from elounda is worth it.
If you go here its a lovely place for a restful holiday. And if you want to party Malia is not far away. Its also worth a visit up to Mohos in the mountains for a taste of the real crete, a lovely villiage with a wonderful square to watch people go by.

1 reader found this review helpful

we've just returned from a fortnights holiday to the rainbow apartments and it was fantastic!!!!! first of all the rooms are lots better than some we've stayed in.Maria the lady that owns them ran around for everyone nothing was too much trouble if you had any problems she sorted them out straight away! i wanted extra pillows and within 5 mins they were in our room. the pool was lovely and you had to be quick to get a lounger because everyone wanted to stay round the pool it was that nice we did the beach a few times but the pool was better as you didn't get knocked over by massive waves. the pool bar.... well what can i say? the guys that ran it Kosta and George were absolutely fab we took our 2 nephews with us who were 15 and 16 and they entertained them both by playing pool or letting them help behind the bar which the youngest thought was great. hope they're still there next year cos we're booking to go again for definate. would recommend to anyone it's close to the beach literally a 5 minute walk and there's a supermarket just outside the main gates. also for food we enjoyed the maria golden beach restaraunt just as you're walking down towards beach.

1 reader found this review helpful

I stayed in the Rainbow apartments in July 2008 with my family. Two lads 17/18 and husband and a daughter 15 year old.
I was based in the older apartments which were very clean and adequate and my son stayed in the newer more contemporary apartments WHICH WERE EXCELLENT.Airconditioning was payable locally.
George, Kostas and tall george worked behind the bar and were excellent company. They made everyone feel welcome and stayed up late while my husband continued to party! Not sure if it was Kostas or my husband who wanted to stay up late!!
The location of the apartments was excellent, even though you had to cross a busy road, it was close to all the amenities.
Food wise Marias restaurant and Ristorante Amici was excellent!
I went to Jasmine Chinese but found it very average.
There was only one very poor restaurant which was on the same side as the beach. The man outside had a blonde curly pony tail and the restaurant had a very long name, but as ever finished with the name maria!tHE ONLY DOWNFALL WITH THE APARTMENTS IS THAT THERE IS NO ROOM THAT CAN BE USED TO SHOWER IN IF YOU HAVE A NIGHT FLIGHT, AND IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR ROOM ON , IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just back from a fortnight on this beautiful island. What can i say. We had a great holiday, the Greek people are very friendly and welcoming. As for these apartments they are clean and very well maintained. Kostas and George who rung the pool bar are friendly, funny and bend over backwards to look after you. Nothing is to much trouble. Their Sunday Nite barbecue is great and the food is superb. We were made to feel like a part of their family.
The resort it self has great restuarants. Jasmine House (Chinese) is absolutely delicious and highly recommended as is Marias if you want a traditonal greek nite out. Every tourist should also pay Elizabeth's in old Malia village a visit, sit out on the balcony enjoy your food and watch the world go by. We will definately be going back here again as we had a great time and met some nice people. Watch out Kostas, we will be back again for more late nights and lots more shots. Tell young George we said Hello!!!!