Astali Hotel

Just returned from a week in Crete staying at the Astali Hotel. Booked flights and hotel separately through Thomson as slightly cheaper than directly. Did lots of research into this holiday as travelling as a couple aged 27 and 29 who enjoy beach holidays with a mixture of culture, good food, lots to do and lively bars and restaurants but not in a brits abroad way! We both agree that Rethymnon was an ideal resort for us and the Astali hotel in the ideal location. The beach, long and sandy, was literally around the corner, the old town about 10 minutes walk away, lots of bars and restaurants. The hotel was everything we needed, free air con which was lucky as it was historically the hottest weather in Crete for 100 years whilst we were there! Breakfast served until 10:30, included tea/coffee, cereal, yogurt, honey and jams, hard boiled eggs, bread, fruit and cheese. Not everyone's ideal breakfast but fresh and plenty for us. Rooms quite small but fine for a week, towels and sheets changed daily, a small balcony. Easy to sleep as doors kept road noise out and air con very quiet. Room modern and clean, hairdryer and TV in room. We don't spend lots of time in the hotel and do not ever go in hotel swimming pools so perfect for us (no swimming pool in hotel) and very cheap (£174 for a week B&B for the room). Family who own hotel are very friendly and available 24 hours. We hired a car and explored the island, plenty to see and do, great beaches. We ate out every night and would probably say that the best meal was at Kyria Maria near the Rimondi fountain, in fact we went twice as enjoyed the first time. The second time though we only ordered 4 starters as we'd ordered 2 starters and 2 main courses the first time and it was far too much food, especially in the heat! Great value and good house wine. Food elsewhere was ok, Avli was the most expensive restaurant we went to, nice setting and good Mohitos but we weren't too impressed by service. Good bars and plenty of cocktails, so hot that we spent lots of hours in our favourite bar Blaze as air con, pool tables and nice views, on front in direction away from old harbour. We would definatley recommend Rethymnon and the Astali and we would be more than happy to return to both the resort and the hotel again, our only slight negative comment was on the food in general but that depends on the type of food you enjoy and possibly on the places we ate in. Go and enjoy!

We've just returned from a week at the Astali in Rethymnon after booking it very last-minute and not knowing anything about the place. We only had a few hours to decide which hotel to pick and after a quick browse through Tripadvisor we went for the Astali, mainly due to its location. I'm happy to say it was a really good choice! The hotel is small but spotlessly clean and everything looks (and probably is) new. The owners are wonderfully friendly and helpful and are always there 24 hours a day to smile and give you your room key at whatever time you appear. Admittedly the rooms are on the small side but you have everything you'd need including air-con, a TV, a fridge and a balcony overlooking the street. The bathroom is equipped with a shower, basin and WC, again all new looking and non of the usual Greek "no-paper-down-the-loo" nonsense either. The rooms have double-glazed balcony doors so you can sit outside and watch the to-and-fro in the street and when it's time for sleep shut the doors and there is simply no noise from the traffic at all (and I usually need earplugs on holiday - not here). There is a bar on the ground floor with a large patio outside or chairs and sofas inside. Breakfast is included and runs from 7:30-10:30am, or a little earlier or later if you happen to miss it exactly. The best part is the location: it's only about 100m to the beach and a few more to the centre of the old town of Rethymnon. Way better than staying in one of the bigger hotels on the strip that lays way out to the east of town. The old port is very picturesque and buzzing at night with good places to eat and to dance of you're inclined. While up in the narrow streets there are many really good restaurants and cafes to find and while away the early hours over a few coffees and ouzos. Highly recommended!

Excellent base for sightseeing, recently refurbished, TV, Fridge and hairdryers in room, The family are so friendly, they really can't do enough to help you. The rooms are small but very clean.

use this hotel as a base, nothing more, and don't go expecting more!! the Astali is family run, friendly and very clean. it is close to the beach and the old town. the rooms are incredibly basic. a "prison cell" was how my fiance described it on the first night!! but we soon got used to it. very bustling outside hotel, but we loved sitting on our balcony with a cold Mythos, watching the world go by! the lifts are tiny, but then, i took far too many outfits and shoes-Rethymnon is not a town for your best Mui Mui's or Gucci's, ladies!! Not that it's not trendy or lacking in chic bars and restaurants, but it has virtually no pavements and it's all cobbled in old town. your shoes (and your toes)will not thank you!! flats and flip flops all the way!! it's also v hot in summer (40 degrees when we went)so you just need light sundresses. would go back to the hotel if it was cheap enough, but we stayed two weeks, which was far too long without a long soak in a bathtub (could stay in Rethymnon for ever though!)the shower room was very small indeed. 5 minutes in the shower has you hyperventilating and begging for air!! all in all though, fine for a 7 night base.

Rethymnon is a fascinating town, and Astali is part of this. There are no luxury features, but there is an easy interesting walk to town, a sense of being within a reality of cretan life, and comfortable bed and decent food. If you prefere faceless luxury, then choose a hotel away from rethymnon, or in platanes to sample the delights of the package deal. As the prvious reviewer said, do your homework !

From our extensive travels, the Astali is an above average two star family run hotel. in a fairly busy city centre location. Very clean and adequate sized rooms. Linen changed above average times for 2 star. Breakfast had a lot more choice than we have had in similar establishments. The location is great for the sandy beaches and for access to shops and the old town. Some great restaurants both local & in the old town. The family are really friendly and will always help with any problems you may have and have many return guests year after year. We asked the travel agent to check the Gazeteer when we booked - which gives you a no frills view of the hotel & surroundings. We found the brochure gave a frank view too. In Greece at that level you do not get fridges and televisions - please, fellow travellers, do your homework before you go and you won't be dissapointed!

family hotel realy looked after clean sheets and towels every day they couldn't do anough for us. The only problem was CLUB GREECE its similar to time share they will not leave you alone they need to be stoped they spoilt the holiday

We stayed here for 1 night at the start of our honeymoon, having booked a 3* allocation on arrival (which I will never do again.) This hotel is really a bed and breakfast. It is very clean and the people are very nice but it is really a 1 or possibly 2 * accommodation. The rooms are tiny with no bath, no TV, no fridge, nothing at all except twin beds and a shower. The directly outside is very noisy and busy, the air consitioning did not work and so it was very hot. The balcony outside the room was tiny and had a view of a telegraph pole, there was no pool. 1 bar area which stank of cigarettes and was where you ate breakfast which was very minimal I had a piece of bread and cheese. We then payed a fortune to be moved to a much nicer hotel. Like the previous reviewer we had said a 3* or 4* and we were very dissapointed.

We made it quite clear to the travel clerk that we required a minimum 3/4star hotel. The Astali is 2 star. It is not situated in a nice area and walking down the road to the beach and shops etc was very dangerous due to lack of pavements and the heavy valume of cars and motorbikes using the road. The breakfast was a small continental affair with no facility for making toast. The road was extremely noisy which meant no windows left open. Sitting on the verandah made it difficult to hear each other speak. The air conditioning was far too noisy and could onoy be switched on when it got too hot during the night. The saving grace of this Hotel was the very friendly staff and the absolute cleanliness. The rooms were far too small. No fridge, no TV, no radio.

Had a wonderful holiday at the Astali Hotel in Rethymnon, our first visit to Crete but not our last. Although situated on a busy main road the hotel is very near the old town and castle, many restaurants (from traditional Greek to Chinese) and SO near the beach! The rooms are not large but are perfectly adequate, pleasantly decorated and spotlessly clean, with double-glazed French windows to our balcony and nice curtains to keep out the early-morning light! The owners and their sons are friendly and helpful and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. We shall return...