Rinella Beach Hotel

We were offered this hotel 2 days before the start of our holiday as an alternative to the one booked, so we didn't really know what to expect.
The hotel is just off a main street where there are shops/restaurants/bars etc.
The hotel was very clean and our rooms were spacious with an effective air con unit. Loads of wardrobe and drawer space. The rooms were cleaned every day.
The location was fabulous for young children, right on a lovely sandy beach with shallow water, all the sun beds, and parasols are free. The swimming pools were salt water but this didn't put the kids off at all, and there are 2 water slides for the kids.
There were plenty of large grassed areas where you could sunbathe on too, which are ideal for babies in the crawling stage! The mini club was fantastic, next to a large play area and the staff looked after the kids from 10am till 12, then 3pm till 5. Good large playground there too.
The food was excellent, I could not believe my ears when people were complaining about it. If you want chicken nuggets, chips and pizza all week - don't go ! My 5 year old ate fresh fish, pasta, fruit, and local Greek dishes and loved it. Go for breakfast early though or you might have to queue.
The evening entertainment was ok, best bit for kids was mini disco. As we were there in the last week of the season, some facilities were closed ( spa/beach bar/water sports) which was disappointing, but didn't spoil the holiday. The staff were very friendly and we had a fantastic time and lovely weather.
I would definitely go back but in the main season.

Loved It!
Hotel is well positioned with stunning views over the pool and sea. We travelled as two parties of three (with two adults and a child in each group) and had separate rooms both of which were large, comfortable and had everything necessary. Rooms were cleaned daily and everything worked!
Food was outstanding. Loads of variety, well presented and plenty of it. We couldn't believe people who were complaining that there was nothing to eat when all of us ate everything!
One day my 3 yr old for dinner had a bowl of beautiful carrot soup, a bowl of pasta with cream, ham and parmesan then three lamb chops and a slice of melon to finish! There were chips for those who wanted them but there were also four pasta dishes every day, a fish dish and at least two choices of meats.
There was also the show cooking which was basically a chef cooking fresh chicken, liver, sausages, burgers and fish. Also loads of potato, vegetables, salad, and rice. The bread was so fresh every day and the soups were gorgeous.
The beach is beautiful, lovely for sand castle building sand and a mild sea which was very shallow for a long way out. Perfect.
Staff were all pleasant and friendly, particularly the female entertainment team who worked so hard to keep us entertained.
Children’s club was well placed and equipped inside and out and ours had a ball with fun and face painting every day.
The bus to Heraklion stops right outside the hotel and it was 3 20 Euros each for a return ticket which took around 20 minutes. Some nice shops and well worth a run out.
Only down side was that we were there at the very end of the season and the spa was closed, as was the beach bar. The entertainment had been moved to the inside theatre for the winter and it was too hot in the room. We found seats outside but at the doors so we could listen and see but also keep cool. The water sports had also gone for the season.
All in all a lovely stay and I would return but may try a different time of the year as we had some rain and it would be nice to be able to see the hotel in full season.

Overall the hotel was clean and okay but not 5 star more like 3 star rating.
The food was too salty all the time, Chinese and taverna okay but choice limited. Hotel evening entertainment okay, some nights could have been better, staff were friendly enough.
Would go back to Crete but I would not stay at the Rinella beach due to the high volume of salt added to the food which is not good for someone like myself who is on medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

We were a little worried after we had read some of the other reports, this is why we felt we needed to let you know that, yes you do need to upgrade if you expect a really nice room, but it is worth it.
The hotel staff are very helpful & friendly, & the food is excellent. The beach is lovely, the views are beautiful, and Crete is a lovely island. We hired a car from the hotel to do abit of sightseeing, there was no hidden extras, and cost wise ,at only 40 Euros good value.
The airport is about 15 mins away so there are planes going over occasionally, but nothing like Heathrow. Actually it was quiet nice watching them.
All in all we had a relaxing week and would go back new year.

Well I've been to a 5* hotel on Cyprus long ago and this one is certainly not 5*, at least as far as the rooms are considered. It's more like 3* in this respect, but good.
We had a short trip to Santorini in the middle of our stay. The room we had prior to this departure was very good - a bungalow with sea view and a good balcony, while the room we got after we returned had no sea view and a worse balcony, albeit more spacious. It faced the trees and some wasp-like insects kept frightening my girlfriend, but that happened only twice and was easily fixed by a combination of a deodorant spray and a lighter. Still it was far from "terrible" as described in some reviews here.
The food was ok, I’d say 8/10, for it was not so varied as in say Turkey, but it was good enough and with some creativity. We got a different taste every day. I don't know why some guests are infuriated by the cats - must be different mentality - we actually enjoyed having them around. The long pants rule sucks. Never tried Chinese or Taverna - this reservation thing is just too inconvenient and I'm not a big fan of "early to bed, early to rise" on such kind of vacations. (had to adapt to that during my recent stay on Santorini, which is quite different from your average all-inclusive flat-land beach-napping vacation, though).
Drinks were good, but of course non-local drinks are better - they just always are, no matter where you stay. Pool had no sea water as noted in some reviews - maybe it changes from year to year. I'd rather prefer sea water - it's much better that fresh water with chlorine in it, I believe.
Hotel grounds were very good.
So it's not top notch, but good enough and the price is not so high.

You must upgrade!
That’s about as much as you need to know. The "Standard" accommodation was "substandard" to say the least. Other grown adults were actually crying they were so upset with their rooms!
After enquiring at reception whether or not we could change for a room without a rusted and peeling bath and furniture that even I could have built better myself, we were informed that we could change to a different "standard" room but it would be very similar.
Our other option was to upgrade to "VIP" for 20 Euros a night. Boy it was worth the 13 pounds a night. We basically got the level of room you see on the website - I would say 4* rather than the 2* we received with the "Standard" - we even got pictures on the wall, wine, fruit bowl, beach towels, and bathroom that I was happy to wash in!!!
Winge over, the rest of the holiday and resort was great. Lovely food, not an upset stomach in sight, evening entertainment very much aimed for the kids, very family friendly but even as a couple without any children you can still enjoy a quieter evening on the piano terrace - I recommend the Pina Coladas!!!
Chinese was very nice but you do need to get up early the day before to book - on the subject of early remember your alarm clock the sun beds go way to quickly by 7:30AM they had all gone and...worse...UK body clock felt like it was 5:30AM - not good!
The hotel and grounds were extremely clean and the maid service (in the VIP room) was excellent.
If I got a good deal I would go back, but in case you missed my point....only to a VIP room!!!!!!

We've just got back from 2 weeks at the Rinela Beach - we had a great time!
We had a standard bungalow and it was both clean and spacious, the cleaner came daily and she was lovely; if we were busy when she came she just came back later. The air conditioning was free and very effective. The TV had a channel for each of the nationalities, the English channel was BBC World, which was crap but I didn't go on holiday to watch TV so I wasn't bothered!
There are two big pools, and then three smaller pools for the children, two of which have a slide. The pools are sea water which didn't bother me, but it is worse in the pools with the slides. All the pools are very clean with the exception of one of the children’s ones, but the water itself was emptied every night.
The beach is lovely, you can walk far out and it is still below waist level, the pedelo’s and the kayaks make a nice change, and they are free. There is a beach bar which serves drinks and ice creams - I loved the slush puppies!
Both the pool areas have a pool bar, where you can get drinks etc, and at the main pool bar you can also get ice creams. There are also two bars inside the main building, with tables outside - so you are never without a drink!!
The food can get repetitive, but I think that anywhere would be the same after two weeks, I always found something nice to eat. An average dinner menu would include; kebab, chips, at least three pasta dishes, and a choice of meat dishes. There is always lots of salad to choose from. For pudding there is lots of fresh fruit, several pastries and cakes, ice cream, plus my personal favourite - crepes!
Breakfast is 07.30-10, lunch 12.30-14.30, and dinner is 7.30-9.30. The taverna and the Chinese restaurant open earlier. The taverna is nice, it has pretty much the same food as the main restaurant with a few variations, but all the food and drinks are self service whereas in the restaurant drinks are waiter service. The staff in the taverna are really friendly, in particular the manager and the kebab chef. The Chinese restaurant is nice too, we went three times, but you have to be at reception just before 8am to book. There is a buffet around the main pool in the afternoons which was ideal if you had missed lunch.
Children in the hotel are well catered for, the kids club runs 6 days a week, 10-12, and 3-5, plus the children’s disco in the evenings at 9-9.30. My 4 year old loved it! There is a park on the complex. All the staff are fantastic and they are always smiling. There is also a children’s restaurant next to the main restaurant where the children can go to eat under the supervision of one of the kids club reps, my son thought it was great! They have a varied choice of food and puddings, and the staff encourage them to eat well.
The entertainment was good, but to be honest I never stayed up late enough to watch much of it! It normally consisted of kids disco, half hour of bingo, then a show. When the show had finished the Dj played songs and people could get up and dance on stage until the free drinks stopped at 12.
The area itself is nice, perfect for families. There are plenty of souvenir shops, and a few bars and restaurants. If you want to go into the livelier resorts, Hersonissos or Malia, the bust stop is just outside the hotel.
If you want a fun day I recommend that you hire a quad bike, we found somewhere close to the hotel that charged 15 Euros for 24 hours!
Overall we had a great time and would return. If you are looking for a nice family holiday you won't be disappointed!

Our very basic room was a long way from the 5 stars claimed, even allowing for the usual exaggerations, but admittedly we had only booked 'standard'.
In retrospect, it would probably have been worth the extra for 'VIP' level. But it wasn't a problem for us, as we'd booked with friends and only used our rooms for sleeping in.
The main areas were very good; the food in the main eatery, both quality and variation, to a slightly lesser degree, was pretty good. You had to be a little inventive in what you chose to eat to keep your appetite fresh!
The Chinese restaurant was a little disappointing, but worth a shot. It was just that your choice was limited to only 1 starter, 1 main course, & 1 dessert, when you felt like trying a lot of everything!
The Taverna had a nice ambience, but limited choice. The drinks and service from the bars were very good overall.
All the staff - well almost all - were keen to be helpful.
Not an awful lot else to do in Kokkini Hani, but you don't need too many distractions when you're on an all inclusive package.
Would I go there again? Maybe, but more likely not.

A very good hotel for the money but not a 5 star! An up-grade is a must and worth it just for the spectacular sea view and brings the resort up 4 star standards.
With the up-grade your refrigerator is restocked everyday with a variety of soda, water and lager. A bottle of wine fruit and nuts were also placed in the room. Room service and Beach towels are also provided daily with up-grade.
The hotel itself is kept very neat and tidy and the staff was polite and very helpful even when faced with rude guests. Just saying hello, good morning and thank you puts you in good stead with the staff.
I had drinks with the restaurant management on a few occasion after they had finished their (day long) shift and found them tired but in good humour.
There are three restaurants to dine in but the Greek Taverna, open for lunch and evening meals and the Chinese must be booked in advance.
The Taverna can be booked at just about any time of the day but for the Chinese it is best to book at 7:40 am the day before you wish to dine. The main restaurant is buffet style with a large selection of mains plus a good salad bar and excellent desert line.
Breakfast has a cook making omelettes to order and just about anything you want on the line except for sausages. If you want a bacon sandwich you will have to ask one of the men serving on the line.
Drinks during the day can be had at one of the inside bars, the big pool bar, the small pool bar and on the beach. Snacks and ice cream can also be found at the big pool bar all day. Drinks service in the evenings is by waiter only and I found modestly tipping kept our waiter stopping by very very often.
The only down fall I found at the Rinella was the 900 French guests that were visiting during most of the week we were there. They treated staff and other guest rudely and with contempt. They acted as if the food in the main restraint would disappear before they got their share and refused to queue for anything.
Hostile looks from them became the norm and I even had an older couple start yelling at because my girlfriend slapped the bar while laughing and then the lady shoved me into the bar from behind and walk off.
I was not amused however the Brits I was drinking with found the incident hilarious as she was about 5‘ft tall and I am 6’4 and weigh 18st. All of the non French (Belgians, Germans, North Americans and Russians) I spoke with had the same opinion of our Gallic friends as I did.
Over all (ignoring the not so socially correct French) it was money well spent and I look forward to returning.

I travelled here with my husband and 2 kids (11 and 8) and must admit felt a little apprehensive after reading previous comments. However as soon as we arrived we realised they were just wingeing brits.
The reception staff welcomed us and we were checked in quickly. Our luggage was brought to our room, which although not a VIP room was nicely decorated, clean and more than big enough for the 4 of us.
The restaurant was fab and catered for the fussiest of children or adults for that matter. We ate at the taverna and the chinese restaurant several times over the week and never had trouble booking either of these.
The staff were excellent and friendly and would amazingly enough remember what drinks you liked to order from one night to the next. The waiting staff work really hard and appreciate a small tip which is shared among them.
The beach was great, the pools greater. We have no complaints whatsoever and would definitely return.