Review of Aquila Rithymna Beach 5*

We came away to have a nice relaxing holiday,  and I'm pleased to say that the hotel and it's staff played a big part in helping us both unwind. During our stay, we were in the Bungalow accommodation away from the main hotel building — it is probably worth pointing out that whilst these are called bungalows, quite a few of them are accessed by stairs (bungalups/bungahighs? ), so if you're opting for one of these and have buggies or pushchairs, it may be worthwhile asking for the ground floor. The room itself was spotless, and in good condition. There was more than enough room for the two of us, and the room could take four easily (with a separate twin room part of the accommodation). Our balcony overlooked a small garden, and we could just see the sea, although it was obstructed by some of the other bungalows. There's also the private beach, with plenty of loungers available. The beach is a little rocky though, so I'd recommend some kind of beach shoe — something you can actually go in the sea with. If you're on the all inclusive plan, as we were, there are a number of dining options, with some attracting an additional cost, although the prices are discounted against the full price. The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner by way of a buffet. The range of dishes, sides, salads, desserts and cheeses is massive, with something for everyone. I would highly recommend sitting outside, with the outdoor dining area enjoying sunshine (or beautiful sunsets), and a view of the sea. Alternatively, for lunch and some dinners, the Taverna restaurant offers something different. For lunch, there are a-la-carte options available, including traditional dishes like Souvlaki and Gyros, Pizzas, Pastas and Salads. On all inclusive, a number of these are included, but even without the discounted rate, the prices were reasonable. In the evening (on some days), the Taverna hosts theme nights, which, at the time of our stay included Creten, Greek, BBQ and Italian (for all inclusive, one theme night of choice plus the gala dinner are included). We tried all of these, and the quality of the food was incredible. All freshly cooked (much of it on massive BBQs) and all to a really high standard. We'd both like to call out some exceptional service from Myron, who remembered us, a table that we liked to sit at, and even our room number. That's not to say the rest of the staff weren't amazing, because they were — they all helped to make meal times really special, and are the main reason we did all the theme nights! For a drink, there are plenty of options too. For an afternoon drink, there's the Cafeteria Rimonti (which also serves snacks for all inclusive guests) and the beach bar. These offer beers and wines with some cocktails and spirits. In the evening, there's the lobby bar, serving cocktails, and the Kafenion, serving beer, wine and coffee, but no hard spirits or cocktails. The lobby is comfortable, on several levels and has a view of the sea. The Kafenion is set in a village square style setting, and is pleasant and relaxing and quite a bit quieter (this really was a lovely place to have a post dinner drink and play cards). Like with the food, on the all inclusive plan, there are lots of drinks included, and premium brands and the more complicated cocktails offered at a discount. Off the all inclusive plan, the drinks are a touch more expensive, but at what I would call ‘hotel prices’. If you want to venture out into nearby Rethymno, there's a bus stop outside the hotel, and the on site shop sells bus tickets, alongside virtually everything else you might need, or have forgotten. We didn’t really leave the hotel aside from one day in Rethymno, so I can't really say much about excursions, what's available nearby, or what it’s like getting places from the hotel. Overall, we had a fantastic holiday, loads of sun, plenty of relaxing, and we couldn't have picked a nicer place to do it.