- Greece Holidays
- Rethymno
- Fortezza Hotel
This fantastic hotel is nicely located right in the old town of Rethymno, in the centre of the stunning island of Crete. The longest sandy beach can be reached within a short stroll and visitors may discover the nearby port and the interesting archaeological sites. La Canela Airport is a 40-minute drive away. Guests appreciate a large outdoor swimming pool in the terrace surrounded by all rooms and a fantastic on-site restaurant serving delicious specialities. At the lounge area and pub, visitors will also be able to unwind at the end of the day with a refreshing cocktail. Guest rooms are stylishly appointed and come completely equipped with classic furniture and all the necessary amenities for a truly pleasant stay.
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
It’s a decent 3* hotel. Great location, friendly staff, rooms are cleaned daily and towels changed on request, small but pleasant pool area and a more than adequate holiday breakfast. Rooms are quite basic. The bathroom contains a fairly useless tub and a hand held shower. A proper walk-in shower would be far better. There is a small, fairly noisy, refrigerator in the room. There are no tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms which was a minor complaint I heard from other guests. As with every hotel, comfort can sometimes be dependant on the behaviour and consideration of other guests regarding noise. The room furniture is heavy and any movement of it is extremely loud. Room 214 has a rather nice balcony overlooking the pool. Unfortunately the balcony houses both its own aircon unit and that of the next room which has a very small balcony area. If the occupants of the next bedroom use their aircon the noise reverberates through 214 like a pneumatic drill making sleep impossible at night and simply sitting on the balcony and relaxing unpleasant. It’s advisable to have a portable appliance charger as the electricity only operates when the room key is inserted so you can only recharge when you’re in your room. If you wish to charge overnight and leave the key inserted then the light over the door will remain on.
Well whot a gem of a place a little oasis in a busy but still a tranquil hotel , breakfast slightly limited but acceptable, rooms cleaned daily towels very frequently, lots of extra sunbeds stacked at rear of pool to place anywhere, staff extremely polite there a credit to the owners , only slight drawback which I hope is rectified soon pool water misty and tiles need a clean.
The Fortezza is in the perfect location for exploring the old town of Rethymno, with plenty of restaurants, bars and shops just a few steps away. The Venetian harbour is also only a five-minute walk. Our superior room included a balcony with a table and two chairs, where we could sit outside and people-watch the street below. The room was very clean, with daily maid service, fresh towels every day and comfortable beds. The bathroom was a little cramped, and I squashed my finger between the door and sink on more than one occasion, but that’s only a minor gripe. There were lots of options at breakfast (see photos), although it did become a little repetitive after a week, with only the selection of warm cheese pie, bruschetta, etc. changing daily. Although the pool area occasionally got a little busy, we always managed to find sun loungers. However, at certain times there were none available for an hour or so. Clean pool towels were available from reception every day, and we were also able to borrow a kettle to make tea and coffee in our room.
Just returning home from a fantastic stay at Fortezza. We stayed in a superior double room which comes with a balcony. They have a small fridge, good air conditioning and a decent sized wardrobe. The bed was huge are also very comfy and we slept well. Our room faced the main street but it was very quiet. Balcony’s could do with a washing line. I always take pegs on holiday and ended up buying a line (€1.50) from the supermarket. If you are lucky, it might still be there in room 301.
Breakfast is a standard Greek hotel buffet with all the classics you would expect. Couple of cooked options, omelette and small sausages, which were the same everyday. Could do with some sauces or beans to make these more appealing. Most days it was cereal, Greek yogurt, fruits and toast for us, which was ample.
Having a pool was a real draw for us, it is small and space is limited, but on the days we used it, we didn’t have any issues. The sun starts to disappear on one side around 2:30pm - on the right spot on the other side you can sit there until well after 5pm. The hotel offers free pool towels which you can use and change. Fantastic services.
The hotel is situated right on the edge of the old town and just around the corner from endless restaurants, bars and shops. You couldn’t ask for a better location. There is a handy supermarket over the road which is really cheap and has a bakery. On pool days, we grabbed sandwiches and crisps from there and had an hour cool down in the room.
The beach is about a 15-20 minute walk, there are also a plethora of other bars & restaurants around the coastline, so many options for through the day or on an evening. Tip: The first set of sunbeds we got to were €20-30 per day….the next set (Gorgona) were 1 minute further walk and were €15 for the day - even the front row. Beds were available on the beach all day, no matter what time you get there. (Last 2 weeks in July).
All the staff in the hotel were friendly and helpful. Reception is 24hrs so always someone on hand to help. We wouldn’t hesitate in staying here again, a fabulous hotel.
Our second visit to this hotel and we still love it. Staff are all lovely, rooms are spotlessly clean with cleaners in every day. Breakfast is lovely with plenty of variety. I love the swimming pool which is big enough for swimming lengths. And of course being right in Rethymno Old Town is great. It’s such a beautiful place. So many restaurants and bars within minutes. Highly recommend this hotel.
