"We have just returned from a fantastic 10-night stay at Aquila Rithymna Beach, and from start to finish it exceeded our expectations.
On arrival, we were delighted to be upgraded to a side sea view room, although, to be honest, any view at this beautiful resort would have been lovely. The hotel is spacious, immaculately clean and incredibly well maintained. Every member of staff we encountered was friendly, welcoming and genuinely seemed to enjoy making guests feel at home.
Our room may have been a little dated in terms of décor, but that honestly didn't detract from our holiday for a second. It was comfortable, spotlessly clean and, given how little time we actually spent in it, it certainly wasn't an issue.
The facilities are second to none. Whether you want to relax by the pool, spend time on the beach, enjoy the water park or take part in activities, there is something for everyone.
A special mention has to go to the Pink Wave animation team, who were absolutely fantastic throughout our stay. In particular, Maksymilian deserves a huge thank you for his kindness towards our son and for helping solve a little "ball problem" that was very important to him! It's these small moments that make a lasting impression. However, I would like to add, they all work so hard!
The Kri Kri Kids Club was exceptional. Our son was genuinely upset to leave because the team made him feel so welcome and included from day one. He even took part in the overnight sleepover, which became one of the highlights of his holiday. It was wonderful to see him enjoying his own adventures and building confidence, while giving Mum and Dad the chance to enjoy a little relaxation too. We loved that the club was so flexible, allowing children to drop in and out rather than committing to full days. The children's restaurant was another brilliant touch, and our son loved deciding each day whether to eat there, at the main buffet, or sometimes both!
The food throughout the resort was excellent, with an incredible amount of choice. The main buffet never became repetitive, and it was lovely to have the opportunity to enjoy some of the à la carte restaurants during our stay. The pool restaurant lunches were another highlight. Again, all the staff were attentive and work hard to turn around tables so there is no wait at busy times.
The drinks offering was equally impressive. The cocktails were excellent, and the wine selection was unlike anything we've experienced at an all-inclusive resort. A special thank you to Vangelis in the main lobby bar, who took the time to explain the cocktails, happily adapted drinks to suit our tastes, and was always so kind and engaging with our son. He is a real credit to the hotel.
The beach is beautiful and having it directly on the hotel grounds is a huge bonus. The pools were excellent, and we also treated ourselves to the spa, which was reasonably priced and provided another wonderful experience with friendly, professional staff.
The water park was another fantastic addition. Having a bar there, along with freshly made pizzas available from lunchtime, made it a great place to spend part of the day.
If I had to mention one area for improvement, it wouldn't really be the hotel's fault. As with many resorts, some guests reserved sunbeds early in the morning and then disappeared for several hours, sometimes until well into the afternoon. We saw the security staff doing their best to manage this, but it's clearly a difficult situation to police. We personally always managed to find somewhere to sit, but I can imagine it becoming more challenging during peak season. Perhaps there is scope to add additional loungers on the grassed areas or even introduce a drinks service at the quieter pool, which might encourage guests to spread out more evenly across the resort.
Overall, we had an amazing holiday and genuinely struggled to find fault with anything. The warmth of the staff, the quality of the facilities and the family-friendly atmosphere made this a holiday we'll remember for a long time. Thank you to everyone at Aquila Rithymna Beach for helping create such wonderful family memories. We would happily return and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone considering a holiday in Crete."
