Reviews of Rethymno Youth Hostel

30 January 2012

Liked: the staff were super friendly and helpful and the location was good..so friendly i feel bad being honest about all the things I didn't like... but..see below...

Disliked: this is a cheap hotel for a reason. there was no heat in the dormroom at all, even though it was freezing outside, and the window was broken so you couldn't even open the inner window to shut the outer wood board panels, which flapped noisily in the wind all night. Actually, there pretty much was nothing in the dormroom but two bunkbeds and one waste bin--no cabinets of any kind/lockers for your stuff, No plugs in the room (only one in the common room even) for laptops, nothing. And to get to the bathrooms requires walking down one flight of stairs, outside (through rain, wind and cold weather), down another flight of stairs, across a corridor, and then you reach the bathroom--which is unisex, outdoors (like, the bathroom is a public bathroom which leads right to the outside, with both toilets and showers just in stalls). there is hot water 24 hrs but during the winter its not much of a comfort, since as soon as you shut the water off you're in the cold outside air. I have a feeling a lot of the issues I had may be better during summer, though I'd think then you'd have opposite issues with it being so hot... and still feel a bit uncomfortable if you're more the modest type with the bathroom set up. Also, this may be my bad, but I thought they said the kitchen was open all the time, so I left food in the fridge just to end up hungry and unable to get it in the middle of the night. And, when I was using the plug in the common room in the middle of the night (since i couldn't sleep b/c of the freezing cold), a few guys stumbled in drunk (since the door there is always open) and, being a girl and no one else around, it made me really uncomfortable..

17 December 2011 elizabeth would recommend this property

Liked: The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. It is right in the middle of old town which is the perfect location.

Disliked: You have to go outside to get to the bathrooms. there isn't even a toilet inside which is a bit of a pain. the showers are also solar heated so no guarantee of a warm shower in the morning.

28 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Great location and vert friendly and helpful staff

Disliked: No power points in rooms

18 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Amazing hostel. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, comfortable beds etc. Everything you could possibly want.

Disliked: Toilets are in a separate building. But this shouldn't be a deal breaker.

21 September 2011 JOONGMIN would recommend this property

Liked: Very clean and cozy place. Nice and friendly people. Perfect Location. Absolutely Everything!

Disliked: None.

30 August 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Staff very helpful and good location. Quite social & easy to meet people.

Disliked: Not much hot water. Bit runned down, more of a camp site.

30 August 2011 Karen would recommend this property

Liked: This was just such a friendly atmosphere =)

Disliked: Probably only the location of the bathrooms -- but, it wasn't any problem =)

22 August 2011 marie would recommend this property

Liked: I had an awesome time there, the hostel is right in the middle of the town near the beach, bus station and restaurants. The staff was really nice and the property in itself is great. I would definitely recommend this place!

Disliked: The kitchen is a little bit small

22 August 2011 Yana would recommend this property

Liked: The guys that run the hostel are super nice and helpful!!! The location is very central, its around 5 min from the bus station, close to the beach, very cheap, fun atmosphere.. nothing bad to say!! Internet for free, wifi...

Disliked: Nothing : ) It was awesome

17 August 2011 ALEXANDRA would recommend this property

Liked: Authenticity, relaxed environment, friendly and helpful people. Everything you could ask for in a sunny, low-key youth hostel; didn't feel as though you were in a city, but shops really nearby. Hope to go back one day!

Disliked: Needed a ladder for bunk-beds; walls a little thin.

14 August 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Ivan is a great host. His omelette is a great hangover cure.

Disliked: Nothing. Complaining about the heat would be like complaining that a pizza has cheese on it.

08 August 2011 tania would recommend this property

Liked: absolutely amazing very very very highly recommended to all. so homely, cheap, central location, can get breakfast cooked for you eggs etc by the host who is amazing, goes above and beyond. BOOK HERE!

Disliked: nothing!!

07 August 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Very easy going place, possibly best hostel vibe I have encountered.

Disliked: Bar needs to be open later!

02 August 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: It is very cheap and in a very good position (close to bus station and the city centre)

Disliked: Toilets are far from the rooms and they look more like a camping common bathrooms

25 July 2011 peter would recommend this property

Liked: The atmosphere was great and it was within the center.... we even decided last minute for an outdoor dorm that was great slept totally comfy under the stars >D

Disliked: nothing

24 July 2011 Sarah would recommend this property

Liked: EVERYTHING!!!! Fantastic location in the old town, close to beach and lots of options for cheap food. IVAN IS THE BEST HOSTEL MANAGER EVER! The nicest dude, so helpful and you might be lucky to hear some of his hilarious stories over a few Raki! Loved it and recommend it to anyone that is chilled out and respects others and the rules of the place. Thanks for a great stay!!

Disliked: Nothing (well except some annoying other hostel goers though that wasn't anything to do with the place itself)

13 July 2011 Mark would recommend this property

Liked: This place is by far the most enjoyable place i have stayed in over 8 months of travelling the world. The staff are ridiculously helpful/fun-Ivan is a champion, the people you meet there are also amazing. The location is right in the heart of Rethymno and close to markets, beach, shops, and bus. The place is cleaned EVERY day, toilets are spotless and hot showers. For 11 EU a night you cannot complain at all. For all the people who ever gave this place a bad rating I feel sorry that you didnt experience what I did. I was ment to stay for 2 nights.... I stayed a total of 41 nights (no joke and i know it's ridiculous).. That says enough in itself. If you truely want a fun time and a central place in Crete to go exploring, I defiantly recommend staying here. I felt so sad leaving after creating such a strong bond with Rethymno. I will defiantly be back it's just a matter of when. Have fun!!

Disliked: Honestly I cant complain about anything, it is a hostel (one of the very best) and cheap. It does get warm in rooms but there are fans. Toilets are outside but just down the stairs from the rooms and so close I don't see why people complain, would you honestly want the toilets inside when you have a full hostel? It takes no more than 30 seconds to walk to them. It is a true fun hostel experience.

11 July 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Ivan runs a solid show.

Disliked: it gets hot, but that is just Crete

03 July 2011

Liked: Cheap and good location

Disliked: Barely a bed and a bathroom

23 June 2011 anam would recommend this property

Liked: the atmosphere! Ivan was lovely! he was so helpful and always made sure everyone was having a good time! highly recommended! Cant wait to go stay there again!!

Disliked: The toilets were a little far away from the rooms

23 June 2011 Jessica would recommend this property

Liked: The Manager was very welcoming and helpful. Stayed only four nights but it felt like a home away from home. Completely recommend it! Had an absolute ball!

Disliked: Didn't dislike at all.

14 June 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Right in the center of the beautiful Old Town. Bus station and beaches are only a short walk away. The manager Ivan is very helpful and they have a big common area to meet people. I love this place!

Disliked: /

08 June 2011 Becca would recommend this property

Liked: The staff and the ambiance were great, and the location made seeing the town very easy.

Disliked: The immenities were less than average and it was a little too insecure for me. Also it was frustrating to have to trek down to the bathroom in the middle of the night

20 April 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. The location is close to the bus station which makes it a great place to set up and make day trips to other parts of Crete. Old town Rethymno is pretty neat to walk around. Plus, there are a lot of great restaurants nearby-- including a cheap and delicious Greek food/Crepe house near the arch by the hostel. Ate there almost every night!

Disliked: The only slightly inconvenient thing is that the bathrooms and showers are pretty far from the dormitories. But honestly, they're nice, clean and have hot water, so I can't complain!

20 April 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Staff gave you free Raki every night and were very accommodating as far as allowing you to check in immediately & show you a map with what to see around town. It's cheap & a good place to base yourself for travel around Crete.

Disliked: Smoking inside the kitchen, as a non-smoker, it wasn't a pleasant smell first thing in the morning. Also the toilets and showers were located outside the hostel. No power sockets in the rooms, so you had to go to the common areas to charge everything.