Swell Boutique Hotel

The Swell Boutique Hotel absolutely met our expectations, and thanks to the staff, even exceeded them. We received a warm welcome and were treated like royalty throughout our entire stay. Whether it was breakfast, the beach, information about an excursion, or simply a friendly chat, we felt incredibly welcome from the very first moment. Our sea-view room was superb, and the daily cleaning, amenities, size, beach towels, and beach service were all in keeping with a 4-star rating and perfectly adequate. The location is perfect, just a 15-minute walk to the old town and only across the street from the sandy beach. If you don't feel like walking in the evening, there are plenty of good restaurants in the immediate vicinity, where you'll also receive a warm welcome. On our next trip to the region, choosing the right hotel will be a no-brainer; it will be the Swell. One thing I would suggest: while the large breakfast buffet was always well-stocked until the very end, a bit more variety would be appreciated during a longer stay. Nevertheless, my absolute top recommendation! Thank you for the wonderful time!

Rethymno was the third and final stop on a trip to Crete with my 19 year old daughter. The hotel had lots of positives but I didn’t find it as great as the rating average here. Rethymno has a long beach and the hotel is situated on the road that runs alongside the beach, it takes about 20 minutes to walk into older town. I had asked in advance about parking, told that it would be no problem to park on the road and we couldn’t reserve. But no spaces on our day so we had to drive around for 20 minutes to find a public parking space. Limited parking (4 spaces that I saw) is completely understandable but I would rather have been aware that the parking was limited and that the alternative was road parking. We were staying in a suite. So two double bedrooms, one of which has its own balcony overlooking the beach, and a seating area where again another balcony. Bags of space, very comfy beds. The seating area had quite strong smell, cleaning products or damp we couldn’t tell. My daughter couldn’t smell it though so maybe just my overly sensitive nose! Breakfasts were the low point for me. Limited choice, and no proper coffee. Even making fruit salad was a challenge on the first morning as we arrived later in the sitting and there was little left. Customer service was lovely, we were made to feel very welcome by everyone we interacted with. WIFI also great. I did wonder if the reason the hotel didn’t resonate with me as much as with others is that we travelled outside of peak holiday season. Staying on the beach road rather than in the older town would never have had the same ‘charm’ of that older town, but out of season that’s maybe a little more obvious just because of the surroundings which isn’t on the hotel of course. We did enjoy our stay overall.

The fifth time in Swell. Already before we came we had excellent service from the management in arranging the room to meet our hopes. Coming there was like coming to a second home. All the people from chambermaids to the manager whom we knew from our earlier visits were like old friends. The hotel itself has excellent location, could not think any better. The rooms are clean, service warm and thoughtful, breakfast very good. All in all, an experience to remember until next visit.

We had a truly wonderful time at Swell Boutique Hotel in Rethymno this mid September. From the moment we arrived, everything felt thoughtful and welcoming. We were kindly upgraded to a spacious two-floor apartment with two terraces, and I was genuinely amazed! One had a covered area, perfect for warm afternoons, and the other opened just above the promenade with a beautiful view of the sea. It was such a joy to sit with a cup of coffee, soak up the sun, and simply enjoy the sound of the waves and the peaceful landscape. The apartment itself was so cozy. Really comfortable beds, soft cushions, and a modern bathroom with beautiful tiles. We had coffee machine and Kettle, those small details that made a difference. Beach is just across the street, guests get beach towels at the reception and discounted sun beds. The hotel is in a great location, about 15 minutes on foot from the old town, so you are in a quiet seaside area but still close enough to enjoy the vibrant center of Rethymno when you like. It felt like the perfect balance. It is charming little town I couldn’t pick better. Breakfast was another highlight. Each morning offered a wide variety of delicious options, including several types of cheeses, from smoked to traditional, vegetables, ham, eggs, Greek yogurt, fresh fruits full of flavor, various kind of pastries (some kind of pizza pies and mushrooms pies) and the most delightful little donuts! Everything was fresh, tasty, and tempting…I often did not know what to try first. It was the perfect start to each day. And then, of course, there was dinner, which was absolutely exceptional. Each evening, we enjoyed a beautifully prepared five-course meal that felt like a loving home-cooked dinner made by a truly skilled chef. The flavors, ingredients, and presentation were wonderful. We tried dishes we had never tasted before and loved every one of them. I was a bit unsure when they mentioned eggplant, since it is not something I usually enjoy, but I completely changed my mind the moment I tasted it. The eggplant and minced meat dish with its golden topping was unforgettable. Perfectly baked chicken and pork, so tender and juicy, cooked just right. They had this lovely golden outside, but stayed soft and full of flavor inside, not dry at all, just really well done. You could tell a lot of care went into making them. On our last day, we had pork with a rich mushroom sauce it was full of deep flavor and felt like the perfect comfort meal to end the trip. There was a new combination each evening....I never knew I could enjoy olive oil so much, nothing sold in our supermarkets back home compares to the one we had there. We are usually not big fans of greens, but the way the cook prepared baby spinach and arugula made them incredibly tasty. We ended up eating the whole plate with pleasure. And their honey and cheese pie that was simply amazing. The chocolate parfait was also one of the best I have ever had. Whoever was in the kitchen deserves special praise! We believe it was Despina (Yannis mentioned her name) because every meal was made with such care and skill that it truly raised the bar for me when it comes to food. We want to thank the wonderful team who made our stay feel so special! Margarita was kind and attentive during dinner service every night, always with a warm smile and thoughtful care. She made sure we felt completely at ease, and was always encouraging us to try everything. Her gentle way of checking in, explaining each course, and making sure we were enjoying every bite added so much warmth to the whole experience. It felt like being looked after by a friend. And Yannis at the reception truly stood out. He was not only friendly and polite, but also incredibly helpful throughout our stay. Whether it was giving us local tips, helping with practical things, or arranging our excursion to Knossos, he always took the time to make sure we had everything we needed. His genuine kindness and calm, professional attitude made a big difference in how welcome and cared for we felt. He is one of the reasons we would love to return to Swell Hotel. Everything about this hotel is designed for comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment. It was one of the best trips we have ever had, and we are so grateful to the entire team at Swell Boutique Hotel for making it so memorable. We will definitely be coming back in future 😊