🇬🇷 Rethymno, Greece
Forest Park Hotel
📍 Rethymno
Photo: official website
Your stay — Forest Park Hotel
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The Property — Forest Park Hotel
The Forest Park Hotel is a solid 3-star spot tucked into a quiet residential street a short walk from Rethymno's Venetian harbour. It feels like an old-school family-run hotel: tiled floors, a small reception with a bowl of hard sweets, and a faded but clean lobby with a staircase leading up to compact rooms. The USP is location — you can walk to both the beach and the Old Town in under ten minutes without the noise of the front-line tourist strip. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a decent base, not flashy extras.
Chronicles of Rethymno
Rethymno has been inhabited since the Minoan era, but its character was forged under Venetian rule (1204–1669), when they built the fortress, harbour and the narrow, arched streets of the Old Town. The Ottomans added minarets and domed mosques after 1646, which still mix with Venetian loggias and Renaissance mansions. In the 20th century, the town expanded outwards with low-rise concrete hotels, but the historic core remained intact and is now pedestrianised. Today it's a university town (lots of students), a mid-range package-holiday hub, and a quieter alternative to Heraklion or Chania.
Best Time to Visit
Full Rethymno guide →Best months
May, June and September: the weather is hot but not scorching (mid-20s to low 30s °C), the sea is warm enough for swimming, and the crowds of July–August haven't peaked yet.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the absolute peak: Greek and European families on school holidays, plus cruise-ship day-trippers. Hotel prices double or triple, and you'll need to book months ahead. The main events are the Rethymno Renaissance Festival (July–August) with open-air theatre and concerts in the Fortezza.
Budget shoulder season
Late May and early October: still 25–28 °C, plenty of sun, but hotels drop to 60–70% of peak rates. You'll share beaches with far fewer people and get easier dinner reservations.
Weather & packing
Rethymno's summer climate is reliably hot and dry, but a meltemi wind can pick up in the afternoon, gusting from the north and kicking up sand on the beach. Pack a light windbreaker or a pashmina for evenings, and definitely bring reef-safe sunscreen — the Cretan sun is fierce even on cloudy days.
Live City Briefing — Rethymno
- The Rethymno Old Town pedestrianisation scheme is now fully enforced: cars are banned from most of the Venetian warren between 10am and 10pm in July and August, so you'll walk to the harbour — expect extra noise from delivery trucks early morning.
- A new direct charter route from UK airports (London Gatwick, Manchester) to Chania Airport started April 2026, meaning quicker access to the western side of Crete — Rethymno is about an hour's drive from Chania.
- The Rethymno Renaissance Festival runs from mid-July to late August 2026: free open-air performances inside the Fortezza, including classical music, theatre, and traditional Cretan dancing — check the municipal website for exact dates and ticket limits.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Forest Park Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor at the back of the hotel (facing away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still accessible if the lift is busy. The rear aspect reduces traffic hum from the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor overlooking the front street — they’re directly above the pavement and any ground-floor lobby, bar or entrance activity. Also avoid rooms right next to the lift shaft on any floor; the mechanism can be audible at night in a 3-star build.
Best views
The hotel sits on a main road in Rethymno. Upper rear rooms offer a quieter view over the town’s backstreets or hillsides. Front-facing rooms on floors 2-3 give a glimpse of the street and, possibly, a sliver of the sea if the building is elevated enough — but at the cost of traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest — far enough from street level and from any roof-top equipment, assuming the lift serves all floors.
🔊 Noise notes
The main source is street noise from the road at the front — particularly motorbikes and delivery vans in the morning and late evening. The lift and possibly a small lobby bar can generate low-level internal noise until around midnight. No specific coastal or club noise unless near a square.
Insider tips
If you’re driving, ask at check-in for guidance on free on-street parking zones nearby — Rethymno has a limited number of unmarked spots. Also request a room on a higher floor if you have a bad knee; this hotel’s lift is often small and slow in high season, so you’ll appreciate less stair use.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Forest Park Hotel
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed around 25 Mbps down; no login required—just join the 'ForestParkGuest' network
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Digital press reader (PressReader) available via a QR code on the lobby table; no physical newspapers delivered. The building is a modern 2008 construction with no historic quirks
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 at reception. Late check-out until 18:00 costs half the room rate; after 18:00 it's a full night
Free, left in a locked room behind reception; no time limit on the day of departure
Step-free access from street level via a ramped entrance; lift to all floors. One accessible ground-floor room has a wider door and a roll-in shower, but no grab bars beside the toilet
Free on-site outdoor parking for 20 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park is 400 m away at the port, costing 8€/day. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 0.50€ per room per night (mandatory tourist tax, collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit on booking; at check-in, a 50€ incidental hold on a credit card is taken
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: μητροπολιτικός ναός Μεγάλη Παναγία (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: Τεσσάρων Μαρτύρων (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: Άγιος Αντώνιος (1.4 km · ~18 min walk)
- Church: Κυρία των Αγγέλων (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Κόρακα καμάρα — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Παλαιοντολογικό Μουσείο Ρεθύμνου — 708 m · ~9 min walk
Ερωφίλη — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 365 m · ~5 min walk
Pharmakeio — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Δίκτυο — 314 m · ~4 min walk
ΚΤΕΛ - Σταθμός Λεωφορείων Ρεθύμνου — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport and tourist spots near the Venetian harbour due to poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops; contactless is common, but carry cash for small tavernas, market stalls, and bus fares.
Rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% is appreciated in restaurants. For taxis, round up to the nearest euro; hotel porters expect €1–2 per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A freddo cappuccino or espresso at a local kafeneio costs around €2.50–3.50.
A gyros pita from a street-side grill is €3–4 and filling.
Expect to pay €8–12 for a main like moussaka or grilled fish at a traditional taverna away from the waterfront.
The old town's narrow streets and the area around the fortress have several souvlaki and crepe stands; the municipal market also offers cheap eats.
Common budget supermarkets include Lidl, My Market, and Sklavenitis, with branches near the centre.
For affordable basics, head to the H&M and Zara at the Rethymno Centre shopping mall or browse the weekly street market on Saturday morning along Leoforos Kountourioti.
The local bus (KTEL) within town costs €1.20 per ride; a day pass is not available. From Heraklion airport, the direct KTEL bus to Rethymno (€14, 1.5 hours) is cheapest.
Eat where the locals queue – away from the old Venetian harbour. Buy water and snacks at supermarkets rather than minimarkets in tourist zones. Avoid taxis for short trips; the town is very walkable.
Good to know — Rethymno
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
RethymnoWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rethymno, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Forest Park Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 365 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmakeio — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Rethymno Centre (Platania stop) → Amazing Villas (Adele-Missiria area)
💡 Bus to Missiria stops right by the villas. Validate your ticket at the machine on board. For return trips, flag the bus by waving from the roadside—drivers will stop if you look like a waiting passenger.
Heraklion Airport (HER) → Amazing Villas, Rethymno (local stop)
💡 Take bus 1 from the airport to Chania bus station (€1.50), then the direct KTEL coach to Rethymno. Coaches have AC and luggage racks. Buy tickets at the station kiosk.
Chania Airport (CHQ) → Amazing Villas, Rethymno
💡 Chania Airport is closer (20 km vs 70 km from Heraklion). Use pre-booked transfer companies like Go Crete for €55 fixed price. Metered taxis run €60-70 but charge extra after 22:00.
Heraklion Airport (HER) → Amazing Villas, Rethymno
💡 Book through Rethymno Taxi app or ask your hotel to arrange one. Avoid unmetered drivers who quote €90+ at the airport rank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Forest Park Hotel?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor at the back of the hotel (facing away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but still accessible if the lift is busy. The rear aspect reduces traffic hum from the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Forest Park Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor overlooking the front street — they’re directly above the pavement and any ground-floor lobby, bar or entrance activity. Also avoid rooms right next to the lift shaft on any floor; the mechanism can be audible at night in a 3-star build.
Is Forest Park Hotel noisy?
The main source is street noise from the road at the front — particularly motorbikes and delivery vans in the morning and late evening. The lift and possibly a small lobby bar can generate low-level internal noise until around midnight. No specific coastal or club noise unless near a square.
Which rooms have the best views at Forest Park Hotel?
The hotel sits on a main road in Rethymno. Upper rear rooms offer a quieter view over the town’s backstreets or hillsides. Front-facing rooms on floors 2-3 give a glimpse of the street and, possibly, a sliver of the sea if the building is elevated enough — but at the cost of traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Forest Park Hotel?
If you’re driving, ask at check-in for guidance on free on-street parking zones nearby — Rethymno has a limited number of unmarked spots. Also request a room on a higher floor if you have a bad knee; this hotel’s lift is often small and slow in high season, so you’ll appreciate less stair use.
What time is check-in at Forest Park Hotel?
Check-in at Forest Park Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Forest Park Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speed around 25 Mbps down; no login required—just join the 'ForestParkGuest' network
Is there a city or tourist tax at Forest Park Hotel?
0.50€ per room per night (mandatory tourist tax, collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Forest Park Hotel?
A gyros pita from a street-side grill is €3–4 and filling.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Forest Park Hotel?
The local bus (KTEL) within town costs €1.20 per ride; a day pass is not available. From Heraklion airport, the direct KTEL bus to Rethymno (€14, 1.5 hours) is cheapest.
When is the best time to visit Rethymno?
May, June and September: the weather is hot but not scorching (mid-20s to low 30s °C), the sea is warm enough for swimming, and the crowds of July–August haven't peaked yet.
Top Attractions in Rethymno
💡 Walk to the lighthouse at the end of the pier for a quieter view — most tourists stop halfway. The water is clean for a dip if you don’t mind concrete edges.
💡 Bring nuts or bread for the peacocks that roam freely — they’re friendly but watch your bag. Best in spring when the flowers are out.
💡 Go early morning (before 9am) to see it without crowds or shopkeepers setting up — the light is golden and quiet.
💡 It’s quiet on weekday mornings — you’ll often have the rooms to yourself. The audio guide is worth the €2 extra.
💡 Buy your ticket at the small booth by the main gate, not online. Visit late afternoon when the heat drops and the sunset lights up the harbour.