RG Village Crete

"Stayed here for 5 nights in June and can confidently say this is far from a 5-star resort. The hotel has so much potential, as the grounds themselves are absolutely stunning. The views of both the mountains and the sea are beautiful, there are plenty of pools to choose from, and the rooms are generally comfortable. The private transfers organised by the hotel to the private beach and Rethymnon town are also a great addition. Unfortunately, these positives do not come close to outweighing the negatives. The reception staff require some serious training. There appeared to be three female staff members rotating on the front desk, and every interaction with them felt patronising and dismissive. Any time I had a query or required assistance, I was made to feel as though I was inconveniencing them. This was an experience which may guests shared also. However, the bar and restaurant staff, transfer drivers, and housekeeping team were exceptional throughout our stay - friendly, attentive, and always willing to help. Despite being advertised as all-inclusive, this hotel falls short of what most people would expect. Several snacks and drinks incur additional charges, and all-inclusive service ends at 11pm, after which all food and beverages must be paid for. This was surprising as such restrictions are uncommon for all inclusive hotels. The food by far and without exception, the most disappointing aspect of our stay. The selection was limited, lacked variety, and appeared to be made from frozen or canned ingredients. Throughout our stay, I spoke with numerous guests who shared the same opinion. For a hotel claiming a 5-star standard, the quality of the food is simply not good enough and requires significant improvement. Housekeeping is also unnecessarily complicated. Guests are required to submit an online request before midnight each day if they want their room cleaned the following day. Aside from feeling like an unnecessary administrative task while on holiday, the system itself does not appear reliable. On one occasion, I attempted to submit a cleaning request multiple times throughout the day, but the website repeatedly displayed an error message. I therefore left with no other option but to seek assistance from reception and was assured that the request had been successfully booked. Which, again, I was told in a rather patronising way. The following day, however, the room was not cleaned. When I raised the issue, I was simply asked if I wanted fresh towels, which were later left in a bin liner on my bed. Given that the problem was due to the hotel’s own system, this response felt inadequate. There was also very little entertainment during our stay. While there are several bars around the resort, the atmosphere was generally flat, with little going on in the evenings. On more than one occasion, guests were told to keep quiet despite not being that loud. If it weren’t for the guests that I met during my stay, I genuinely think I would have spent my evenings in my room. If you are looking for a holiday with some fun, this probably isn’t the hotel for you as it seems ‘fun’ is forbidden. Although the resort has considerable potential, it currently falls well short of the 5-star standard it advertises. It requires significant improvements and ultimately as it stands, I would not return."

"It's simply what someone needs for vacation - fresh air - nature - amazing view - close to everything - gym - all day food choices - beautiful clean rooms with plants and mediterranean odours- just a quick drive from the centre - activities that are chosen by the hotel which follow the quality of its service! Always there to make me feel like home anything i asked for or need!! Ofcourse kindness is very important but they respect that and return double thw politeness !! Its my favourite destination from now on!!"

"RG Village Hotel is a fascinating place if you’ve ever wondered what happens when “all-inclusive” is treated as a creative writing exercise. The area is lovely, and the bar and restaurant staff were genuinely friendly and hardworking. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the management and reception team, who often seemed annoyed that guests existed at all. Several things advertised before arrival had mysteriously disappeared by the time we got there, and there always seemed to be another little charge waiting around the corner. “All-inclusive” comes with more terms and conditions than you’d expect. The evenings were very quiet, with little entertainment or much to do. My personal highlight was paying extra for a late checkout and then being told my suitcase couldn’t be left where the security camera could see it and had to be hidden around the corner instead. An interesting approach to security. Overall, the location deserves far better than the hotel. It felt like a business focused on extracting every extra euro while providing the bare minimum in return. I won’t be returning, and I’d recommend others read the reviews carefully before booking."