Pepi Boutique Hotel

Tucked away in a leafy side street in the very heart of Rethymnon's picturesque old town, this small family-run hotel provides the perfect base from which to explore all the cities main sights, as well as her many hidden treasures. The beautiful Venetian harbour with its historic, stone-built lighthouse is less than 300 metres away, and from there it is just a short stroll west to the main entrance of the Venetian seafront fortress. The town's archaeological museum is just a minute's walk away, and the ecclesiastical museum and the museum of contemporary art are also within easy walking distance. The start of the main sandy beach, which runs east for several miles, is a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

The mainly pedestrianised streets that surround Pepi Boutique Hotel are full of local shops, cafés and restaurants, giving the neighbourhood a vibrant and authentic ambience, but the hotel's tastefully designed interiors, and its lovely courtyard garden, feel like an oasis of calm amidst this hive of activity. Shaded by fragrant citrus trees and tall palm trees, the walled garden incorporates a small swimming pool, perfect for a refreshing dip after a day spent sightseeing.

The original part of the building dates back to the 19th century and had once served as a school but had fallen into disrepair before it was bought by the grandfather of the current generation of owners. His son converted it into studio apartments in the 1980s, and in 2009 his children embarked on a project to fully restore and sympathetically extend the property, transforming it into a boutique hotel that successfully blends the building's traditional charm and character with modern comfort and contemporary style.

The hotel comprises 18 rooms and suites, which vary slightly in terms of size and layout, but all are comfortably furnished and attractively decorated in warm, subtle tones. Each has a modern en-suite shower room and a small kitchenette unit with a fridge, kettle and coffeemaker. Other amenities include air-conditioning, smart TVs with satellite channels, free WiFi, safety deposit boxes, hairdryers, slippers and beach towels. Standard rooms are on the ground floor surrounding the pool and garden whilst the slightly larger superior rooms are on the upper floor, most with balconies. There are also a couple of compact split-level maisonettes on the ground floor, with the sleeping area on raised a gallery, as well as two larger suites on the upper floor. These also have their sleeping areas on an open mezzanine level, and a comfortable lounge area below, with one sofa bed in the junior suite and two sofa beds in the main suite (prices for third or fourth person sharing on request).

The siblings that run Pepi take great pride in their hotel and are always on hand to help their guests get the most out of their stay. A wholesome breakfast prepared from local ingredients and homemade treats sets you up for the day, and your hosts will be happy to provide tips and recommendations for local eateries, as Rethymnon boasts a large selection to cater for all tastes. Occasionally, they also offer Cretan wine tastings in the hotel's vaulted wine cellar, and guided walks around the city, on request. For exploring further afield, the main bus station is less than 10 minutes' walk away, whilst for those planning to hire a car, the municipal car park is a 5-minute walk away.