Porto del Colombo

A historic building with rooms, suites and apartments, a stone’s throw from Chania’s pretty Venetian harbour and its buzzing streetlife

Crete is an island with everything - from snowy mountains to sandy beaches, from ancient palaces to modern music. And Chania, you could fairly say, is a city with everything. Tempting tavernas, seductive shops, historic houses, myriad museums, charming chapels, and a picturesque port at its heart - it’s the ideal base for anyone exploring western Crete. Combine it with a trip to the White Mountains and the south coast, and you have a ready-made holiday of 7 to 14 days.

In the island and city with everything, the Porto del Colombo is the hotel with everything. A family apartment for 4-6, a duplex suite for 3, or a simple bedroom for 2 - this place can provide it. It has a central location: the apartments overlook the seafront, while the main hotel is just a block away. And plenty of history: built by the Venetians, it has housed a French ambassador, a Greek politician and a cellarful of Ottoman slaves. Best of all, it has very reasonable prices. The only thing it might not have is availability.

Highs

• Central location in the Venetian quarter
• Atmospheric rooms, with wooden floors and beamed ceilings
• Some rooms have a view of the harbour, and the duplex rooms have lots of space
• Attentive service
• Superb one- and two-bedroom apartments

Lows

• Noise from the seafront tavernas
• Steep stairs to the top floors
• The lower rooms don’t have a view
• It’s often full