Hotels and Rooms in Crete
Hotels have government regulated prices (which should be listed in the rooms) but don't forget that these are the maximum prices allowed. It is not unusual to get rooms for a lower rate, especially out of the peak season (generally mid-summer and especially August) and if you are staying more than a few nights.
Hotels of lower category are simple but clean and almost always have an attached bathroom. Single rooms are not common so if you travel on your own you are likely to have to take a double room. Most hotels will however lower the price.
Prices for a double room start at around € 40 per night for low category hotels in cheap areas and go up to well above € 200 when you go to luxury hotels (mostly on the north coast of Crete).
The price more or less determines the standard of the accommodation but will not necessarily be reflected in other important aspects such as the location (proximity of the beach, type of beach, whether it is quiet or right next to a road or a disco, ease of access and so on) so it is important to do your homework and find out that what you are booking is also what you want.
A good place to find out what type of accommodation is available in any area is to use booking.com as a search engine, not as a booking platform. If you see something that you like but booking.com shows it as not available for your dates it doesn't mean that it is full: many hotels only release a limited number of rooms to the platform. Contact the place directly and talk to them. You might also get a better deal which is another reason for contacting hotels directly.
Airbnb is also a good place to start looking as long as you don't have any ethical issues with Airbnb.
Airbnb’s growth in cities like Chania and Rethymnon has had significant effects on local housing markets. Many property owners convert long-term rentals into short-term holiday lets, driven by higher income potential. This reduces the availability of affordable housing for locals, often pushing prices up and making it harder for residents—especially younger people and families—to find suitable homes.
Additionally, increased tourist footfall in residential neighborhoods can lead to noise, overcrowding, and a sense of community loss, causing some locals to relocate. While Airbnb boosts tourism revenue, balancing economic benefits with affordable housing remains a challenge for these Cretan cities.
