Scala de Faro, Chania

Pros

• This historic location is combined with intricate modern touches, like beautiful custom-designed wooden furniture pieces and decorations to create something memorable.
• The hotel is ADA-compliant, as it has a wheelchair lift for the stairs to reception and has one room for folks with wheelchairs or mobility needs.
• There are room options for couples, solo travelers, and families or groups of friends, as all can find a room type that fits. 

Cons

• Most of the rooms follow the “open storage” plan that many hotels are now taking part in, which can be frustrating for folks who don’t want to see their stuff everywhere. The Presidential Suite offers a closet for those who want to hide their things away.
• The hotel doesn’t have parking and guests can’t drive into Old Town due to the restrictions of Chania, but the hotel offers a porter service to help bring your bags to your room.

Authenticity

While the hotel opened in 2018, the Venetian-built Scala de Faro building dates back to the 15th century. Its occupants changed over time – it changed hands from Venetian nobles to a Turkish-Cretan family to hotel owners in the 1930s – and it was even a brothel at one point, which is easy to imagine as you climb the beautiful staircases in the building. The arched staircase on the hotel’s front facade makes it stand out on the harbor and guests can find a photo of it back in 1898, looking much as it does now. 

The Scala de Faro doesn’t just live in its authentic past though; the stunning interior design of interesting light fixtures and intricate wooden pieces lining walls and headboards all come from the hands of local Cretan crafts people. In fact, those ornate wood pieces are all based on patterns that were once found on the original building’s walls.

Location

Scala de Faro is located directly across from the Chania lighthouse, so guests can enjoy views of the harbor depending on the room they book. The lighthouse itself can be reached in 20 minutes by foot, while the parking area of Talos Square is just five minutes away. The hotel’s prime location means the area is a hot spot in the summertime but all of the rooms have been reinforced with soundproof windows that keep out most of the sound. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

The nine suites can comfortably sleep solo travelers, couples, or even families up to six people thanks to three rooms that connect with each other. There is one room that is ADA-compliant, which features wider doors and a bathroom equipped for those in wheelchairs, while the hotel includes a wheelchair lift at the stairs to reception.

Several of the rooms feature balconies that overlook either the harbor or Old Town and mountains, which are great options for those wanting some outdoor space. All of the rooms include amenities like robes and while most of them feature open storage racks, the Presidential suite does have a proper closet for those who want to hide their things away. While the Master Suite offers amazing sea views, it does have an exposed bathtub, which makes it great for couples or free-spirited friends.