Nautilux Rethymno

Everything about this hotel was truly 5-star – the service, staff, breakfast, pool, and overall experience. My wife and I stayed for 7 days and enjoyed every moment.

The hotel is a little outside central Rethymno, but it’s easy to get there by taxi (around €7, and the hotel can arrange one for you) or by walking, which takes about 30 minutes. There is also a supermarket nearby and several excellent traditional tavernas within walking distance.

The highlight of our stay was definitely the outstanding service from the staff – without a doubt the best service we’ve ever experienced. They greeted us warmly every morning at breakfast and were always friendly and welcoming. A special thank you to Nikos and Irene for their exceptional service.

We stayed in a standard room, but in hindsight we would probably have chosen one of the upgraded rooms. Overall, this hotel lives up to its 5-star rating.

A very attractive, modern hotel with a wonderful atmosphere. Every staff member ensures a successful stay with the utmost care and dedication. I sincerely congratulate the management on running such an excellent hotel and thank you for a wonderful stay.

We had a fantastic stay at Nautilux and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

We stayed in a Classic Room with a pool view, which was lovely and spacious, with a generous-sized balcony. The room and the hotel itself were absolutely spotless throughout our stay. The room was well equipped with a coffee machine, and the mini fridge was refilled with bottled water every day. One thing that’s worth noting is that there aren’t any drawers in the room, so storage is limited to the hanging wardrobe space, although this wasn’t an issue for us as the wardrobe was large enough for everything we needed. Robes and slippers were also provided by the hotel, which was a lovely added touch.

The hotel has two large pools and a private beach, and we never had any issues finding sunbeds, even when heading to the pool after breakfast around 11am or returning from a day trip in the afternoon. Pool towels are provided daily and can be collected from either the pool or beach area. We also loved the little touches from the staff, who regularly came around the pool offering complimentary iced tea, fresh watermelon and frozen towels, which were especially appreciated in the heat.

The private beach was beautiful and very peaceful. The sea was quite rough during our stay (obviously not the hotel’s fault!), so it’s worth paying attention to the red flags before going in.

The staff were absolutely excellent throughout our holiday — friendly, welcoming and genuinely helpful at every turn. From the moment we arrived, they carried our cases from the taxi to our room, and again when we left, which was such a thoughtful touch. They were always opening doors for us, showing us to our tables, and making sure we were comfortable. Nothing was ever too much trouble. They arranged taxis into Rethymno Old Town for us whenever we needed one, and on my birthday they surprised me by leaving a birthday cake in our room, despite us never mentioning it. It was such a thoughtful gesture and made the day feel even more special.

The location was ideal for us. Rethymno Old Town is around a 35-minute walk along the seafront, or about five minutes in a taxi costing around €8 each way. There is a taxi stand at the end of the road by the beach, and we never had to wait long, if at all.

We also did a day trip to Lake Kournas and Georgioupoli, which we would highly recommend. It was around a 35-minute drive from the hotel. We hired pedalos at Lake Kournas and were lucky enough to see the turtles, before taking the land train into Georgioupoli to explore the town.

Rethymno Old Town itself is beautiful, with plenty to see and explore. The little back streets are full of character, with a great variety of shops, restaurants and bars, so there is always somewhere new to discover and plenty of choice for evenings out.

Although there were a few teenagers staying during our visit, it really wasn’t an issue. We usually book adults-only hotels, but this felt just as peaceful and relaxing.

We booked on a bed and breakfast basis, and the breakfast was one of the best we’ve had. There was a huge variety every morning, including fresh breads, pastries and cakes, all styles of eggs, meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, juices and a great selection of teas. Everything was constantly replenished, so nothing ever seemed to run out.

Overall, we had a wonderful holiday and would happily return. Nautilux offers beautiful facilities, exceptional service and a great location for exploring Rethymno while still providing a peaceful place to relax. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay so memorable!