Nostos Beach Boutique Hotel

“A place that made us return to Crete the next year”

We’ve been to Nostos hotel in May 2023. It’s been a delightful stay but we were so overwhelmed that we forgot to post our review. The staff is amazing, always very welcoming and extremely friendly. They would always try to go an extra mile whenever asked nicely, and from what we saw with other gue… more

We’ve been to Nostos hotel in May 2023. It’s been a delightful stay but we were so overwhelmed that we forgot to post our review. The staff is amazing, always very welcoming and extremely friendly. They would always try to go an extra mile whenever asked nicely, and from what we saw with other guests, everyone is professional and respectful even in uncomfortable situations. Our type of apartment was the 2nd best in the hotel and while it didn’t have a sea-view, the quiet and quaint garden view from terrace was well worth it. The room was nice with comfortable bed, two toilets and showers, and it was cleaned every day by the most friendly room service imaginable, it was always well stocked with fresh garments, and all in all, a nice place to sleep and relax in. The only downside may be that the rooms are rather long so the air doesn’t circulate very well from all the way back. The hotel isn’t brand new but it feels very well maintained and its twisting halls and corners make it feel like a very classical building with a lot of character. We made friends with the chef over our diet preferences and he made special vegan meals just for us, and also purchased plant milk (apparently enjoyed by other guests as well :D). All regular foods were very tasty too. The food choice was appropriate to the medium size hotel (we had half-board). The well stocked mini market is right next to the hotel, the sand beach is 50 meters down a quiet road. The area is somewhat busy even early in the season but not too much to feel crowded. The town of Bali is on a great spot between Heraklion, Rethymnon and the inland, so our car travels were never too long and there was always somewhere new to explore.

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“A little taste of paradise”

Tucked away in the bustling village of Bali is Nostos Boutique hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Our standard room was HUGE!!!! It was clean and tended to daily by housekeeping who refreshed our towels, loo rolls, shower gel/soap/shampoo and bedding and also mopped the floors! O… more

Tucked away in the bustling village of Bali is Nostos Boutique hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Our standard room was HUGE!!!! It was clean and tended to daily by housekeeping who refreshed our towels, loo rolls, shower gel/soap/shampoo and bedding and also mopped the floors! Our room opened out onto the pool area with luxury sun loungers and sofas - the mountain view was stunning!! The beach was 10M away, with shops on the main street just a 1 minute walk from the hotel. You could book excursions, rent a car, eat out, shop for essentials or souvenirs all within 1/4 mile radius. We went half board and this included breakfast and dinner - breakfast had everything you could think of and was served buffet style. Dinner choices were limited, not off the main menu and unfortunately lacked many traditional Greek dishes - but the food was not bad. The restaurant was stylish and the waiting staff were attentive and happy to chat. We will be returning and recommending to our family and friends. We were sad to leave. If you get the chance, stay here!!!!

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“Disappointing. This is not a 4 star hotel. These are self serve apartments.”

This is NOT a 4 star hotel. I think it’s important people know what they’re booking. These are essentially studio apartments with a below average buffet restaurant. But even then, the studios are equipped with nothing but a fridge. Ours didn’t have so much as a teaspoon. There is none of the servic… more

This is NOT a 4 star hotel. I think it’s important people know what they’re booking. These are essentially studio apartments with a below average buffet restaurant. But even then, the studios are equipped with nothing but a fridge. Ours didn’t have so much as a teaspoon. There is none of the service you’d expect from a 4 star hotel. You’re very much left to fend for yourself. The staff were unfriendly and unhelpful. There’s no room service, the pool bar never opened in the week we were there so I had to go down to the beach bar and bring drinks back each time. The loungers on the beach are not free for guests (and are the most expensive in the area at €30 a pair, go elsewhere). You even have to pay for fresh towels if you want to take them to the beach. The locals have completely filled the beach with loungers so be prepared for a rather cramped experience. The next bay along is nicer. The buffet breakfast is good but I was stopped taking a cup of coffee back to the room with me. Even though there’s no coffee machine in the room, no room service, and the pool bar was never going to open he said. The buffet restaurant does an evening meal for €20 each. It was awful. The food was cold. I asked for a wine list but was just told “red or white”. Eat elsewhere for cheaper. The restaurant by the beach has a lovely ambience and vibe but sadly the food is also substandard and the staff are unfriendly (apart from lovely Ava!) Despite going in there for drinks every day there was no recognition from the staff. We had prawns and mussels which did not taste fresh and when I asked the waiter he could not confirm if they were fresh or not. I guess there’s the answer. The communal pool areas are lovely, and clean too, and the rooms are a great size, but just without the 4 star feel. We even had to make our own bed on the first night. Bizarrely the sheet was left folded up on the bed for us. The bathroom sink never had working hot water and the shower smelled of rotten eggs when in use. We also had flies in the bathroom like another review mentions. The safe is not digital and required us to go and ask for a key at reception. I stopped asking the receptionist for help because she did not seem at all interested to be honest. Even when I told her my young child had fallen ill she told me to check the doctor info online myself. Likewise, in the restaurant I told the waiter I needed to eat but was going to put my daughter into bed in the room. There was no offer of bringing food to the room. I had to leave her alone in bed and rush back to the restaurant for it. If you don’t mind self service and manage to get a last minute cheap deal here (as we did thank goodness), then this place is great. But just don’t expect a 4 star hotel. I have no idea how it has this accolade.

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“Pros and Cons”

This is not a resort, however the pools are beautiful. The beach is terrible, and too crowded with chairs. No space to sit on sand, so you have to rent a chair squeezed in amongst the hoards. Go to Panormos Beach; nicer sand, space to sit on sand, and not so crowded. No hot water. Be sure to test … more

This is not a resort, however the pools are beautiful. The beach is terrible, and too crowded with chairs. No space to sit on sand, so you have to rent a chair squeezed in amongst the hoards. Go to Panormos Beach; nicer sand, space to sit on sand, and not so crowded. No hot water. Be sure to test your shower when you arrive. If there's some secret to it, take care of it before you're naked! No shower door, so bathroom floor got extremely wet. Was only given 1 towel for 2 people, so check your towels before you go to bed. Receptionist was the only employee, so if you need towels, be ready to go get them. We couldn't get the air conditioning to a comfortable temperature the 2nd night and couldn't sleep. Check it before you go to bed. Nice view from balcony over the pool; could see a tiny bit of Mediterranean. Room was super cute and decorated nicely with living area and couch, but not enough light in room. Could only put makeup on in bathroom. Has a fridge & cupboards. Breakfast wasn't up to American standards. Scrambled eggs were ok, but looked a little weird. Bacon was extremely undercooked. Sausage was kielbasa type, not breakfast sausage. Omelets looked weird, were very thin and rolled up like crepes. Toaster didn't toast both side of bread. Bread was thick and good. Pastries were good. Pancakes were too thin. Nice salad, meat, and cheese. Nice fruit station. Terrific seating outside on deck with view of sea. Dinner at restaurant was delicious (Ribs & Fries) & not too expensive (got 20% off for being Expedia gold member) All staff was friendly.

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