Nautilux Rethymno by Mage Hotel

This place was amazing!! After suffering a serious incident at another hotel and having an operation, we moved here for 8 days. From arrival to checkout the staff were beyond exceptional. The food is outstanding and some of the best dinner's i'd eaten abroad. So so clean and refreshing having happy smiling staff who chatted and joked with us. Other guests we met were all lovely and pleasant too. We had a seaview and that was lovely and cleaned daily. Would we return? Absolutely we will be. Would we recommend? 1000% Located on a beach and sea front. Can't comment on the pools and beach as i was in a wheelchair but they looked amazing. Best hotel we've stayed in ♡

We stayed at this hotel for 7 nights from May into early June 2026 and overall had a very enjoyable stay. While there are definitely some areas for improvement, there is also a lot that the hotel gets right. We stayed in Room 452, one of the rooms with an indoor jacuzzi. The room itself was very modern and stylish, with a comfortable bed and excellent bathroom facilities. We particularly appreciated the thoughtful extras, including a hairdryer and even a hair straightener, which was a nice touch. The welcome bag upon arrival was also a lovely added extra and helped create a great first impression. The balcony was spacious and offered beautiful views over the pool, the sea, and the evening entertainment area. However, this did come with a downside. The entertainment only took place on certain nights (for example Tuesdays and Thursdays) but often continued until around 10:30pm. As the rooms are not particularly soundproof, it can be difficult to get an early night if you're feeling unwell or simply want some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, noise was one of the main drawbacks during our stay. We were regularly woken around 7:45am because the area directly below Room 452 appears to be where staff gather before beginning their morning cleaning duties. We could hear buckets being filled with water and general activity. We also experienced noise from the room above us on two separate occasions. To the hotel's credit, when we raised the issue, reception took it seriously and the Hotel Relations Manager personally came to find us by the pool to apologise. It was reassuring to see that our concerns were acknowledged and that the hotel was willing to address them. Another small issue was an occasional unpleasant smell coming from the toilet, similar to the drainage odour you sometimes encounter while walking around parts of Crete. The breakfast buffet offered a huge selection, fresh juices and plenty of choice. The quality of the ingredients was generally good and there was something for everyone. However, one consistent issue was the temperature of the food. Much of it was cold and, at best, only warm rather than properly hot. While this didn't ruin breakfast for us, it was noticeable throughout our stay. The staff throughout the hotel deserve special recognition. The waiters, bar staff, cleaners and general team members were impeccable and are a real asset to the hotel. Their friendliness and professionalism significantly enhanced our experience. Lunch around the pool was very good and we enjoyed several meals there. Unfortunately, the evening buffet did not match the same standard. Similar to breakfast, much of the food was cold or only lukewarm. On one occasion the wedges served were undercooked and raw in the middle. Overall, we found the evening buffet disappointing compared with both the poolside lunch menu and the standard expected of a hotel aiming for five-star status. Personally, I think the hotel could easily improve its dining experience by introducing an à la carte evening option. Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent restaurants within walking distance, so dining elsewhere is very easy. Drinks at the hotel, particularly alcoholic drinks, are quite expensive compared with local bars and restaurants. The pool facilities, beach area and overall grounds are immaculate and very well maintained. The aqua aerobics sessions in the pool were fantastic and the fitness instructor was genuinely enthusiastic and engaging. Overall, this is a good hotel with many excellent features. While it is marketed as a five-star property, we felt it currently delivers more of a four-star experience due to issues such as the lack of storage space in the rooms, soundproofing concerns and the quality of the buffet dining. However, the hotel is still relatively new and there is enormous potential here. With a few improvements, particularly around guest comfort, food temperature and evening dining options, it could very easily become the five-star destination it aspires to be.

Went with family of three granddaughters and it was superb. Staff was amazing, dining was amazing, Every aspect was perfect. Could not recommend it more.

We've just returned home after a 9 night stay in the Nautilux. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We were in a room on the first floor overlooking the pool and towards the restaurant, which gave us great late afternoon sun on our balcony. It wasn't the biggest of rooms, but comfortable and stylish. We were on bed a breakfast basis, but also quite often had lunch by the pool. Food was of a high standard, both at breakfast and from the pool bar menu. I think our highlight was probably the staff, who without exception were friendly and professional. The place is spotless and clearly very well cared for. The staff all seemed happy/enthusiastic, which is always a good sign. There are quite a number of sunbeds arranged around the pool and probably twice as many on the hotel's stretch of beach which is kept spotlessly clean and attended by waiters in case you'd like a drink or snack. Very comfy sunbeds and a few gazebos/kabanas which offered a bit more shade if required. From a location point of view, the hotel is a good 20'ish minutes walk from the port and old town. We walked it once but mainly took a taxi which the hotel are happy to book for you. The price is 8 Euros (every taxi charged exactly the same so I guess it's either a standard fare or metered). We did hire a car for our stay, but we were so chilled out that it hardly moved from the underground carpark (15 Euros per day). The only slight niggles were the lighting controls in our room and the 'atmospheric music' in the common areas The room uses touch sensitive controls, which is great, but there wasn't a main control panel near the door, which seems a bit of a shortcoming. You had to walk to the bed side (in a dark room) to use the panel on the wall to switch all the lights on. It felt a little 'form over function'. The only other thing we weren't enamored with was the constant techno music which played over the speakers by the pool and on the beach. It wasn't the loudness, but the constant back-beat which we thought was a bit unnecessary - maybe we're becoming old farts? These are really only 'first-world problems' and didn't spoil our time in the hotel at all. Just feedback. Lots of nice places to eat in the old town and a few tavernas near the hotel which are worth a visit (probably not the place right next door - see my review. If you do go into the old town to eat, check out the Veneto Wine Restaurant - see separate review. which we thought was stunning. Were we to return to Rethymno we'd certainly stay at the Nautilux again.

We had a 12 night stay here, and have been absolutely impressed by the hotel. There were some initial issues - not enough storage space for clothes, nowhere to hang long dresses, heating not working, hairdryer cutting out, but all these were dealt with perfectly satisfactorily and speedily by the staff, which was great! The room itself, the furniture, bed and bedding, balcony with the hot tub, all perfect. The range and quality of the food in the restaurant- absolutely first class, and great value for money. Location of the hotel - excellent, with beach, pools, sitting areas and pool bar all clean and tidy. Close to different eating places and shops too. But the crowning glory if the hotel is its staff, all, without exception, very professional, extremely friendly and personable. And the massage was very good too! Thank you to you all for a fantastic holiday - you all should be very proud!