Nautilux Rethymno by Mage Hotel

The hotel should get 5/5 but sadly the lunch food and service lets this place down. Let’s start at the beginning because there is so much that is good about this place. The staff at reception were helpful and friendly throughout the stay, ordering taxis and sorting out queries with no fuss whatsoever. Always polite, always calm and always friendly. The two ladies on the concierge desk were equally great, engaging and friendly. The room was a good size, not enough hangers but a solution with additional hangers was provided within about 5 mins of entering the room. Bathroom area was big enough and everything worked well. Still can’t get over the paper in the bin thing but that’s Crete and not the hotels fault. I found the bed firm, felt like a memory foam mattress but that’s a personal thing, balcony was big and easily enough for two, and was great they had integrated drying rails into the design. Breakfast was vast and very tasty, service at the tables was a bit hit and miss but improved through the holiday. I got the impression that the first couple of days some new people were being trained and it didn’t really affect the breakfast. Kudos to the chef/team who sorted the pots to keep food warm but the pancakes were pretty good considering they were cooked and kept warm, usually they are cold or hard but they managed to keep them moist and warm. There is pretty much everything u could want except strawberries. However really pleased with the breakfast. Lunch was poor, we had three goes at it but each time it got steadily worse both in terms of service (in two out of three we had to go and get our own menus and inform the team we were sitting down) and food which op went from the ok to the ridiculous (the last one was the bao bun which cost €14 for one prawn and a bun that by the time it arrived the mayo had become as runny as water, the buns were sitting in this for so long that when u picked up the bun the fold underneath collapsed and most of the filling fell out. We were asked by two different servers if the food was ok, told them how poor it was and nothing happened. Pools etc were great, clean and good temp. There were loads of sunbeds, plus the hotel has additional beds on the beach which is adjacent to the hotel. The sea was pretty warm but rough due to local winds. The hotel location is 3k outside of the old town. This was not an issue for us as we used cabs, but unless u fancy a 45 min walk either way u need a way to get around. I would happily go back as we would know to avoid the lunch mess and the rest of the experience was excellent.

What a fantastic hotel - both staff and food were incredible, the best we have encountered in years of travel (and I am fussy) So why have I given 4 stars? 1. We on a few occasions were unable to use the balony due to the pungent smell coming from the road (beyond the hotels control I know) room 410 lowish level balcony facing the road 2. No hanging space for long garments (also no drawers) A hanging rail was promply supplied by the hotel ( think this may have been mentionded before) But overall I would highly recommend staying at this hotel

What a lovely resort and so well kept. We had a true 5* experience. Beautifull sea view from the sea view rooms and always free sunbeds by the sea. The gym was small but as you booked ahead there was always enough space to train. The location was good as well as it made the long walks possibly by the sea side. There was also a taxi stand just 50 m away if you did not want to walk to the city center every day. Will recommend and hopefully have the possibility to return someday.

Everything from start to finish was fabulous at Nautilux! The room, the service, and the staff in every department were genuinely helpful, attentive, and always anticipated our needs before we even asked. Having walked around most of the town, we couldn't find a better-situated or more beautiful hotel in Rethymno. ​My husband and I visited Crete for the first time to celebrate our 2nd anniversary, and we couldn't have picked a better place. The hotel even graciously upgraded us to a room with a private pool—a wonderful gesture, especially since they didn't even know we were celebrating! This hotel is an absolute gem in Rethymno, and we can't wait to go back in the future!

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.