Here is our review and scoring of The Island Concept Boutique Hotel in Agios Nikolaos based on our stay in a Deluxe Room with Outdoor Jacuzzi (Delos) in September 2021.
The Island Concept Boutique Hotel is a small luxury boutique hotel/resort part of Aria Hotels. The property has 15 rooms and suites and many of them have a private pool or outdoor jacuzzi.
1. Location 18/20:
The Island Concept Boutique Hotel is located approximately 45 minutes away from Heraklion and 3 hours away from Chania. The hotel is located approximately 3 kilometers from Agios Nikolaos town.
The resort is set on its own secluded mini peninsula and has its own small private beach. You can also walk to Almyros Beach if you want to use a larger beach and other swimming spots along the coast between the hotel and Agios Nikolaos town.
We walked to Agios Nikolaos one night using the beach and road to the hotel. It was a pleasant walk during daylight but it was very dark at night and there were few streetlights and no sidewalks. Thankfully, it was easy to drive to Agios Nikolaos and find parking for times we didn’t feel like walking.
The Island Concept has a convenient location to explore the east side of Crete. You can visit villages like Kritsa and Mochlos, the Lato ruins, Heraklion, the wineries near Heraklion, as well as many beaches easily. We do find that since Crete is very large and how many things there are to see, renting a car is very convenient.
2. Bed and sleep quality 18/20:
The bed was very comfortable and our sleep quality was really good here due to how quiet it is! There was only one room beside us and very little foot traffic which made it very quiet, private, and peaceful.
3. Room and room amenities 19/20:
Each room has the name of a Greek Island; we stayed in Delos, a Deluxe Room with Outdoor Jacuzzi. This is the 2nd lowest room category but it was perfect for us and was very luxurious.
Upon entering the room, your senses are astounded by the marble in the room, the simplistic white design that makes it look so bright and fresh, and the scent of the Le Labot fragrance they chose.
There are very thoughtful and smart touches to the room, including the lighting system that allows for lots of options and the mechanical blinds.
The room was well designed with the bed in the middle, a small seating area, a large closet and storage area, and equipped with a mini-fridge. There is also an Illy coffee machine (like Nespresso), bottled water replenished daily, slippers and robes. As a welcome gift, we were provided with a bottle of Greek red wine and local pastries.
Our room had a large outdoor space with a view of the sea towards Agios Nikolaos. There was an outdoor Jacuzzi, 2 lounge chairs and a small table. The Jacuzzi water was a little cool and so we used it as a small plunge pool during the day but would have enjoyed warmer water to enjoy using it during the cooler evenings. A small curtain was installed to enclose the outdoor space for privacy but it blocked the view and so we asked the hotel staff to remove it. There was also a door to enter the outdoor space but it needs to be replaced and was difficult to open and close. We enjoyed the outdoor space but felt slight modifications could have improved it.
4. Bathroom 9/10:
The bathroom was majestic due to all the marble and gold fixtures. It had double sinks, high-quality toiletries and towels, and a large shower with excellent water pressure. We really enjoyed the Le Labo fragrance they selected; it wasn’t overpowering and was very relaxing.
5. Hotel Public Areas and Amenities 9/10:
The Island Concept Boutique Hotel is a stunning property; it reminds you of the scenery you see in Santorini but as a resort in Crete. There are small details around the hotel and its grounds; a stunning view accentuated by detailed landscaping is always a few steps away.
The hotel has some really great amenities for guests; an outdoor pool with sunbeds to admire the views, an outdoor gym/workout area, a restaurant and bar, a spa, and free parking.
We arrived in the evening and were invited to the bar for a welcome drink; we were served a glass of sparkling wine as we enjoyed the view of the pool.
Complimentary breakfast was served every morning in the restaurant a-la-carte style. There were local and international options. We enjoyed breakfast every morning, especially the espresso freddos while admiring the view!
6. Service and staff 8/10:
We were satisfied with the service overall and rate it above average but some minor improvements would make it excellent. For example, receiving a pre-arrival email with directions to the hotel and general information would have been useful.
The housekeeping is also impeccable; our room was always serviced while we were gone and the room was spotless. They also offer turndown service which was nice. Water was also replenished daily. The housekeeper also left us a note on our last night wishing us a nice trip which was a thoughtful gesture.
7. Overall Value 8/10:
Based on the quality of the accommodations, the location, the service, and the resort amenities, it is worth the splurge to stay at The Island Concept Boutique Hotel. You cannot use points to book a stay here but you can use credits earned from a credit card that offers travel credits here as we did; we used our HSBC World Elite MasterCard to help pay for the stay and booked on Booking.com to save 10%.
8. Overall:89/100
Would weleavetoday to go back? YES
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