Kapsaliana Village Hotel

Rooms

Named after constellations, rooms at Kapsaliana are a starry lot. They are simple in design, painted in muted colours in order to stay sympathetic to the history of the village.

We recommend those in the old building as they're full of original character - stone arches, thick wooden beams, open fireplaces. On our most recent visit, we stayed in Sirius, a spacious Historic Junior Suite with a supremely comfortable bed and a separate cosy living room.

For those with small children, the Superior Suite, Pleiades, has an enclosed ground-floor patio providing extra space and a plunge pool. In the same garden enclave, Superior Doubles Libra, Luna and Berenices look out across the verdant valley.

Andromeda (Superior Junior Suite with Terrace and Mezzanine) has a charming mezzanine bedroom, while Stone House Suite Corona Borealis come complete with its very own Cretan oven and private pool. We particularly liked the look of the hotel's grandest suite, the Historic Olive Mill Suite, with a unique lead-glass floor built over the original brickwork of the olive oil factory. 

Elia (Two Bedroom Suite Terrace), Selini (Executive Suite Terrace) and Lupus (Classic Double with Terrace) sleep 2-4 and wrap around a shared pool, but each have their own outdoor seating area. Their communal space and close proximity to each other make them a great choice for friends or a few couples travelling together. They are newer buildings so perhaps lack the charm of the original stone hamlet, but we thought they were cool and comfy, and their more contemporary style may be a preference for some.

Bathrooms throughout are smart affairs, with rain showers, robes and Apivita toiletries.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

The buffet breakfast is a treat at Kapsaliana: an abundant spread of fresh fruit, home-baked bread, silky-smooth Greek yoghurt, deli meats and Cretan ricotta cheese. You can pay extra for cooked options. It's served in the restaurant's pretty courtyard, scented by jasmine flowers and surrounded by olive trees, until a very civilised 11am.

Light lunches incorporating fresh, local ingredients can be eaten by the pool or at the restaurant. Staff at the poolside bar, Levanda, are ready to serve you a chilled glass of wine from 1pm to 7pm, then pootle up to the Lemonies cocktail bar for a well-deserved sundowner or nightcap. 

All the food is organic and vegetables are grown on-site. Dinner is a fine-dining affair in their fabulous restaurant Elaia, based on Mediterranean and Cretan flavours. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal of fresh-off-the-boat sea bass with roasted veggies picked from the garden. There are daily changing specials, a degustation menu and a range of crisp Greek wines to pair with each dish.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Explore the village - stroll to the charming local church or the artefact-filled museum in the 250-year-old olive mill
• Head down to Panormos' sandy beach and try your hand at different water sports
• A 30-minute drive away, the village of Margarites has a long tradition of ceramic arts. Visit late in the afternoon when the tour buses have left
• Trek along the wooded Platania Gorge to the cave church of St Anthony or through the rocky maze of waterfalls in the magnificent Patsos Gorge
• Walk the flower-filled Amari Valley or perhaps join a guided botanical or bird-spotting tour
• Kayak the coast – paddle by the coves of the south coast (single or tandem kayaks) and finish with lunch in a taverna by the sea
• Head to Rethymnon (25-minute drive), a well-preserved Venetian town with a colourful harbour, broad sandy beaches and a hilltop fortress
• Visit the Museum of Ancient Eleutherna (10km) for an insight into Greek society from 3000 BC
• Back at the hotel, try olive oil tasting, a cold process soap-making course, or enjoy a movie night at the outdoor cinema (summer only)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Spa treatments
• Swimming
• Trekking
• Well being
• Yoga

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and the rooms are well set up to accommodate families. However, the overall ambiance of the property is tranquil and relaxing, so you may feel uncomfortable with noisy children, particularly by the pool and at dinner. There's plenty of outdoor space, though nothing specific in the way of children's facilities, and teenagers might find it a little quiet.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Izar and Altair (Classic Doubles with Terraces) can be booked together to form a family suite (both can be twinned). Classic Single room, Cygnus, would suit a teenager or grandparent. The Superior Suite with Plunge Pool (Pleiades) is ideal for families with young children because of the outdoor enclosed space. All rooms can fit a baby cot.

Distances:

• Airport: 79km (Heraklion)
• Beach: 5km (Stavromenos and Geropotamos)
• Hospital: 18km (Rethymnon)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is in the hamlet of Kapsaliana in northern Crete, 8km from the coast and 18km from Rethymnon (Rethimno) town.

By Air:
Fly into Heraklion (79km / 1 hour) or Chania (86km / 1 hour).

By Sea:
Daily overnight ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Chania (Souda) and Heraklion.

From the Airport or Port
Kapsaliana can organise a transfer from either city, but we'd recommend hiring a car. You can park for free at the hotel.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.