The Island Concept

Occupying its own little peninsula outside Agios Nikolaos, The Island Concept Luxury Boutique Hotel is an intimate 15 room retreat where private pools, a secluded beach and beautifully open Cretan Sea views create a remarkable sense of escape.

There is something wonderfully elemental about the setting. The hotel spreads across 6,000 square metres of coastline, with low white buildings following the contours of the peninsula and the sea wrapping around much of the property. Stone, timber and simple Cycladic forms keep the architecture deliberately restrained, leaving the brilliant blue water and rugged Cretan landscape to provide the drama.

Its tiny scale makes an enormous difference. With only 15 rooms and suites across the entire peninsula, gardens, terraces and pathways rarely feel busy, and the private beach becomes an extension of the hotel rather than a separate destination. It is an especially lovely setting for couples, with plenty of space to disappear into your own corner for the day.

Rooms & Suites

Accommodation is overwhelmingly orientated towards the sea, with terraces designed as genuine outdoor living spaces. Eleven of the 15 rooms and suites have either a private pool or outdoor Jacuzzi, so the relationship with the water begins long before reaching the beach.

The Premium Junior and Deluxe categories bring outdoor Jacuzzis and particularly strong sea views, while the Front Sea View Grand Suite has its own heated pool in a privileged position close to the shoreline. The Island Concept Villa provides the most private experience of all, taking the hotel's combination of space, seclusion and coastal living to its fullest expression.

Dining

Food here belongs naturally to the landscape, with Mediterranean cooking drawing on Greek flavours, Cretan produce and the abundance of the surrounding sea. Meals are deliberately unhurried, and the intimate scale allows dining to retain the personal character that runs throughout the hotel.

The bar and outdoor terraces come into their own towards the end of the day, when the light begins to change across the Cretan Sea. Breakfast can also be enjoyed privately, making it very easy to spend a morning on your own terrace before eventually making your way towards the beach.

Experience

The private beach is one of The Island Concept's greatest pleasures. Clear water, sand and sun terraces occupy the edge of the peninsula, with the outdoor pool and gardens only moments away. Everything is close enough that the day develops naturally around swimming, reading and finding another quiet spot beside the sea.

Bicycles are available for guests who want to venture further, while the concierge can arrange days around eastern Crete. Agios Nikolaos is close enough to provide a complete change of scene, yet back at the hotel the peninsula quickly restores that feeling of being somewhere much more secluded.

Wellness

The spa continues the intimate character of the hotel with massages, beauty therapies, a sauna and dedicated relaxation space. Yoga and fitness sessions can move outdoors, and the open air gym makes particularly good use of the climate and setting, allowing wellness to feel connected to the landscape rather than contained within a conventional treatment area.

Where

The Island Concept sits on the coast just outside Agios Nikolaos, giving guests the rare combination of a private peninsula and easy access to one of eastern Crete's most appealing towns. Lake Voulismeni, the harbour and the restaurants of Agios Nikolaos are all close enough for an evening out, while the wider Mirabello coast opens up easily for exploring further afield.

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