I.Papatheodorou, Sissi, Greece | (618) 248-8274
Modern, adults-only boutique hotel with serene atmosphere
Quick walk to town center with multiple restaurants and bars
Elegant rooms with bathrobes, flat-screen TVs, and furnished terraces
Some rooms have private pools, jetted tubs, or loft spaces
Tranquil pool area with ample loungers and free fresh fruit
Elea restaurant serves international and local cuisine all day
Free buffet breakfasts with eggs cooked-to-order
Relaxing spa offers treatments, indoor pool, gym, sauna, and steam room
Evening entertainment several times a week, including live jazz
Private dinners available in gazebo
Free Wi-Fi and parking
No sea views
Early-morning bells from church next door (Sundays only)
Complaints of rooms only having shower/tub combos or showers
Small gym has limited equipment
Located a three-minute walk from Sissi’s town center, the upscale Castello Boutique Resort & Spa is a quiet, adults-only. The 48 spacious rooms have rainfall showers, minibars, and tea- and coffee-making facilities, plus furnished outdoor spaces -- some with private pools. Unfortunately, none have sea views and some past guests have complained of early-morning bells from the next-door church. Others have complained of having shower/tub combos or only showers, versus separate facilities. Sleek architecture and a sophisticated atmosphere dominate, especially at the serene outdoor pool and swish spa. A poolside bar serves light lunches, while the main restaurant serves a semi-buffet dinner (half-board plans available). A small gym, free Wi-Fi, and free private parking round out amenities. It's worth comparing rates with the similar Happy Cretan Suites, which has lovely ocean vistas.
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Scene
Small, sophisticated, and modern adults-only hotel with tranquil atmosphere
Built from scratch and first opened in 2010, Castello Boutique Resort & Spa is an upscale hotel with a tranquil atmosphere thanks to its small number of rooms and adults-only policy. Interiors are modern, sporting sleek lines and soothing neutral tones punctuated by earthy reds. The light, breezy poolside bar and serene pool area constitute the heart of the hotel and are popular relaxation spots, while occasional live jazz in evenings adds some sophisticated buzz. As one of the few adults-only boutique-sized hotels on the island, this property stands out. However, like most hotels in Greece, it doesn't live up to its advertised star rating, which is five stars here. Also on the downside, there are no sea views, despite being a quick walk to the coast. Note that some past guests have complained of early-morning bells from the church next door, though it's only on Sundays and is short. Overall, this is a good pick for peace-seeking couples.
Location
On the main road leading into Sissi, a five-minute walk to the beach
Castello Boutique Resort & Spa is located on the main road on the outskirts of the small fishing village of Sissi. It’s a short three-minute walk into town, where a pretty marina is lined with local tavernas serving fresh-caught seafood. The sandy/pebbly Boufos Beach with sunbeds and umbrellas for rent is just a five-minute walk along a coastal dirt path, plus another beach can be reached in 10 minutes. Malia's town center is a 15-minute drive, while Heraklion International Airport is a 40-minute drive west.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with elegant decor, outdoor spaces, and kettles
The 48 rooms are well-sized and outfitted with elegant, modern decor. They have pale-wood furniture, gray tile floors, neutral-tone linens, and flower-print headboards in either red or blue fabric. Sliding glass doors leading to furnished outdoor spaces let in lots of light, and views are either of the pool or garden -- no sea views, unfortunately. Some units have private plunge pools. All rooms have desks, tables and chairs, minibars, flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, bathrobes and slippers, and quiet air-conditioning units. Neutral-tiled bathrooms have either rainfall showers, jetted shower/tub combos, or separate tubs and showers in upgraded units. Quality toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Junior Suites are two-story spaces with downstairs living areas and bedrooms upstairs.
Features
Outdoor and indoor pools, well-reviewed restaurant serving free breakfasts, and a spa
Castello Boutique Resort & Spa has all the expected features for a boutique-sized, upscale hotel. The central pool area is the heart of the hotel, surrounded by a grassy sunbathing lawn and umbrella-shaded loungers. An adjacent poolside bar serves cocktails and light lunches. In the evenings, elegant gazebos turn into an open-air, candlelit restaurant serving international cuisine; Mondays are lobster-themed, and dinner is accompanied by live saxophone performances. The main restaurant provides free breakfast buffets with eggs and omelets cooked-to-order, a la carte lunches, and dinners with a la carte main dishes and buffet-style starters and dessert selections. Half-board plans are available. A lovely spa rounds out facilities, housing a free-to-use heated indoor pool and small gym. Use of its hot tub, sauna, steam room, and dry hydrotherapy beds require a fee. A couples’ treatment room is on-site as well. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and underground garage parking is also free.
