The staff were so incredibly friendly, especially Maria. Attentive and flexible with our needs e.g. massages and breakfast times. The rooms are dreamy, especially the shower room. The bed was extremely comfortable and we had everything we needed. An exceptional hotel in a truly magical setting!

Slightly treacherous route to the monastery with a steep bend but not much can be done about that. It would be good to have a kettle in the room as teas were provided. That said, we didn't ask for one and I've no doubt that they would have provided one had we asked.

We enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the Monstery retreat and the simplicity and styling of the hotel. The staff were genuine and helpful in giving recommendations and advice and couldn’t fault the service. Little extra details such as oat milk being supplied was very much appreciated. The village taverna was outstanding and Monastery retreat an excellent base for visiting the south of Crete which was unspoilt and peaceful. Excellent base for hiking as well as visiting beaches. A car was helpful given the remoteness of the hotel and allowed us to explore the local area.

Parking could be slightly tricky when all guests in residence but a minor detail. The pool was too cold for my husband but I enjoyed it and was refreshing to cool off after our time in the sunshine.

Oh! You're thinking about it! Well... let me help you with your decision making process! You wake up to the most wonderful view and the sounds of nature... You are surrounded by olive trees, blue skies, and the team's incredible desire to make you feel like you're the most special human on this earth. The suite and pool are designed perfectly. Kind to the surroundings, aesthetically pleasing, user friendly and with a dash of luxury. My partner and I wanted to hide away for a few days before we went to see my family and friends (yes, I'm Cretan but I don't live in Greece) and this was just perfect. I mean the team... the TEAM!!! Wow. It was all just magically happening exactly how I had imagined it. Last month was my first time there (I've been to their Venetian Harbour hotel a few times) but I will definitely be visiting again. Oh! Almost forgot to mention the massage and sauna. Well, don't be shocked. It was perfection. Georgia! You wonderful manager you. You're the crown jewel!! Go go go!!!

This was the perfect start to our holiday in Crete. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are tastefully designed and having a private pool is always nice :) But the most amazing part of this place is the staff. They are so kind, caring, and attentive, they made every part of our stay perfect, from suggesting activities, to restaurants, to safe places to run! We really didn’t want to leave and almost didn’t!

Absolutely nothing… would have liked to take the cats home with us.

The location is amazing, really immersive into the south of Crete and in nature. The room was spacious outside and inside, everything was comfortable and the staff was very friendly, accurate and helpful. The staff is really caring and they are able to support you in every choice of the vacation along the region. The pool and the design of the structure is beautiful.

Nothing. A breakfast buffet in the reception would have been great.

Stunning property with exceptionally kind and accommodating staff. A short drive to Sougia, but plan ahead if you need to use a taxi. If you love cats, there are some resident kitties on the property (as you’ll find everywhere). Just be weary of petting them as they might scratch or bite. We’re “cat people” and that was our one regret. We also saw that happen to someone in town and there’s no functional medical care closer than Chania. Overall fantastic stay and very thankful for the hospitality of the staff.

Would have been helpful to be forewarned that the cats shouldn’t be petted - but perhaps that’s just common sense. They’re so sweet at first though, and hard to resist as cat lovers.

Very nice small resort, clean and stylish, in a full Mediterranean environment. Food is good and the private pool is a plus.

Private terraces/pools are only in part sun, and sunbeds are fixed in place. This means you can’t really enjoy the pool all the day. I’d suggest receptionists to take a little bit less time to talk to guests. They are very nice and helpful, don’t take me wrong, but after a two-hours mountain drive the only thing you want is to get to your room and take a rest as quickly as possible. It’s not great to have to sit there and listen to long-winded explanation of the place’s amenities, particularly if you’re not new to Crete/Sougia. Thanks to Georgia anyways, she was very kind.

An absolute delight of a hotel nestled in the hills near Sougia. Stunning rooms, really tastefully designed and of a decent size with storage. Private section of pool in the room we had which was amazing after a day in the heat. 10 min drive to Sougia (hotel can arrange taxis) where there are plenty of eating and drinking options, but we also had dinner in the hotel one evening, delivered to the room - food was excellent. Breakfasts we also very good - also served to the room. The setting is absolutely stunning and it was a real experience watching the sunset over the 'white mountains'. Above all though, the staff were absolutely wonderful - attentive and knowledgeable and spent so much time talking to us and helping us with recommendations and arrangements. An absolutely perfect stay - we will be going back without doubt!!

It was literally perfect.

From the moment we arrived, my husband and I felt the friendly and helpful attitude of the staff. Sarah offered us something to drink, we sat with her, and she explained everything about Monastery to us in excellent detail. We were upgraded to the honeymoon suite for the first two nights; that was fantastic!!! We had a small pool and a hot tub outside our room. It was so nice to get in the hot tub, after hiking during the day, especially since the weather was not great during our stay. Georgia, Rafail, and Sarah were always available to answer any questions we had, make suggestions regarding where to eat, as well as advice regarding hiking in the area, etc. The restaurant located up the path from Monastery was a highlight of our visit. We ate there every night. The owners, Monica and Michel, as well as their children and two golden retrievers, made us feel like family. The food come from their land to your table. We just loved our time in Sougia and plan to go back in 2025.

It is about 2-3 miles from the tiny town of Aougia, so you cannot walk into town. At night the roads are not well lit, so we did not feel comfortable driving anywhere in the evening. However, it isn’t like we missed much, because Sougia only has a population of about 1200, so it’s not much of a nightlife place anyway!

Pure luxury! Incredible rooms and private plunge pool, with gorgeous view in the mountains. Fantastic customer service, practically 1 to 1 level of attention. Nice breakfasts and snacks which are reasonably priced too. We used the sauna. A local taverna nearby which was very authentic. Sougia just a short drive away.

Only thing was limited car parking so if you arrive late it’s a bit of squeeze - but only very minor issue!