Cressa Suites

Style

Mod-mediaeval mansion

Setting

Heart of Old Town

Mix the beauty of the past with the comfort of the present at Cressa Suites, where modern design rubs sun-kissed shoulders with Ottoman relics and Venetian stonework. Standing in one form or another since the 16th century, this five-suite townhouse is tucked down a quiet, cobbled street in the historic heart of Rethymnon, one of Crete’s more tranquil coastal towns. The remains of a stone oven and Ottoman hammam attest to the building’s storied past, but the interiors have since been treated to a total refit, introducing ash-blonde wood, brass lighting and a sculptural staircase into the mix. Sights like the town’s Venetian port are a stone’s throw away, but you’ll have glorious views from first light as you breakfast on the hotel’s sun-soaked roof terrace, overlooking terracotta roofs and the minarets of mosques…

Facilities

Rooms

Five suites.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More Details

Rates usually include breakfast, which is made with ingredients drawn from organic farms in the area. Fresh rustic bread, cretan rusks, Greek pastries and yoghurt, fresh fruit and eggs however you like them.

Also

Two suites have private hot tubs. If yours doesn’t, ask the staff to arrange a session at a local spa.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Room Service

At the Hotel

Roof terrace, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV; minibar; Illy coffee machine; tea-making kit; free bottled water; and Prija bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

We’d plump for the spacious King Suite with a Private Terrace, which has a living room leading out to a walled terrace with a cushion-strewn stone bench, metal lanterns and potted greenery. There’s a table and chairs, too, so you can breakfast in private.

Packing Tips

Don light, loose clothing – even by the coast, the Cretan heat can be intense.

Also

Ground-floor suites are available, but there are stairs throughout the hotel, so it’s not great for wheelchair users. Reception is open from 8am to 8pm.

Children

Little Smiths will have to stay home for this one – it’s adults only.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Nab whichever takes you fancy – they’re all arranged around the edge of the terrace, ensuring each one gets the view.

Dress Code

There’s no need to stand on ceremony here – the hotel’s size means there’s often only a handful guests.

Hotel Restaurant

The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant per se, but light dishes like mezze platters, sandwiches and Greek salads can be served at the tables on the rooftop. All vegetables come from organic farms in the area, as do to the cold meats, Cretan cheese and country-style bread.

Hotel Bar

There’s no bar as such, but you can order drinks in-house. Try one of the cocktails, made with local fruit, herbs and liqueurs.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served on the roof terrace or in-room from 8.30am to 11am.

Planes

You’ll probably be touching down at Heraklion Airport, which can be reached direct from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester airports. It takes an hour to drive from the airport to the hotel; transfers can be arranged for €90 each way.

Automobiles

You won’t need a car in Rethymnon, but it certainly won’t hurt if you want to be able to daytrip up and down the coast. If you do want to hire, the Smith24 team can arrange it.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Other than lounging on the rooftop or your terrace with a glass of wine, there’s not a huge amount to do at the hotel itself, by design. Staff do organise cooking classes on the roof terrace, though, giving you a chance to get to grips with traditional Cretan cuisine. Beyond the hotel, they’ll happily organise visits to local wineries, food tours around the town, and picnics in the mountains or down on the coast. Overseen by a 17th-century Ottoman lighthouse, the Venetian port is one of the Old Town's most charming areas. Small tavernas line the picturesque waterfront, making it the perfect spot for a lunch or a sundowner. The Fortezza, the impressive 16th-century Venetian citadel on the town’s northern tip, is best seen in the morning or late afternoon, as there’s not much in the way of shade. If the heat gets a bit intense, decamp to the valley town of Argyroupoli, a veritable oasis thanks to the natural springs that rush over its small waterfalls, rocks and stonework, feeding the lush greenery and giving it a refreshingly cool microclimate.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .