Monastery Estate — Hotel in Municipality of Kantanos-Selinon

We originally booked to stay in a mix of the Monastery Guesthouse and also the Retreat sections of the estate as we wanted to experience both for possible future bookings. However our flights were cancelled on 2 occasions due to the pandemic. We decided to maintain all elements of our holiday rather than claim from our insurance as we wanted to assist the local economy and also experience our chosen destinations. We rebooked the Monastery immediately after our 2001 flights were cancelled with the voucher they agreed to provide. We were very surprised when without any prior notice that they increased our price by 51% from 2001 to 2002 when they e-mailed the booking details. We had expected an increase in line with inflation as the other elements informed us would be the case. However after several contacts in which I discussed our disappointment at not being informed of this huge increase when I could still have cancelled and claimed from my insurance. Indeed I was informed that we had benefitted from a discount which I explained that if this was so the increase would have totalled 57% from 2021 to 2022. I was informed that my only options if I did not agree were to change the dates of my booking to a cheaper date. After much disappointment and as this was the only element of the complicated plans that had increased over a reasonable amount we downgraded to spending all our holiday in the Guesthouse hence my review is of the Guesthouse only. This is as follows - Staff absolutely amazing, always helpful and friendly. Location also amazing peaceful and beautiful scenery. Apartments lacked dining/cooking equipment. We did not cook so although it was disappointing it did not affect us personally. Staff stated that we could request anything we needed and we did access salt, pepper etc. but these basics are usually available without the need to request. Bathroom facilities - the shower area was tiny and the temperature very unpredictable (need to be very careful) hence it was a am/pm dread of ours. The accommodation would benefit from an update in general maintenance. I actually adore ‘rustic style’ but this was a lack of general care. We moved to the next accommodation on our travels yesterday and found far better facilities for a less expensive cost. It is unfortunate that I felt compelled to write this somewhat negative review but if it had not been for the amazing staff I would have scored lower due to the above and the lack of trust in the pricing...

We stayed at Monastery Estate as part of our honeymoon in June 2019. I had originally booked a year in advance (I'd heard it was amazing!) so was surprised when we arrived to see that they had extended and built a beautiful new retreat. ||||We had booked a room in the farmhouse which was beautiful- spacious, rustic yet very clean and with lots of additional amenities. The bed was huge and the most comfortable we stayed in during our time in Crete.||||After our first night we went to breakfast the next morning and were offered a complimentary upgrade to one of the new rooms. We were thrilled that we were able to experience both sides of the estate and truly couldn't decide which room we liked more. The farmhouse has such lovely character to it whereas the retreat is a lot more minimalist, with amazing views and the added bonus of your own pool.||||Our favourite part of the trip was the outstanding hospitality we received from Ioanna and Sophia who went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. Breakfast is a lovely addition which we highly recommend too.||||Monastery estate is very rural, so a car is essential. It's perfectly located for exploring southern Crete. Definitely for those who prefer a more secluded getaway- though saying that you are only ten minutes from the restaurants of Sougia. The taverna up the road also deserves a special mention- such fresh food at great prices (careful of the homemade wine though if you aren't used to strong alcohol!!)||||All in all, a perfect stay- thank you for your wonderful...

Unfortunately, I can’t align with the 5* reviews here. The room was beautiful and the property itself is architecturally interesting, with a peaceful and stunning view. The staff were well-mannered, kind, and helpful throughout our stay, providing nice recommendations about the area and things to do.

However, there are some design flaws that really impacted our experience. There are no window shutters and the curtains aren’t blackout, so expect a lot of light early in the morning. The sound insulation is poor. We were woken up at 7:45am by our enthusiastic German neighbors having a loud conversation in their pool. Maybe Germans enjoy waking up at 7am on vacation, but we’d have liked to sleep in until 9am at least, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible.

The bathroom is really small and has poor ventilation, and the shower is too tight and poorly designed. Water goes everywhere, leaving the whole space wet and impractical. The breakfast, although à la carte and seemingly luxurious, fell short in execution, with bread and baked goods tasting stale. It was quite subpar for Cretan food.

We also asked for a late checkout past their policy of 11am (we asked for 12pm), but it wasn’t possible as they were expecting new guests, which ended up being fine since we were already up super early thanks to our beloved neighbors!

Overall, it’s a beautiful place with lovely staff and views, but the lack of privacy, impractical features, and small details add up. For the price, the quality just isn’t...