Nautilus Bay Hotel & Restaurant — Restaurant in Municipality of Kissamos

This is a very special hotel....and I should know...I spent most of my life working around the world spending 100 to 150 nights a year in hotels - mainly 4 or 5 star.....and visited 62 countries, living in 4. I also spent a total of 5 months as a beach bum on the Greek Islands in 1973 / 74.....which triggered my initial love of the Greek Islands which was to remain with me throughout my life. |My 13th stay of 2+ weeks at Nautilus Bay since autumn 2014. Why do I return here each year ? Well..easy to explain:- Location...right by a beautiful sandy beach / bay (20 mtrs) for good swimming; tranquility - Kissamos has still not been developed as a major tourist hub; close by car to the famous west Cretan beaches; great staff; very clean room with an amazing panoramic view (rooms at front); a comfortable bed and a well-appointed room with good wi-fi and air-conditioning that functions well; good food - excellent breakfast selection...about 4 or 5 hot dishes - egg and bacon and Greek dishes - and all the cold cheeses, meats, yoghurt, fruit, cakes etc. in addition; a good selection of dishes are also offered for lunch and dinner at reasonable prices - Forteny is a great cook; pool kept clean by Tafik as is the beach; free sunbeds for guests; free parking. There are a selection of restaurants nearby....and a mini-market / supermarket. And not to forget the great owners and hosts George and Izabela. George also runs a sailing business offering daily tours to Balos on his 48 ft yacht...or the 46 ft one ! |A big thank you to all the wonderful staff:- Vanna, Forteny, Eleni, Alessio, Fiore, Evangelina, Mira, Marina and Tafik for looking after me so well. Great service ! |Never a problem travelling solo here.....so many interesting people to talk to....don't be afraid to strike up a chat ! I love people - one can learn a lot ! See you all next year....I miss not waking up now to that 180 panoramic view ! This hotel has everything I personally could possibly want ! I am a lucky man who found it in 2014 !...

From Charm to Horror: A Stark Contrast

I recently stayed at this hotel, and I can't help but highlight some contrasting experiences I had here. At first, everything seemed perfect: the hotel staff, including the cleaner, receptionist, and kitchen staff, were absolutely charming. Their kindness and professionalism were a big part of what initially made my stay enjoyable.

However, I came across a deeply disturbing scene that darkened my perception of the place. A woman, who I believe was the owner or the owner's mother, was sitting outside with another person. There was a kitten, barely two months old, wandering near them, and to my horror, the owner handed her cane to the companion who struck the barely two-month-old kitten directly in the face with the cane. I was stunned by this brutal act and let out a scream, at which they began to justify hitting this newborn kitten, and I couldn't understand how anyone could justify such behavior just because the kitten was on their property.

As someone who respects animals and abhors any form of cruelty towards them, I found this incident absolutely unacceptable. Anyone knows that a simple loud noise is more than enough to scare off a cat; there is no need to resort to violence.

This incident left a stain on my experience at this hotel that I can't ignore. Out of respect for animals and to prevent others from witnessing similar acts of cruelty, I can't recommend this place. It's painful for me to leave this negative review, but I feel it's my duty to do so. Animal cruelty cannot be ignored or tolerated, and it is my hope that this review will help to highlight this problem in this...

My twelth long stay (2 weeks +) in the last ten years at this friendly hotel in Kissamos.... Why I keep returning to this property ? - Great location on a sandy beach (30 mtrs) - perfect for swimming also for kids, friendly helpful staff and owners, large clean room with a great 180 degree view of the bay if you choose a Superior Studio with Sea View (Rooms 29 and 28 are the best), wonderful breakfast with a great selection of hot and cold dishes, well cooked tasty meals for lunch and dinner by the resident chef Fortiny - in addition there are a selection of good restaurants along the promenade only a few hundred meters away and also further along the beach the other way, well appointed very clean large rooms with efficient air-conditioning and a kitchenette, a comfortable bed, good wi-fi and a large balcony with table and chairs. Free sun beds and parasoles on the beach for guests...the hotel supplies beach towels to guests. Free parking. Good bus service available. Many friendly talkative fellow guests ! - one never feels lonely even when travelling alone. Always some interesting people around...from all over the world. An outdoor bar and a great good-sized pool. A mini-market and a large supermarket nearby within walking distance. A wonderful base for visiting the famous beaches and sights of western Crete. A big thank you to all the staff and owners for another very enjoyable three week stay now from late May to mid June. What more could...