5* Stella Island - Crete

If you’ve been on social media over the last few years, then you have probably heard about Stella Island Luxury resort in Crete.

For us, Stella Island has always been one of our biggest selling properties and we were excited to make it our first hotel on our whistle stop tour of Crete. Stella island is located in Analipsi, a cute little white-washed village with pretty gardens and just a 20 minute drive from the airport making it a great choice for those who want to jump straight from the plane doors to the iconic pools.

The moment you arrive at this iconic resort the Cretan hospitality begins! Greeted with an elaborate entrance and a warm welcome, the lobby is airy and leads you straight into the heart of the resort. The vibe here is seriously cool, with an indoor-outdoor space that just flows, something found often in Indian Ocean hotels. Immediately upon arrival we settled around the fire pits (featured on most photographs) for a beautiful welcome drink before exploring what the resort has to offer. 

Our first thoughts were quite simply ‘WOW’. It’s like you’ve just walked into an Instagram reel, with the sounds of water and light music trickling in the background.

The resort offers a choice of 10 luxurious room types which include luxury swim-up rooms with direct access to the lagoon-style pool and overwater bungalows with private terraces and waterside hammocks. Rooms here start with luxury pool view rooms and are located at the top of the main resort building. You then have premium and luxury rooms with the choice of pool views or swim up. Our favourite choice of room though has to be the overwater bungalows and it is not hard to see why these rooms are the reason Stella Island is aptly known as the Maldives of the Med. Lastly, we have the island villas with private pools which are great for honeymooners or those looking for a little extra privacy. The rooms are large and modern but it’s the generous outdoor space that really sets these rooms apart. All the rooms follow the same design throughout, very much natural wood and earth vibes with Elemis products to pamper yourself. It’s the little touches that make the difference and here you can expect a fresh fruit basket and wine on arrival in your room.

Stella Island is still growing, and they have planned to expand the resort further over the next few years, However, don’t let this put you off as the disruption to guests will be at minimum if at all. The resort itself is evenly spread out with lots of quiet spots and pools dotted around, so plenty for you to explore with opportunities for Instagrammable shots throughout.

For those feeling a little more energetic there is a fantastic indoor and outdoor gym, weekly Pilates and Yoga classes along with other various fitness programmes. Guests can also enjoy the beautiful first floor spa Anassa Spa, with cascading views over the resort. Anassa Spa facilities include sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, indoor heated pool, massage rooms & fitness room.

For those foodies, fear not because there are plenty of dining options available. From à la carte choices to international buffet with flavours from across the Mediterranean, there really is something for everyone. The Kimata buffet restaurant serves cuisine from around the world and also offers show-cooking, which is pretty cool. Oceana is a rooftop restaurant that serves Mediterranean cuisine presented in art form. Vegera specialises in traditional Cretan dishes, using locally-sourced ingredients. And finally Umami Robata and Sushi à la carte restaurant and La Parilla grill restaurant. For those wanting entertainment, they don’t miss a beat here… with a daily entertainment programme at Paraiso Party Garden’s live stage, featuring professional artists, dancers and singers.

You can’t help but fall in love with Stella Island, and you’re Instagram will certainly love you.