The Island Concept Luxury Boutique Hotel Heated Pool

Absolutely stunning hotel which has everything… glorious views, quiet pool, great bar, fabulous restaurant, chic rooms and wonderful staff. Definitely one of the top hotels we have been to in all our years of travel. Can’t wait to come back!

Just returned from a week at The Island Concept and what can I say... Our experience was fabulous from start to finish. All the staff really friendly, helpful and pay attention to detail. Our room was very well designed with a great view over the water towards Agios Nikolaos and the view from the restaurant towards the mountains was even more stunning. Enjoying that view whilst having breakfast was a great start to each day. We enjoyed breakfast, lunch & dinner at the hotel - the latter with some superb local wines. It was great to be able to choose between the pool or beach (water rather chilly) on lazy days and it's an easy walk along the neighbouring beach to the town. Ok, it's not cheap but you certainly get what you pay for.

Stayed at the Island Concept hotel for 5 nights, in a Front Sea View Grand Suite with private heated pool (Paros). Paid 1,054 euros per night. The suite is large and spacious, the bed comfortable, with tv and good WIFI. The terrace outside the room is big enough for two loungers and a small round table with two chairs. The pool is well sized for a dip. Whilst accepting that requests are not guaranteed, we asked for "Quiet, private area for sunbathing and using the private pool". Our suite was located beside the hotel's pool, so when there were a few guests it was not as quiet as we had requested (but not noisy). The privacy was destroyed by a walkway immediately in front of the terrace and pool to one of the hotel's viewpoints of the adjoining bay. The biggest problem was that the terrace and pool only got direct sunlight in the morning; by 12:30 the area was in shade! When I mentioned this upon our arrival (at 15:30) to the reception man who took us to our suite, his response was that all rooms had similar problems. Considering that we had mentioned sunbathing and using private pool in our email requesting a room, the hotel staff should have informed us of this issue before confirmation of reservation. Considering the amount being paid, the breakfast was not as good or plentiful as is provided in other hotels. The quality is good, but the portions are miserly. Coffee and tea are provided. Fresh orange juice is provided, with about 2cm of liquid at the bottom of the glass. Asked for a larger amount during the second morning and was given about 3cm at the bottom of the glass. So had to ask for more. The bread basket consists of 4 slices of bread, 1 small pain au chocolat, 1 small croissant, 2 slices of cake and 2 small biscuits. This for 2 people. You are then offered cold meats and cheese, and given 2 or 3 pieces of what you want. Egg plates are also available. However, other cooked dishes (pancakes, eggs benedict) were extra and had to be paid for. The dinner menu in the hotel is a reduced version of what the hotel's website indicates. Some plates have been removed from the main menu and the set menus are not offered. The quality of the food was good. The service was good. But you can get a wider menu option and similar quality of food in the tavernas in Agios Nikolaos (a 10 euro taxi ride away). When asked at check-out how our stay had been, I highlighted the issue about the lack of sun for half the day. I was told that they would like to make our experience better with a different room if we returned; why the man who showed us to our room on the first day did nothing when I mentioned this indicates poor service. In 2022 we stayed in a suite with its own private pool in the Royal Blue, where the terrace and pool had sun all day; this September 2023 the cost of this suite was 670 euros (but we chose the Island Concept to visit a different part of Crete). We have also stayed in suites with private pools in Santorini (Ambassador), Mykonos