The Syntopia Hotel

I stayed at The Syntopia Hotel in Crete in October 2025 and absolutely loved it. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by how beautiful the hotel is. The design is stunning, with a relaxed, bohemian style that feels effortlessly chic. Every detail seems carefully considered, from the natural textures and soft lighting to the calm, stylish pool area. Even the air smells lovely — there’s a subtle fragrance throughout the hotel that was delightful. The staff were genuinely kind and welcoming, always greeting me with a smile and making sure I felt looked after. As a solo traveller, that really stood out. I felt comfortable, safe, and like I was enjoying real luxury. The all-inclusive options were excellent, with plenty of variety and everything beautifully presented. Specifically, the Cocktail option during the day and in the evening were excellent. The food and drink choices felt thoughtful and generous, and I was never short of something delicious to try. The only small downside was a slight drain smell in the shower, but it was a minor issue and didn’t take away from what was honestly one of the nicest hotel experiences I’ve ever had. Overall, The Syntopia is a perfect blend of style, comfort, and warmth — a wonderful place to stay, especially if you’re travelling solo. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

We are staying at this hotel for the second time — and we are thrilled again! It’s a fantastic place if you want to truly disconnect from everything and just enjoy your vacation. The hotel’s design is beautiful, and every detail is thoughtfully done. The food is amazing: delicious meat, fresh seafood, side dishes, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and desserts. There’s such a wide variety that everyone can find something they like. The bar also has an impressive selection of drinks. There are three great pools, each with its own atmosphere, so you can choose the perfect spot for your mood. The hotel grounds are also perfect for photos — there are so many stylish and unique corners where you can take incredible pictures. There’s a charming shop on the property where you can buy a special hotel fragrance — it smells absolutely amazing! You can also find cosmetics, bags, accessories, and many other items that make great souvenirs or gifts. The spa deserves special mention — it’s very cozy and atmospheric. Special thanks to the spa manager, Catarina, for her kindness and attentiveness. The staff in general is incredibly friendly: caring, helpful, and always ready to solve any issue quickly. The beach is just a couple of minutes’ walk — very convenient. Evenings here are special too: live electric violin, cello, and a DJ create a fantastic atmosphere. We are very happy to have chosen this hotel again and definitely recommend it!

Stayed at The Syntopia at the end of October for three nights, but honestly wish we’d stayed longer! The staff were so friendly and welcoming, explaining everything clearly on arrival. The hotel is spotless throughout, from the pools and sunbeds to the rooms. As we were celebrating a special occasion, we were pleasantly surprised with an upgrade to a pool-view room and found a heart-shaped cake waiting for us in the fridge. Such lovely touches! We couldn’t finish it all though, as the restaurant food and desserts kept us more than satisfied. There are plenty of places to sit and relax around the pools. The main pool does get busy, but there were always available spots around the other pools. You can sunbathe peacefully all day, and each lounger comes with soft sheets and parasols for shade if needed. Each pool has its own bar, and the bar staff are wonderful, always attentive and even bringing drinks straight to your sunbed. A special mention to Xara, who was especially friendly and hardworking. She made our stay even more enjoyable with her warm and genuine service. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily with a wide range of options, all of very high quality. The restaurant is spotless and well organised, and everything is clearly labelled. Vegetarians will appreciate the effort made to include veggie dishes, though at times the options were a little limited. Meat eaters, on the other hand, will be spoiled for choice. The selection changes daily, and the staff are quick to clear plates and take drink orders, keeping the dining experience smooth and relaxed. We also booked some spa treatments, which were fantastic. Katarina, the spa manager, was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and even offering us a small discount. The spa itself was clean and luxurious. Before our treatment, we enjoyed private access to the steam room and sauna for an hour. I had a 40 minute massage with Vaso, who was both strong and gentle, working out all my knots perfectly. One of the best massages I’ve had! Lola provided a great facial too. We really appreciated that the hotel is adults only. The atmosphere was calm, relaxing, and had a cool, laid back vibe. I can imagine it being busier during peak season, but in October it was perfect. Overall, I’m so happy we chose to stay here, I’d highly recommend The Syntopia to anyone looking for a stylish, relaxing getaway in Crete.

We arrived as a couple at the hotel for two nights of peace and quiet to clear our heads and celebrate our anniversary and my wife's birthday. First, we were greeted with a light snack, explained the hotel to us and received an upgraded room for the hotel's main pool. We did not expect such a high-level hotel at all. Nice, friendly and helpful staff. The hotel is designed in an indescribable way, with every element thought out. The breakfast was very luxurious and varied, beyond words. It is important to note that the hotel staff sent a very delicious birthday cake to the room. The hotel is 7 minutes from the city center of Rethymno and in my opinion you need a car to get around and it is an hour+ away from the airport in Rethymno.

Had a marvellous stay and will definitely come back. It truly felt like being in paradise for a week. If you want a holiday where you do not need to lift a finger, this is the place for you. They really live up to their “let us spoil you” slogan. The hotel is beautifully decorated with great vibes throughout. The service is exceptional, everything is ultra clean, and the buffet caters for all dietary preferences. You could easily spend your entire holiday inside the hotel without feeling the need to leave. The amenities were excellent. I made good use of the gym which is well equipped, spacious and spotless, perfect for what you might need on holiday. The spa was great as well, offering a private hammam and sauna experience along with a relaxing massage that felt like a treat. Things to keep in mind: Every bed in the main pool area is taken before 6 AM. The music around the main pool can be a bit loud, but the jungle pool is a lovely alternative with relaxing zen music. Rooms on the third floor feel a bit small and the bathrooms are rather dark. Upgrading to the fourth floor was worth it, as the rooms are larger and much brighter. The buffet can get repetitive, especially at breakfast.

Just got back from a short break at The Syntopia, and wow — I was completely blown away. I went with the intention to switch off, unwind, and relax, and this hotel delivered that and so much more. From the moment I arrived, everything felt effortless. The staff were absolutely wonderful — so friendly, attentive, and genuinely caring. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they always took the time to chat and make sure I had everything I needed. The hotel itself is spotless, beautifully designed, and feels luxurious yet laid-back. It’s so well run and maintained — every little detail has clearly been thought through to create a peaceful, stylish atmosphere. I can’t fault a single thing about my stay and genuinely felt sad to leave. I’m already counting down the days until I can come back. Pure perfection!

The Syntopia Hotel – We stayed at the hotel from 6th Oct to the 16th Oct (10 Night) On an all-inclusive basis (Booked with Jet2) On arrival which was Approx midnight on the 6th of October. We were dropped off on the Main Road / strip we walked a short distance down a side street to get to the hotel as the Main Entrance was not situated on the main road. On first impression the entrance way was nice bright modern and welcoming with a pleasant aroma (We later discovered this was a signature scent created specifically for the hotel and was used throughout) There were items in the gift store with the same scent, which we brought home a reed diffuser. We where greeted by the Receptionist who got us checked in, we were provided with our key cards, wrist bands and a map of the hotel and was instructed to download an app to our phones to allow us to access the WIFI which is now the norm for the EU ( which is a percentage of the room price per night) we where shown to our room. The receptionist accompanied us to our room brining our bags up for us. There was also a small plate of food provided in our room due to the late check in time. On first inspection of our room which was a Suite which we had requested which was an open plan room with doble balcony, we were overlooking a busy side road and due to traffic noise had the doors closed most of the time. The room was bright, modern and generally clean with the toilet and shower cubicle directly opening out onto the room, The only downside I could see to the room was there appeared to be very little storage for a 10 night stay only 10 hangers for 2 people for a 10-night stay and only 4 small draws in the cupboard. There was no bedside storage only 2 small stool like tables. With no draws. Another downside where the amount of lights in the room all lighting was provided my mood lighting and there where various switches around the room all turned off when the card is removed, however if retiring for the night we often found ourselves having to walk round the entire room to switch of switches, if may have been nice to have a central panel to allow you to turn off lights from one place. Food overall was of good quality breakfast and lunch was on a first come basis but lunch needed to be booked via an app which we had to download when checking in. And there was a lunch hut where snacks could be got during the day, also for excursions we where able to order a lunch basket to take out with us but needed to be ordered the night before. Amenities although there were 3 pools on site, we often found out that due to the number of beds on offer as opposed to single sun loungers these where often snatched up early and the main was more often or not already in shade. We would like to thank one member of staff in particular Chrysa on the reception desk, she initially helped us with the hiring of a car but was also very helpful in showing us and recommending places to visit. She would check in each morning for a catch up to see how we were and how are visit was going. Overall, the stay was very good and our first visit to Crete although other than the few things I had mentioned would definitely visit again.

Enjoyed 10 nights here in July, first in room 424 with jacuzzi on the balcony then the last night in 702 a jungle suite. The hotel was brilliant for us. The hotel is stylish, spotlessly clean and offers great facilities. The room was lovely, private and great facilities. The restaurant was very good, great choice of food and very fresh. Breakfast and diner had so many options. Didn’t have lunch in the restaurant but used the snack bar which was excellent. The main pool was lovely, well laid out. Lots of sunbeds/mattresses, not too much completion for beds unless you wanted one off the beds with canvas screens . Didn’t use the jungle pool or rooftop pool. The nomad bar and the rooftop bar were excellent and the waiter drinks service around the pool was brilliant. The staff were superb , nothing too much trouble, friendly and helpful. Would gladly recommend the Syntopia and we will be finitely be going back