La Stella Suites

You are looking at an aparthotel built for a stay with a little more elbow room than a standard hotel room. La Stella Suites places you in Platanes, close to the beach and within reach of Rethymno, with suites that give you a kitchenette, balcony, sitting area and air conditioning rather than just a bed and a narrow strip of floor.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside German and French. That matters when you are arranging a late arrival, asking about a restaurant, or trying to explain that the shoulder strap on your luggage has developed a personality of its own. The hotel also brings together a pool, restaurant, spa and garden, so you can keep the day on site when you have no appetite for another excursion.

The character is more practical than formal. You can eat on the terrace, make coffee in your suite, use the pool bar, or retreat behind soundproofing and air conditioning. Couples get the easy beach-and-Rethymno combination; families have larger suite options, an indoor play area and babysitting.

La Stella Suites is in Platanes, Greece, around 3 km from central Rethymno. Platanes Beach is about 50 metres away on foot: a sandy beach with sun loungers and parasols, rather than a distant landmark requiring military planning and a vehicle. The beach is described as golden sand and stretches for 150 metres.

The surrounding village gives you restaurants and cafés within easy reach. Finikas Taverna is about 700 metres away, while Eyes Live Lounge is roughly 800 metres from the property. Baja Beach is around 1 km away. Rethymno Beach is also about 1 km away, and Adelianos Kampos Beach around 1.5 km.

For a change of scenery, Rethymno's museums, old streets and Fortezza Castle are around 5 to 6 km away. The Archaeological Museum of Rethymno and the Centre of Byzantine Art are each about 5 km from the hotel. Chania International Airport is approximately 70 km away, while Heraklion International Airport is around 75 km away by road.

The useful distinction here is not simply the name above the door but how much space you want around your kit, clothes and travelling companion. A Junior Suite suits a couple who want a proper living area and kitchenette without moving into family-apartment territory. For three or four guests, the Superior Suite gives you more room to spread out. The Executive Suite is the one to consider when several people are sharing and nobody wants to store a suitcase in the bathroom.

Every suite has a private bathroom, balcony, kitchenette, dining area and seating area. The kitchen includes a refrigerator, stovetop, coffee machine, kettle and kitchenware. That refrigerator earns its keep when you return hot, thirsty and not remotely interested in waiting for dinner. A sofa bed and fold-up bed are available among the room amenities, although there are no extra beds; cots for young children can be requested.

Air conditioning deals with the warmest part of the night, while a fan is also available. Soundproofing should help keep the room separate from the evening outside, and the balcony gives you somewhere to sit rather than treating the bed as the only piece of furniture worth using. Daily housekeeping, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available, and WiFi covers the property.

Restaurant Stella handles the main meals, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served on a terrace overlooking the sea. The cooking is Mediterranean, using fresh local ingredients, which is a sensible direction in Crete: less complicated than a menu designed by committee and generally better suited to eating outdoors. The dress code is casual, so your post-beach wardrobe is not automatically disqualified.

Breakfast is a buffet with continental, American, full English and Irish, vegan and gluten-free choices, as well as local specialities and fresh pastries. It is included in the breakfast-only plan. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, while room service runs around the clock. That last detail is handy when your appetite arrives on its own schedule.

There is one bar, the pool bar, serving cocktails, drinks and snacks beside the main outdoor pool. A snack bar is also available, along with a coffee house on site. In the village, you have further options: Finikas Taverna is roughly 700 metres away and several bars and cafés sit within about 1 km.

The main outdoor pool gives you a straightforward alternative to the beach, with a pool bar close enough to remove any unnecessary expedition. Pool and beach towels are available, and the hotel also has a sun terrace, garden, patio and outdoor dining area. If your ideal non-diving afternoon involves a chair, a book and very little ambition, the layout supports that plan rather well.

For something more structured, Stella Spa offers massage, facial treatments, sauna and jacuzzi facilities. The spa includes a relaxation area, steam room and additional body treatments, while a fitness room and yoga classes cover the more energetic end of recovery. A massage chair is also available, for the days when your shoulders have opinions about the previous dive.

Away from the property, you can arrange cycling, hiking, walking tours, bike tours, horse riding, snorkelling, paddleboarding, kayaking and boat excursions. Cultural outings include visits to Rethymno and the Samaria Gorge. Regular musical evenings and shows add something for the evening, with movie nights, karaoke and a games room available when the weather or your enthusiasm turns indoors.

Chania International Airport is about 70 km away, and Heraklion International Airport about 75 km. An airport shuttle is available through the hotel, and car hire can also be arranged. Public parking is available on site without reservation. A tour desk, concierge, luggage storage, currency exchange and a 24-hour reception cover the practical jobs that tend to appear between arrival and departure.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested, and the property needs to know your expected arrival time in advance. Express check-in and check-out are available. Smoking is not permitted and pets are not accepted.

Children of all ages are welcome. Children aged three and above are charged as adults; cots for children up to two years old can be requested, subject to availability. There is no age requirement for check-in. The upper floors are accessible by stairs only, so this is worth considering if stairs are inconvenient after travel or diving. Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted.