The Old Phoenix

You won't stumble on The Old Phoenix by accident. We sit in the bay of Finix, in the far southwest of Crete — reached by boat, on foot, or nowadays by car via a remote road. There's no sound of traffic here, and everything moves at a slow, laid-back pace.

Getting here takes a little effort. Staying here is the reward

We're a small family business that has grown slowly over four decades, with a solid core of regular guests who return year after year. Bear in mind that in summer the hotel is popular with families, so there will be children around.

The beach is a small pebble beach with tamarisk trees for shade, some sunbeds and umbrellas. The sea is usually very still, the water exceptionally clear.

All our rooms and studios have views of the Libyan Sea. Our food is simple, traditional Cretan fare, cooked daily from fresh local ingredients by the family.

Despite the remoteness there's a whole range of things to do — lazing on the beach, snorkeling in some of the clearest waters in the Mediterranean, easy walks to serious hiking, and boat excursions to the neighbouring villages.

Come once and you too are likely to visit us again and again.