San Salvatore Monastery

The property is a beautiful converted 15th century monastery just steps from the old Venetian port. It is very quiet and the suite we booked (the loft suite with two beds) was very comfortable for our family of three. It also had a lovely private terrace and a record player with a few records you could play, which was a nice touch - I got to put on Maria Callas (one of my favorites) in the evening. Yes, there are some rules guests need to follow, but keep in mind that there is a good reason for that - the property is a historic property, which brings with it certain features that need preserving. If you have small children (i.e., under 5) or you are looking for more of a party atmosphere, you may therefore want to think about staying elsewhere.

Nothing.

It felt very special to be staying in the converted monastery. The room was set back from the courtyard which was a tranquil haven from the old town outside. The room was very comfortable for our family of four, and the children enjoyed climbing the stairs to the mezzanine bed with a beautiful view of the harbour outside. We were met by Irene on arrival who explained about the history of the building, and gave us the necessary information to put in the breakfast requests for the next morning which was served up on the open air top terrace. The location was great: on the western side of the harbour. This was ideal for exploring the old town on foot and it was also a 10 minute walk along the waterfront in the opposite direction to get to the beach which we did briefly for one afternoon.

Nothing!

San Salvatore Monastery is an exceptional building, steeped in history. The room was a large duplex with 2 double beds and a large sitting area, kitchen and double-shower room. There are views of the famous harbour and lighthouse from the upper bedroom. It is very close to the end of the harbour with loads of tavernas yet there was no noise in the room (apart from the central heating, which was a good thing in the cool weather). The Cretan breakfast is a 'must' if you like genuine Cretan fare - breads, cheeses, yoghurts, pastries - delicious. The sunset view from outside the front door was brilliant.

Our stay was too short.

Good location.

Access to the bathroom requires leaving the main living space through a door into a second space that is via a kitchen area. Cold lighting and dated furniture needs updating.