Nautilux Rethymno by Mage Hotels

Rethymno, on the north coast of Crete, is a small city, but it’s large enough to lend Nautilux something of a dual aspect: this is a proper beach resort with direct access to the Aegean, but it’s also a quick walk from the vibrant little town center. The spiral-shaped building puts to rest any concern that the hotel’s name wouldn’t be explored for all it’s worth. And in fact the architecture is distinctive beyond this broad shell-shaped gesture — inside and out it’s a lively mix of modern lines and warm textures, and feels authentically Greek without resorting to cliché.

With 118 rooms and suites, Nautilux is a proper resort, and offers a wide range of accommodations, from standard rooms, which are substantial enough, to expansive suites and even two-level Maisonettes, which come with hot tubs and direct sea views. There’s a well-equipped spa and fitness center which is no less impressively modern in its style, and the hotel’s beach club is augmented by a pair of picturesque outdoor swimming pools. And while the town has its share of restaurants and nightspots, Nautilux gives guests plenty of reasons to stay in, from the daytime pool bar and the main Spiral Bar to Ulivo, the hotel’s modern Greek eatery.