Elounda Stories Boutique Hotel

Floor-to-ceiling views over Mirabello Bay do a lot of the decorating in the rooms here. This boutique hotel on Crete's north coast runs on the classic island palette, white plaster, stone stairways, and arches, with weathered wood and trailing plants keeping it from feeling too scrubbed. Most afternoons migrate to the outdoor pool bar or the rooftop garden, which is more or less the correct answer. The Michelin Guide has it among its selected hotels.