Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort & Spa

Having read the Trip advisor reviews prior to my visit I too thought that some guests are never satisfied. Having returned I feel compelled to add my comments on the quality of this property. The room was distinctly 3 star although was clean if not basic. I felt that we had been put in the poorest/remotest part of the complex which didn’t look complete, and was badly lit at nigh due to bulbs not being replaced. Overall the complex looked tired, some furniture in the pool areas was broken and dirty, and in the “seaside bar” there was also a number of broken chairs - food and litter was often not cleared. The buffet meals where poor and when I complained about flies on the food I was advised that “we have flies because it’s summer”. Some of the staff where rude (not all) and did not serve us with drinks until we had almost finished our meals. I thought that the temperature of the food should have been checked more often and stirred occasionally. I appreciate that is difficult to deal with outdoors but flies at the pool bar where also an issue. Be prepared to hire a car or stay within the complex, unless you fancy a walk to Milatos village along the dirt track. On a positive note the facilities for children looked good, within their own pool areas with some lunch and evening entertainment. The entertainment for adults was awful unless you like “agadoo” and bingo. The pools are quite nice. Having stayed in other 5 star hotels I was disappointed in many aspects of this hotel, even one or two of the staff in the hotel indicated that it was not five star (without being prompted to comment). I did raise some of these points and others in a polite manner however the management did not want to know, one manager even walked away whilst I was speaking to him, which not being used to complaining whilst on holiday infuriated me!

First sorry for my english :-) French family, 3 kids, we spent the week between the 21th and 29th of august. Before to rent this hotel we've read on this site all the critiseses and we thought "people are never happy"....We travel a lot, we don't use to critisise AT ALL, we are peace full, but that time I confirm the this hotel is "a scandale for a 5 stars" : to many people (we counted beetween 700 an 1000 during august) not in half staff at all. About 15 minutes each night to wait to eat : to eat where ? inside a hall without air conditionned (38° degrees during the day) do you imagine the quality of the food in this conditions ?? the poor man who was cookinf the kebab was quite cooked too : a shame. The sanitary conditionned was not at all respecting the european norms : did you see the hands of the cookers; black nails ...one had the hand injured ans was taking the bred without gloves.... Once i entered in a kitchen by curiosity : A SHAME , indescriptible ! Of course if you stay in VIP you're served in your table you don't see that, and you don't kow what your eat .... but please be curious, interested by the condition of work of the others and look if the kitchens are clean. most of staff attitudes varying between disinterested and aggressive, I confirm Very poor beach, I confirm, one, I say ONE pedalo for all the hotel. 4, I say FOUR cayak canoe for everybody (a five stars ??) ONE tennis court wich is a football place in the same time. A carpet (usual in creta) but do you imagine the carpet after football teams). And even if your ready to play in those conditions it's not possible : reservations are full for the week, when you arrive the first day... in the reception they talled us to play between 12 and 1 pm (42 degrees..) sure.... alf board : 2,40 euros for water (not mineral, not in bootle) ? I've never seen that nowhere all inclusive : exemple : + 2 euros a glass a fresh orange juice for breakfeast(creta is THE mediterranéan country of orange) and you pay because you can't drink the strange orange sirop which is free the bar near the shows : 28 minutes to get a sangria. My son youngest is 7 is never had his coke, after more than 40 minutes waiting : one barman for 30 people waiting... a five stars.... We've met a french family wich stayed 2 days with the air conditionner out of order..they had to scream in the reception to see it repaired I've read : "there has been a new manager appointed since February 05 and has a real passion for service .." HE was there during the half week : i am a human ressources manager, i've rarelly heard a manager talking with so many agressivity to his staff, screaming always. An italian family once talled him it was too much on wednesday it was cretan night (+16 euros by person all inclusive or not, if you wanted to eat the barbecue....) he had the best table with his family near the pool an the show : A PACHA (we laught because we saw it from a balcony because we went to eat outside, it was just like in the movies..) but is it a five stars manager comportment ???... I confirm It seems that the manager wants the hotel to be a luxury resort but he tries to save money on the personnel and the food - so in the end a lot of people, we've heard A LOT of people complaining, from all countries The easiest thing in the world is to critisise, i agree but something else is easy : to compare. Did the one's who are happy talked a little with the Greek people of the village of Milatos ? they all say that Minos is a scandale. Did they compare with other hotels in Creta. I use to go there, I love this island, this hotel in it's category is the worst we've been To give a positive note : the week before we stayed in The paladien hotel of Molklos 3 stars superior : go there, stay there, enjoy it and you will see how the minos is a just a joke .....

We stayed there for 12 days and enjoyed it very much. The pools are very nice, pity that its salt water but nice anyway. the staff was very friendly, the rooms clean. the food correct. maybe a little cheap for a 5* hotel. so was the public. In our opinion it wasn't so much the infrastructure that wasn't worth 5* but the guests (too many people and not always very well mannered) it is true that the animation was very Italian. but so were most of the guests. It seems that the management wants the hotel to be a luxury resort but they try to save money on the personnel and the food - so in the end a lot of people are complaining and are very negative. THis is a nice hotel for families with children. Our boys (9 and 11) had a real great time. I would not recommend it to couples without children who want a luxury holiday or who want to visit a lot (it is very isolated), or to people who have difficulties walking stairs. About the negative comments we read on the beach and the wall in the sea : we thought that wall wasn't maybe so very beautiful but hadn't it been there our children would never have been able to swim in that rough sea. it didn't bother us at all. 20% less guests and 10% more staff and this hotel would be perfect.

We stayed at this hotel from 3/7 till 17/7. It was certainly 5 *. just perfect, the rooms were very clean, the staff very friendly and waaw, what a view. The persons who say that this is not a 5* hotel, i would like to see what kind of hotels you are used to go ? I've been every year in a 5* hotel and this is one of the bests i've been in. If you want some pictures of it, you can send me an e-mail and i will send you some. The only negative remarc i have is that the animation is only bussy with the italian guests. This is normal because they are all italian themselves.

Poor beach, no sunbeds for everyone (you have to wakeup at 7.30 to find a decent position) terrible reception. No air conditioned in the bars and in the hall... Wanna try a bit of luxury? Try Savoy at Sharm El Sheikh

This was simply a great stay. The hotel was great. Stayed there 8 days in all inclusive. They have several a la carte restaurants which offers a great substitute to the buffet which although varried remains an all inclusive buffet, for those with experience, you'll know what that means. The food is nice, that's not the problem. Swimming pool is saltwater, which isn't as nice as unsalted water, but you get used to that. Rooms are very comfortable with individual airco. Room bathrooms are very nice as well. Personnel is nice and friendly. I keep the memories of a polynesian-type woman who would always be smiling and saying hello to everyone. I recommend renting a car, and heading towards agios nikolaos, and following the coastline by Elounda, Plaka, and then getting lost in the mountains as I did (didn't really get lost but I did have no idea of where I was for one hour or so). You'll find some sights breath-taking. To some it up, I spent 8 days of full pleasure which was a great ingrediant to favour romance with my girlfriend which was also good. I do have one regret. It all seemed to go by so fast and I wish I could've stayed longer. Cedric

After reading some of the reports we have read about this hotel it is very sad as this is the best Hotel we have EVER stayed at !!! You may ask " well what hotels and holidays are you used to ? " Answer , we often use the Hyatt or Hilton chain and upgrade , we have had holidays in St Kitts , Dominican ( Ibostar ) , Maldives as well as throughout Europe so you now have our personal profile ..... This hotel was Fantastic !!!!! it really is the only words we can describe it . Our holiday was 28th June to 12th July , it was our 25th wedding aniversary ( no were not old foggies we are both in our early 40s and enjoy life very much ) , so not even visited Crete before we were a bit worried if we were going to like it or not , we should not have been !! We upgraded to VIP status which i would recomend and went AI which we normally do , we were made feel very special every minute of every day ! I took 11 x 36 rolls of film of the place , how sad is that !!! I really looked for something , anything , i might fault to bring me back to reality , but could not find it . We had private pool , DVD and TV in our room , Fridge , shower , bath , and cosmetics , plus all the usual AI things. There are several restraunts which you can visit but the Ala Carte and Piano bar are pay only so if you visit these areas you will still have to pay but it is sheer luxury !!!!!!!!!!! This hotel is not for people who enjoy the nightlife of Malia or falaraki but for familys with its many pools and water parks , for romance and for a fantastic holiday with a little more.!! The easiest thing in the world is to critisise i could not and would challange anyone who has and as i said , have many many photos to back this up. The staff are Fantastic , we had our own VIP restraunt for all our meals with a balcony overlooking the grounds to what the sun rise and set , not many places offer that . The hotel is mainly German , French and Italian with a few Brits but everyone is multi lingual and put me to shame , our first neighbours were German and the Second week French but we shared conversations daily. I would Just like to take this opportunity to thank the owner Mr Minos who we met on a few occasions who is so down to earth he could have been the Gardener , great man with great vision , Maria who looked after us so well , all the staff and animation Team and a very special thanks to our cleaner , she came from the local village Milatos , spoke very little english but we could still communicate but looked after us so well . If you would like to contact me for any specific queries please do so on RITCHIEP9@aol.com ..................This is the first time we have ever completed a report on where we have stayed but thought we should put the record straight . It is not as i said for everyone and if you want a cheap holiday then its not for you , but if you want a bit of everything , water sports , pools , fine cusine , chilled and spoilt , walking and climbing , its all here . It is 5* is should know and would rate it as one of the top hotels in europe. Thanks to Sunstar as well our tour company who booked this for us . By the way we stayed in room 415 and we plan to return October this year ,Yes we loved it that much !! Thanks for reading this , have fun Pat and Paul

Not clean. To big. Food not refined. Public beach. To many clients. Defintily not a 5 satr hotel but a good 3.5 Star....! P.S make attention that I was like you amaze with the pictures.

Stayed at the minos from 1/7/05 till 12/7/05 this hotel is neither as bad as the previous reviews say or as good as the most resent say Average sums up the rooms which are plain bordering on cheap building works which are being carried out now look worse than they sound the noise isnt so bad The food is the worst part of this hotel sorry but its luke warm and repetitive mixes of previous nights offering ie. and this isnt a joke? sprouts in the breakfast menu / broccoli with grated cheese that wasnt melted for breakfast? The staff are all helpful. The beech is a disgrace looks like the birlin wall was rebuilt here same colour to. Lots of sunbeds easy to get a spot Realy nice pools and areas to walk in the complex but im sad to say for me it looks better than it is all inclusive might be the better choice for this hotel but the drink quality was poor considering what you are paying to stay here.

The food is good, (i'm italian), the people of the hotel very kindly, the rooms are beatiful and spacious, only the beach is not very good, for the rest all very beatiful.