Minos Mare

There were a few annoyances, though none spoiled the week for us. At the pool bar, snacks were available from 12 PM to 3 PM, then we had to wait until 7 PM for dinner. I didn't mind the gap, but the food there was fast food. The pizza tasted good, even if it wasn't like the Italian pizza in the restaurant. At meals, we sometimes waited a long time for staff to bring cutlery. Drink orders were limited to two per person, presumably to keep the queue moving, though the hotel could have put more staff on. Some cocktails and Greek Fredo coffee weren't included in all-inclusive. We also didn't like the beer, so we paid 5€ at the nearby beach bar “Pavlos” and bars on the main street for a richer tasting one. That's just our opinion. The good parts were plentiful. Shops, supermarkets, a gas station, bus stop, and car rental are all nearby, and the north coast of Crete is lovely to explore. We also went south, about the same distance as Chania. Staff were polite, friendly professionals. The room was clean and comfortable, with a balcony, big bathroom, and extra sofa, and the grounds were green and full of flowers and palms. Beach and sea were clean, and there were always sunbeds available. Some patches of the mostly sandy beach had small stones that were uncomfortable to walk on. A waiter often brought soft drinks and beer to the beach, so we didn't need to go to the bar. Food quality was great. Lunch and dinner changed daily, including Mexican, Italian, Greek, Thai, and American themes. It was always fresh and delicious. Breakfast had fewer choices but tasted very good. We also enjoyed the quality of the other drinks and wine. We had a wonderful week here.

The price felt a little high compared with other Greek hotels I've stayed at, though I can still recommend this place. Its location near Rethymno was a plus, and we could take a city bus to the centre in about 20 minutes. The beach was large with lots of sunbeds, and we never had trouble finding one. I would have preferred a beach with more variety, like some rocks. The pool was also a good size, with a pool bar offering the standard all-inclusive menu. The food was tasty, and there was always space in the restaurant. Our basement room was fairly fresh and pleasant, with working air conditioning, and it was cleaned daily with fresh bottled water. It had a terrace below ground level that didn't get sun. For my wife's birthday, we found a card, gift, and cake in the room. That was a really impressive surprise. Good place for annual leave, though I think the price could be a bit lower.

We went in early to mid-October, in the off-season, and the staff still seemed full of energy. Everyone was friendly and accommodating, and the hotel and grounds were quiet and relaxing. There was evening entertainment at the directly adjacent Minos Mare Hotel. The food was varied, with especially tasty regional dishes. Thanks for a lovely stay.

A very relaxing place, especially if you want to unwind by the beach. The food was lovely too, and the location is great. It's actually two separate hotels, though that isn't made clear anywhere, so only one pool is available to guests here. The staff were lovely overall, but one person really brought down our stay: the dark-haired woman at the pool bar. She was rude and unwelcoming, never smiled at us, and gave us dirty looks.