Very disappointed with our recent experience with service at the Minoa Palace. We were a group of 3 families, 15 altogether staying for 10 days on half board. What the resort didn’t tell us during booking or on arrival is that half board only allows you to eat at 1 of their restaurants for dinner. This is the Elia buffet which is fine but nothing spectacular or what you’d expect for a hotel advertised as 5*. If you want to dine at the other restaurants you need to pay with a 40% discount. After a few days we decided to upgrade to all inclusive for the convenience. I was very careful to ask what was excluded from this package given the hotel wasn’t very upfront with us first time round. Surprise, surprise when we then tried to dine at one of the restaurants not included in half board, we were refused entry. Literally refused, no discussion despite being all inclusive. When we pushed to get an explanation we were told there is a limit per day on number of all inclusive guests allowed in their a la carte restaurants. No one told us this when we paid for the all inclusive. Worse we learned the limit was 20 guests. As a group of 15 didn’t take much for us to be excluded. So in summary we paid extra to be excluded, unbelievably deceitful. When we politely and respectfully complained at reception, to the same person who sold us the all inclusive package, they denied this was a policy, instead saying the restaurant was full. This was a lie. The restaurant was half empty, we have photos to prove it and since then received an email from the hotel acknowledging they limit access to restaurants for all inclusive guests. Incredible they say they do this to maintain quality of service for non all inclusive guests, as if all inclusive guests are some kind of second class citizen, lowering the quality of their establishment. Unbelievable! When you read this you may picture a group of entitled, drunken all inclusive tourists. Nothing could be further from the truth. We were 3 families looking to reconnect after a recent family funeral delayed due to Covid, which brought us all back to Europe for first time in years. Very polite, respectful but despite this lied to and deceived by a poorly managed hotel .…
Fantastic hotel, the staff are brilliant, the service is second to none, so friendly and helpful. The pool and the beach bar/area are so relaxing and beautiful. Aside from that you have another set of pools to choose from in gorgeous gardens. We were on for breakfast only which had everything you could want and more. The resort itself is very chill, very much a tourist resource but great standard Greek/Cretan food and amazing service, shops. Restaurant Kyano on the beach is amazing, beautiful spot to eat and watch the sunset. There are better beaches in Crete, it's a bit stoney as you get into the water but the hotel and the scenery/sunset makes up for that! Gorgeous watching the sun go down over the peninsula. Highly recommend this spot, they can't do enough to make sure your holiday is perfect. …
Great hotel that lived up to our high expectations. Top service at all levels, from check-in/reception, waiters, cleaning staff. Fantastic food for all meals. Varying buffets every day - large selection. Top-class cleaning all over the hotel's grounds. We greatly appreciated that it was not allowed to lay out a towel on sun loungers in pool areas until 10am - then it was removed. It is of great importance to avoid the "towel regimes" that exist in many places. Great place for "adult" guests:-)
We stayed at this hotel for one week. Very nice hotel, very friendly staff and excellent food. Only negative was that the beach was very wavy. Red flag and no swimming for 7 days. The swimmingpool was only open between 10-18.
The food is not 5 star (it would be nice to say it’s 4 star compared to European standards) The Italian restaurant have a good hamburger but the Italian food is not to recommend. There are italian names on the menu but not Italian flavours. The beach bar takes 10 euro for a pina colada and it tastes ok.. but don’t have the creama that it should. ..but there are good restaurants around the corner that have happier service, better food and prices. So go to the hotell for the rooms, the suites with pool are excellent but do not expect 5* good quality of food!
We stayed here for a week on half board basis. Hotel was lovely, very clean and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The food was amazing, good quality and a vast amount of choice to suit everyone. The room was modern and clean with a large balcony. Location is great, right by the beach and Platanias is a lovely resort with plenty to do and only a 20min bus ride into Chania. Would highly recommend.
We had an amazing holiday as a family of 3 in minoa palace! Our 10 months son was so happy there! The pool environment is great for children and adults! There are plenty of sun beds and space! The hotel is really beautiful with big gardens! We had a double room at the main building the first 6 nights and we loved that! We had mountain view,our housekeeper Marileia was really kind and fast, and always thinking about our little one! Then we changed room as we wanted to extend our stay and got a room at the imperial part which we didn’t like that much as the other but it was our choice of course! It was a bit noisy at that part because of the construction and the darkening curtains wasn’t really effective so it was kind of bright in the morning. The stuff from the reception were really helpful,professional and friendly! They helped as always fast and in a best possible way! Special thanks to Katerina the front office manager!She is amazing and as well to Alicia and Georgia from the reception! We got special food for our baby every day for lunch with no extra cost and it was so tasty! The breakfast was fantastic and had everything! The products were so fresh and delicious! We tried the al la carte breakfast at galazio restaurant by the beach and both me and my husband loved Nikos,the captain of the restaurant! He is a kind person,so professional and good at his job! As I was working at a five star resort for many years I give a four star review because there is much space for improvement especially at the Food and beverages area! Some of the stuff were not really professional and they seemed really unfriendly and bored with their job. The food choices from the pool bar menu were not something special and tasty. We didn’t like the quality of the coffee at the pool bar. For a five star hotel was not that good! The hot latte was good but the cold coffees were not. The gym area had very old equipment and not enough for everyone if it was crowded. Another thing that I’ve noticed is that there is not a security guard,so anyone can come in at the hotel’s properties! Anyway, we really enjoyed our holiday and relaxed and we really want to come back sometime! For the price is really worth it but if you want a real five star experience you may find some gaps!…
Excellent hotel Can’t speak highly enough of this hotel. It’s in a great position, close to many bars and restaurants. The rooms are spacious and very clean. Beds really comfortable. Staff couldn’t be more helpful. Always smiling. Pools are very clean, enough sun beds for all. We didn’t have dinner but had lunch twice. The food was excellent.
Finally, after three years of loxkdown, we are back at the Minoa. And are please to see that nothimg has changed. Still great quality everywhere, the rooms, food, gardens, pools, all as it used to be. But most important the people that make the good feeling of being cared for, welcome, and the genuine hospitality and helpfulness. Entertainment? Oh yes, tonight we listene to the Marmitas playing jazz/rock/blues - a trio of really good musicians, playing and mixing classic with themes from other songs very subtly - a perfect ending of another great day. And another reason to go here again.
Very nice evening with The Marmitas Band playing and entertaining at the terrace bar. Thank you Marmitas for a nice evening playing a wide variety of music, lifting the evening to a new level. The mix of pink panther, Star Wars with more was fantastic.
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing