Minos Beach Art Hotel

"We arrived at Heraklion when the sun had just set. We then had to drive to the hotel which is a little more than an hour away. Upon our arrival we were greeted by the very attentive front desk staff and welcomed with a refreshing drink. Following check in we were taken to our little casita which was right on the water. The view was spectacular. Our room was so wonderfully appointed and the first time on our vacation where we had the ability to put our suitcases into an area out of sight but easily accessible. There was so much space for hanging clothes and unpacking. What a delight. The bathroom is large by hotel standards. It was very clean and contained lots of towels and some beach towels as well. The next morning we found that there were beach lounging chairs right next to water with umbrellas for sun protection. Fabulous. We enjoyed sitting there and looking at the breathtaking view. It is a comfortable walk into the nearby town which is charming. The town has lots of restaurants and a museum which we spent several hours exploring. The hotel restaurant has a wonderful breakfast buffet with so many options. In the evening the main restaurant is open with wonderful selections but there is a separate fine dining restaurant that we loved. The hotel also has a great gym which we used on several occasions during our stay. The property is well maintained, the staff are professional and attentive to guests. If you are planning a vacation to Crete, this hotel should be at the top of your list for a place to stay."

"Beautiful oceanfront resort on the east side of Crete. The protected lagoon is a tranquil setting for relaxation. The room was simply furnished but nice. Negatives - no hot water the first day. It was fixed immediately but I still had to endure a cold shower. Couch is pretty uncomfortable and no smart TV to stream shows. Service - for a 5 star resort I did not feel like the service was up to par. We had to ask for things multiple times, were either rushed or left waiting for someone to come by. Al la carte dinner at main restaurant was slow, with tiny portions and bad service. Meal was OK but nothing special. I know it's 5 star, but the pricing on food and drinks was ridiculous for what you get. Positives Dinner at Kafenion Adeste was amazing. The pork & chicken skewers were so juicy and flavorful and the pasta was fresh. Breakfast buffet was wonderful with lots of options that changed slightly daily."

"We had a blissful time at this hotel. The staff are lovely, the grounds are beautiful and the vibe is perfect for a chilled out break. It is exceptionally clean, the pool is gorgeous and we loved being able to get straight into the sea from the sun loungers. There is real effort to offer Cretan food and drink options and our Garden Room was perfectly located giving both the garden view and some sea! The only minor area for improvement is vegetarian and vegan options in some of the restaurants (gets a bit repetitive if you eat in the hotel a lot). I really did feel like we were being looked after. Special thanks to Marietta for arranging my spa treatment even though fully booked and Eleni (please forgive spelling!) for such a great massage and facial - I really had no idea how tense my face was! There were a few stray cats around (only a couple and not intrusive so don't worry if you're allergic) and the staff had put out food and water for them, which was heartwarming to see. This is a genuine 5 star hotel run by kind people. Can't recommend enough."