King Minos Retreat Resort & Spa

“Great Hotel, Great Food, Outstanding Service”

We’d very nearly cancelled our stay after reading some of the recent reviews, and I’m so glad we didn’t. It genuinely made me wonder if some people had stayed at a completely different hotel. The location is excellent. It’s around a five-minute walk to the beach and only a few minutes from Star Be… more

We’d very nearly cancelled our stay after reading some of the recent reviews, and I’m so glad we didn’t. It genuinely made me wonder if some people had stayed at a completely different hotel. The location is excellent. It’s around a five-minute walk to the beach and only a few minutes from Star Beach, which has a great water park. Tickets were €15 each and we thought it was excellent value. Don’t be put off by reviews complaining about the little tunnel to the beach. It’s really not an issue and takes seconds to walk through. The hotel itself is modern, spotless and very well maintained. We arrived just before midnight after a long journey and found sandwiches and coleslaw waiting for us in the fridge. It was a thoughtful touch that was very much appreciated. One of the biggest surprises was the food. We’d seen several reviews giving it average scores, but we honestly couldn’t understand why. There was a wide variety every evening and everything we tried was fresh and tasty. Yes, you’re only allowed one booking in the à la carte restaurant during your stay, but given the quality and choice in the main restaurant, it really wasn’t something we felt disappointed by. The service deserves special mention. Every member of staff we encountered was friendly and helpful, and nothing ever seemed too much trouble. The bar staff were brilliant, often taking drinks orders at the loungers and bringing them over without you having to queue. We’d also read reviews saying drinks orders were forgotten, but that certainly wasn’t our experience. Giorgios and Dionisis, in particular, were exceptional. They regularly checked whether we needed anything and consistently went above and beyond to make sure everyone was looked after. Sunbeds were another pleasant surprise. We’d booked a room with a private pool but, if I’m honest, we hardly used it because the main pool area was so good. There were plenty of loungers available when we headed down at around 7.30 each morning, so there was none of the usual holiday stress of hunting for a bed before breakfast. The entertainment was generally very enjoyable, with the Wednesday evening DJ being a particular highlight. A few of the complaints we’d read beforehand turned out to be complete non-issues for us. The minibar being replenished only once during the stay didn’t bother us in the slightest because bottled water, tea and coffee were topped up daily anyway. Likewise, the poolside snacks were perfectly adequate, although after the generous breakfast and lunch, we rarely had room for them! The gym facilities were also excellent - modern, clean and far better equipped than many hotel gyms. Overall, we had a fantastic stay and wouldn’t hesitate to return. King Minos Resort & Spa exceeded our expectations in almost every way. No hotel is perfect, but this one comes very close. If, like us, you’re questioning your booking because of some recent reviews, I’d say ignore the noise, pack your suitcase and enjoy your holiday.

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“Nice room, lovely food, not 5 stars”

We booked a basic room which was lovely. If you like a sunset, ask for a room that overlooks the entrance rather than the sea or pool area. We went in August and the sunbeds weren’t a problem at all. Yes, all the ones around the pool go straight away but who wants to lay in the baking heat all day… more

We booked a basic room which was lovely. If you like a sunset, ask for a room that overlooks the entrance rather than the sea or pool area. We went in August and the sunbeds weren’t a problem at all. Yes, all the ones around the pool go straight away but who wants to lay in the baking heat all day anyway? They don’t have parasols. We went to the pool area around 11:30 each day and there were loads of cabanas left. The staff at the bar are excellent! The cabanas need upgrading, a lot of the material is ripped. The breakfast and dinner options were fabulous. Whoever makes the desserts needs a pay rise they were exceptional every night! The food around the pool, however, is really quite bad for a 5 star all inclusive. Salad & sandwiches which clearly consisted of whatever was left over from dinner. They have Mythos on draught which is included in the all inclusive. The music around the pool is repetitive which then follows into the dining area. The hotel really needs to pay for proper music, it was like torture listening to the same singer over and over. We felt quite pestered by the spa staff who rang our room, came to our sun loungers and wait near the dining area in the morning to sell you the spa. They mean well and are friendly but we just wanted to relax. What really let it down is the location of the hotel. It is actually quite a walk from the main bar and restaurants. The road leading to/from the hotel is full with bins and litter and a shipping container. The other option is to walk through the hotel grounds which is like walking up Kilimanjaro and leads you to an underground tunnel under a busy road. Either way, not a luxurious entrance. We had a pleasant stay, rooms were lovely, bar and dining staff incredible, food amazing but I wouldn’t stay here again. It isn’t 5 stars and it isn’t worth the premium price.

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