We have just returned from the Minos Imperial 6/10/12 - 20/10/12. This the worst holiday we have ever experienced. We went to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. This hotel is not fit for purpose, in other words it does not provide or offer the dining options or bars it says on their web site.
"Huge selection of dining options/ guests are offered a wealth of dining options & social bars".
This is absolutely untrue we could only eat in the Grand Blue buffet restaurant and once during are stay we could eat lunch in the Mediterranean Restaurant but most of the food was at an extra cost. In fact the champagne, Lobster Dinners etc are all at extra costs even if you are a diamond customer.
On arrival (which was a very unfriendly experience) we were given an itinerary of the bars and restaurants which clearly states the dates they will close, several actually closed on the 15/9/12 this was before we even booked our holiday and the rest closed except Grand Blue on 30/09/12 as we didn’t arrive until 6/10/12 are choice was certainly limited.
The last 2 days of our holiday even the Grand Blue closed we were moved to a side room and the food was served from serving dishes or un chilled un covered plates it hit an “all time low”
The food was poor quality inferior reformed meat /cheap cuts of meat always casseroled, not once did we have a roast joint of beef/pork or a chicken carved in front of us as show cooking suggests (we have had this in 3 & 4 star hotels) show cooking consisted of a guy cooking potato fritters and another frying burgers fatty chops and even fattier kebabs. The chicken they offered the cook told me was rabbit. The Asian restaurant, a small corner of the restaurant was were the same Chinese food was cooked every night. The food was always cold. The budget for the food is not being spent on quality food.
We complained to the restaurant manager Christosi Politis in total 4 times, he told us that nobody else had complained...
This was a huge lie as I have a list of people who complained some were moved to other hotels but when we complained at reception they said that we would have to complain to our Rep. as we did not have a Rep. in our hotel we had to wait until we returned to England.
The only bar available to us was the seaside bar as the tropical bar closed on 8/10/12 .once we were able to get served, as only one person was serving, the drinks were of the poorest quality, I drank only water and my husband would drink only the beer. The local brands tasted like flavoured sugar water.
The diamond quests had their own bar and we could drink in their but it cost 8 euros for whisky, brandy etc. this bar was always empty.
We have serious issues as to where the drink and food budget was being spent.
There were a few exceptions but a majority of the staff were extremely rude and ignorant. We were told by the bar/accommodation manager also called Christos (who we also complained to) that this was a translation issue!!!!!
As we went for our 30th wedding anniversary we thought we would at least be offered a complimentary drink but sadly we were let down as with most things at this hotel.
On our last day their they started to empty the swimming pools even though some guests still had a few days left of their holiday.
I have read the replies from the manager to justify the poor quality etc. Firstly we did not pay a reduced rate and feel very insulted at the implication we infact paid over £600 more than some of the other guests secondly we have stayed in other 5 /4star hotels so we know how to compare like for like. Other dining options like diamond class were offered the same terrible food as we were so why would you pay extra for it , the manager told us we were paying for the surroundings surely all 5 star hotels have lovely grounds but they have lovely food ,drinks and polite staff to go with it. Whether they were closing for the winter or not we should have been treated like the paying guests we were, and not an inconvenience as they made us feel. While their Economic climate is having such a bad time may I suggest they look after their biggest industry (tourist) not alienate them.
I have also read that the Hotel had a private beach!!!. Yet when we raised the state of the beach i.e. the rubbish on it (cigarette ends empty bottles broken sunbeds etc. we were clearly told it was not a private beach and anybody could use it that is why the hotel did not clean it.
In conclusion this hotel is not fit for purpose ( it doesn’t do what it says on their website) this is clearly not the holiday we thought we booked it was an inferior 2 star hotel definitely not 5 star. The food the drinks and the staff were a huge disappointment. A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY.
I would never recommend this hotel it was terrible.

Hi,
Just returned from a holiday in Kreta at this hotel last week in october for two weeks,we had read some review, so we had an open mind , we arrived late at nite and was greeted by the night receptionst and he was very friendly and helpful, he showed us to our apartment, so this was a good start ,his name was Kostas,and he remained helpfull and friendly until we left the hotel, the standarts in the hotel were very high , clean and friendly staff, great dinning experiance, plenty to do,and clean toilets, the pools and areas were spotless, 10 out of 10 for all that.
We were all inclusive, out of the 14 days there was only one night that i wasnt to keen on the food , however, that was more to do with choice, that standards, the waiter service was exellent ,young girls , very friendly and helpful. All contributed to a great two weeks,we spent a lot of time on the beach which was great for swimming etc, it was very hot,for the two weeks only to come back to the constant rain of London, so great hotel , which is 5 star.

Stay at Minos Imperial Hotel for 2 Weeks from September 26th 2012. We upgraded to Suite well worth the extra cost, they are up a bit of a hill which some may find a bit steep. The themed restaurant's are very good and a nice.
If you fancy a meal out in Milatos we had an excellent evening at The NoName Tavern, which is a 15 minutes walk from the hotel. Bar staff at night seem to be under pressure at night but did the best they could. Olga at the pool bar was always plesant at worked hard.
We recommend to anyone wants a relaxing holiday child free.

We're a 25-something married couple and the thought of a week away under the Grecian sun in a child free zone sound too good to be missed.
We didn't overly prepare for this trip as it was just a week away to the sun - but it actually turned out to be a lot more.
Our stay was between 16-23rd September 2012.
Arrival :
was in the evening. Landed 8:45pm and it was 29 degree Celsius!!!
40 mins after landing in Kreta we were already in the Restaurant having dinner. The Receptionist said it was closing so we could eat - and then take our bags to our room
Check in & Room :
We were taken to our room by car - and it was the furthest corner from reception but the walk would keep us healthy afterall we're eating all-inclusive and the room was just like the brochure pics. Clean, modern and fresh. We loved the bathroom and the glass wall
Cleaned daily, beds made and fresh towels daily too. The cleaning staff were great too. We came back early one day and they were still in there - so we just sat outside while they got on with it. Took a while - so we know they do a thorough job.
Food & Drink
How can people complain when there is so much variety
Breakfast was always fun. The yogurts, fruit and cereal for the more healthy
Lunch - salads, meats, pastas, rice, veg, fish. All sorts and the make your own soup was good fun too.
Dinners
Again all good and so much to choose from.
Al La Carte - maybe others stayed when it was busy - but we had no problems at all booking into the Italian and the Chinese Restaurants. We actually preferred the Italian out of the two.
Main Restaurant Manager was always smiling and welcoming and the waiting staff were friendly and very efficient too.
Evenings - we spent every one in the main bar area -on the terrace. Good music, a mixed clientele, and one evening they had a live trio that played romantic standards and hits. TV was on for those wanting to watch the football. It was all very relaxed.
We would rate it a 4.5 star (5 if the bar was free after 11pm) - and everything was clean and well kept.
We would go back to the hotel and reccommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing kiddie free escape - less than 40 mins from the airport.