King Minos Retreat Resort & Spa

nicki 4eva

I recently stayed at King Minos Resort with my friends and unfortunately our experience was extremely disappointing, particularly with the à la carte restaurant and spa facilities. The restaurant was honestly one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had. When we sat down, the cutlery already laid out on the table was visibly dirty, with food stains still left on the forks. We had to call the manager over and ask for all of the cutlery to be removed because we didn’t feel comfortable using it. In the end, we actually went to the resort bar ourselves to get plastic cutlery because we had completely lost confidence in the hygiene standards. What made the situation worse was the attitude from some of the staff. After we complained, one of the younger female waitresses was laughing and clearly gossiping about us with another waiter, which came across as very rude and unprofessional. We were also told the restaurant was “fully booked” for the next three days, yet when we arrived the restaurant was practically empty apart from our group. The spa experience was equally disappointing and absolutely not worth the money. We paid around £80 for what was advertised as a 45-minute massage and sauna experience, but it felt like we were sold a completely false experience. When we arrived, we had to wait for another couple to leave the sauna, and after only a couple of minutes of using it ourselves, we were told we had to leave because another booking was arriving. Overall, the massage and spa experience did not justify the price at all. The resort itself has potential, but the poor hygiene, lack of professionalism from staff, and misleading spa experience really ruined parts of our holiday.

Laela Marie

Myself and my partner booked this hotel, we had a whirlpool/hottub sea view room. We booked half board. Room: The rooms were spacious and had all the amenities you need, cleaners did amazing jobs each time and provided water each day. One note of the room was that we did come back one night and notice a lot of ants on the desk area seemingly coming from a small nook in the wall. We managed to stuff some tissue in the nook and it did not cause us problems. Whirlpool/hottub: The whirlpool balcony overlooked the sea and the view was lovely especially during sunset, the temperature of the whirlpool is set and as previous reviews have stated it is not too hot however during the time in summer we stayed myself and my partner found it to be perfect in the evening times. Of course as any body of water will, there were many bugs that would make their way into the tub. And one thing I would suggest to the hotel is that each hottub/pool room have their own nets as I had to call reception asking if I could have one brought to my room yet instead they sent somebody to clean it which was prompt! However it doesn’t take long for more bugs to land in the water so would be handy to have one without having to force the staff to attend the room. Another note will be that on our first night of entering the hotel, our balcony lights were not working. We asked reception to which they said they would get maintenance to look. However we did not have them working until our last night which was a shame as it would have been great to chill on the balcony with the lighting. Food: The food variety is good, at the end of the day it is an all inclusive hotel and the standard of the food here was good compared to other hotels I’ve stayed at. Different food each night with bland food for the picky eaters and good standards of Mediterranean dishes! Decent desert selection but I do find that deserts are the biggest catfishes of the all inclusive world. They had a chocolate fountain at dinner time and the breakfast was great with a variety of continental snacks! Since we were half board we got breakfast and dinner however this hotel accommodates changing from dinner to lunch on days you want to eat dinner out! One thing I will note is at breakfast time you get free drinks included halfboard however dinner time there is not even option for free water. Probably standard here but with the price of the hotel it would have been nice to have some water without paying for it! Service: I cannot fault the service at all, most times my queries would be answered quickly and the staff at each part of the hotel were amazing. I will note that when you arrive you get a free spa voucher for ten minutes. It’s not fully explained that this is if you purchase a spa treatment. None the less myself and my partner chose to do a spa treatment each. I had the balancing facial treatment, it was a relaxing environment and the spa lady Emma was lovely as was diva who did my boyfriends massage. Nearby: There is a beach about a 10 min walk max from the hotel, you do have to walk under a bridge (you’ll understand if you come haha) but other than that no problems! We walked from the hotel to the strip which took us about half an hour, however due to the heat we did opt on taking taxis, €10 each way, the hotel reception will call taxis for you. Sunbeds: The sunbeds on the pool do get taken up quickly however they do become available eventually, however the sunbeds by the side are always free somewhere! And they’re super comfy! The pool was clean. I will note that no fault of the hotel, but there were a couple kids that were being problematic but I will be real there were not many children around as this hotel realistically does not accommodate to children at all. In conclusion this hotel was an amazing hotel, very clean and definitely upholds their 5 stars. A must stay if you come to Greece!

Rhea McKinney

​We visited in mid-April and the hotel was wonderful. Since it was the shoulder season, it was incredibly relaxing and quiet. This made navigating the hotel a breeze; the layout is intuitive, and everything is easily accessible. The restaurant experience was particularly pleasant because it wasn't crowded - the food selection was great, and we never had to queue or rush, which I imagine might be different during the hectic peak season. ​Our room with a private pool was spacious, modern, and very clean. The amenities (coffee machine, kettle, etc.) were a nice touch, though the pillows were very thin like a pancake, which was the only minor downside to the room. The location is also perfect: a short walk to the beach and very close to local shops. You do have to travel out for any sightseeing. There is a little train which takes you around part of the island. ​However, the spa was a major disappointment. I paid a premium price for a massage that was supposed to be 60 minutes (including a 10-minute voucher extension), but the therapist was very half-hearted and I was in and out in just 40 minutes. The massage itself was uncomfortable; the therapist kept digging her thumbs into my neck even when I tried to move away. ​To make matters worse, the staff hands you a questionnaire and watches over you while you fill it in, which felt very intimidating when I just wanted to leave. When I reported the issues later, I was only offered 30 minutes in the sauna - a poor resolution for a ruined, expensive treatment. ​Summary: 5-star hotel and dining layout, but 1-star spa service. Stay for the rooms and the peace, but skip the treatments.

Glen Chapman

Great hotel with modern and spacious rooms - extremely clean and well maintained. Good wifi, USB ports and large balconies. The staff are friendly and attentive Lots of food choice for breakfast and dinner (we stayed half board so can't comment on the lunch). Slightly set back from the main strip so very quiet and relaxed. Well worth a visit!

Gemma Ryman

We came back from a lovely stay at king minos yesterday, by far the best family holiday we’ve ever been on! We had a minor issue with our door lock which they resolved swiftly, the staff work endlessly ensuring guests needs are always met. The cleanest and friendliest hotel just a few minutes walk from the local bars and shops. The food is beautiful with a different range every night catering for everyone even fussy eaters! Thank you, we hope to return!