Minos Mare Royal Hotel

I was here for a week on holiday. It was my first time in Greece and it was beautiful! The food and drinks were delicious! The service over all was great.

I want to thank all the staff and employees for their hard work and kindness. Especially the bartenders from the pool bar.

God bless you all! 🙏🏼

~ Rafael Frolov

I stayed in this hotel for a week mid-August and it was one of the best vacations I’ve ever had!
Obviously, the rooms have everything you need and are very clean and modern. But I strongly suggest booking a room with a pool view, where you can enjoy an evening or two on the balcony.
The food is delicious. We had different menus every day and the choice was just perfect, not too much and not too little. You’ll be able to find anything you want no matter whether you are vegetarian, pescatarian, carnivore etc.
People are usually staying near pool, so almost all sunbeds are taken (and yes, some guests are still having the habit of leaving a towel on a sunbed but showing up 3 hours later). On the bright sight, there is plenty of room on the beach and the view is 10 times better. The sea entry is rocky, so it’s better to have swimming shoes with you.
We also went to Rethymno for a day, which is 10 mins drive. The receptionist called us a taxi which cost us 10 euro.
If you need anything special there is a small shop on the territory of the hotel or you can go into the town 10 mins, where there are plenty of restaurants and shops, including Lidl.
If you are looking for a relaxing and calm vacay then this is the perfect place!

(De Engels tekst van mijn review heb ik gekopieerd van mijn man, het Nederlands is mijn aanvulling.)
This hotel has a nice appearance and very friendly staff. Er is één mevrouw bij de receptie die zelfs Nederlands spreekt. Our room (nummer 217, 😊) is well sized with private balcony, airco and jacuzzi. It is all kept clean daily, including making the beds door twee lieve dames.
Sometimes we could hear the neighbours do the horizontal tango, but hey, that's what a holiday is for.

The all-inclusive buffets vary from day to day and are excellent, except for the wines, die smaken wat wrang. Everything is kept very clean by the friendly staff. They react extra friendly to a "kalimera" and "efcharisto": wie goed doet, goed ontmoet.

The pool is very clean and nice, the only downside is that it is still accepted that antisocial people reserve beds with their towels. Those towels should be thrown in the pool.
Hoewel het in hun huisregels staat, dat dat niet mag, maar een dag later stonden er wel extra bedden.

The Spa is also recommended, the beautiful Evdokia lures you in and then you have a very relaxing treatment which we had from Nina and Vasilis.

From the pool area you walk directly onto the beach, which is sandy where you sit but consists of pebbles at the waterline, watershoes are highly recommended here!

This is our first time to Greece and Crete, so there is a lot for us to discover. We still have a week to go, so tips are welcome.
Overall we are very satisfied with this hotel and so far I do not recognise any of the sour reviews found on websites, just don't expect a Ferrari when you pay for a  nice Skoda.

Very relaxing message. Almost fell asleep before the end! The girls were very nice and friendly. Very warm in Greece but the air conditioning kept me cool. Would recommend to anyone looking to relax by the sea. My partner really enjoyed it also.

We stayed in June in this hotel. Hotel is on excellent location, 5km to town Retimno. Renovated and nice looking hotel. Little minus is rooms, they are little spaced bud still manageable. Every day they clean the rooms, everything it's tidy and clean. There is a crib for the baby, and you can ask kitchen staff to cook specially for the baby. Staff is amazing! Food is so delicious and variety of food is amazing! There is somthing for everyone even if they are picky. Beach is clean and big, frist with sand then with rocks in the water, so for the kids its little difficult to enter. Pools are great clean and big, there is pool for babies and little kids. There is enough space and sunbeds, no need to fight or reserve place. Overall it was great experience and we would come here again for sure.

Amazing stay at Hotel Minos Mare! Nice hotel, good food and great service, especially bartenders Stavros and Savas. Amazing people, amazing memories, great time! Greetings from Adrian, Mark and Mario.

Very nice hotel. Lovely food and great location especially for the beach.

Very relaxing hotel, if you want to just relax and chill I’d recommend.

2 separate hotels however which isn’t specified anywhere so only 1 pool can be used as the other one is for a different hotel.

Staff is lovely however only one staff member ruined our stay with was the lady at the pool bar with dark hair. Very rude and unwelcoming and never made smiles at us instead gave us dirty looks.

Luxurious Stay at Minos Mare Hotel in Rethymnon!
I recently returned from a fantastic holiday in Crete, and I have to rave about the incredible experience I had at the Minos Mare Hotel in Rethymnon. This luxurious beachfront hotel exceeded all my expectations!

Ultra All-Inclusive Paradise:
From the moment I arrived, I was treated to an unparalleled level of service. My Ultra-All-Inclusive package included top-shelf drinks, including Heineken and name-brand whiskeys, and even complimentary late-night room service – perfect for those post-dinner cravings!

Exceptional Staff and Service:
The friendly and professional staff at Minos Mare Hotel truly made the difference. They were always available to assist with a smile, ensuring a truly relaxing and enjoyable stay. The hotel maintains a luxurious feel with a tasteful dress code, adding to the overall sophisticated atmosphere.

Multilingual Staff with Local Expertise:
The staff's excellent communication skills were a major plus. Everyone spoke fluent English, and many were conversant in other languages like German, Dutch, and French. They were also all locals who were incredibly knowledgeable about the area. They readily shared recommendations for must-see sights, hidden gems, and exciting activities, including bars, restaurants, art galleries, and local events.

Culinary Delights:
Foodies will be in paradise at Minos Mare Hotel! The hotel boasts two fantastic restaurants: a delightful buffet venue and an a-la-carte option for those seeking a more intimate dining experience. Both restaurants offered a wide variety of freshly prepared dishes that were constantly restocked and catered to different dietary needs. Menus were available in Greek, English, and German for your convenience.

Spacious and Tech-Savvy Rooms:
My room at Minos Mare Hotel was a haven of comfort and luxury. It was incredibly spacious and equipped with all the modern amenities and technology you could desire. While it took a moment to decipher all the controls upon arrival (a minor blip!), it only added to the high-tech feel of the room. The balconies were well-maintained, offered ample space to relax, and provided excellent sound insulation.

Impeccable Hygiene:
The hotel's dedication to cleanliness was truly impressive. The pool areas were meticulously cleaned throughout the day, and the staff constantly sanitized the buffet counters, ensuring a hygienic environment for all guests.

Location:
While the hotel is situated a comfortable distance from Heraklion Airport (approximately a 60km drive), it's important to note that Rethymnon itself is a bit of a taxi ride away (around 15 minute ride for 10 euros). However, the hotel's convenient location near a large grocery store (Lidl) and various restaurants makes it a great base for exploring the area. For a truly special dining experience, I highly recommend venturing into the charming old city center of Rethymnon.

The Beach:
The hotel boasts a lovely private beach with plenty of sunbeds for soaking up the sun. It's important to note that the beach has a partially pebbled shore near the water's edge, so keep that in mind if you prefer a sandy swim.

Overall, my stay at Minos Mare Hotel was absolutely phenomenal. From the luxurious amenities and exceptional service to the delicious food and stunning location, this hotel has everything you need for an unforgettable vacation in Crete!

An absolutely wonderful hotel! Very clean and tidy, nice rooms with ac and comfy beds. Food and drinks really good and the staff amazing and so helpful. A nice pool area with a poolbar and the sea really close.
We stayed for a week and had an amazing time!