Sensimar Minos Palace

For my first solo travel in 30 years, I chose to book a three day ‘longevity’ package and enjoy some sea swimming at Minos Palace, a breezy hilltop resort on the east coast peninsula of Agios Nikolaos, Crete. It was so much more than I could have expected. So much more insight, relaxation, connection, healing, wholesome and delicious food, and fun! I am leaving with a full heart and renewed strength. Many thanks to my health coach Sophia, my trainer Vagelis, my massage, meditation, breathing therapists Aspa, Despina, and Vivian. I could not have done it all without Talar, whose smile and creative scheduling kept me on cloud 9 for my entire stay. Her six languages and the range spoken by the entire team makes this not just a health and spa experience, but a harbor of welcoming wellbeing within a stunningly beautiful resort. The resort itself carries this gently relaxing spirit into guest services, where Sophia made me feel welcome when I arrived and organized a wonderful day trip to weave at a women’s workshop and explore the herbal museum at Kritsa. The restaurants offered amazing varied and healthy dishes, wine tastings, mixology and cooking classes that were filled with fun and insights into the treasures of the Greek Mediterranean. These experiences really made the difference for me as a solo traveler! I’m so grateful to the entire wonderful team here, for making this a magical and restorative experience - one I will be sure to repeat!

We have recently returned from our second stay at the Minos Palace Hotel within the last 12 months, and once the hotel lived up to all our expectations. There is something truly special about this hotel. The adults-only setting creates such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, making it the perfect place to unwind from the moment you arrive. The hotel is immaculately clean throughout, and every member of staff deserves recognition. They are genuinely friendly, professional and attentive, yet never intrusive. They quietly go about ensuring that every aspect of your stay is perfect, always available if needed but never overbearing, making us feel completely at ease throughout our weeks stay. The food is lovely, with breakfast being a particular highlight, with a varied choice of fresh food. We stayed on a half board basis, and enjoyed the evening meals that we had in the hotel, but also ate out a few times, simply because Agios Nikolaos and Elounda are such beautiful places to wander around on an evening. Our sea-view room was stunning. Waking each morning to views across Mirabello Bay was a joy. Returning to a hotel can sometimes be a risk, as memories can be difficult to live up to. However, Minos Palace has proved to be every bit as wonderful the second time around. In fact, our latest visit has confirmed that this has become one of our favourite places to stay. We would not hesitate to recommend Minos Palace to anyone looking for a luxurious, peaceful and genuinely relaxing holiday in Crete. We are already looking forward to returning for a third visit. Thank you to everyone at Minos Palace for another wonderful holiday.

A truly exceptional 5-star stay for our 10-year anniversary We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Minos Palace Resort for our 10-year anniversary. From the moment we arrived, everything felt warm, personal, and genuinely thoughtful. The hotel itself is beautiful, peaceful, and elegant, and even when it is fully booked it never feels crowded. It still feels like every guest is receiving a true 5-star experience. What stood out most was the attention to detail and the kindness of the team. There were so many small touches that made the stay feel special, from the personal greetings to the considerate way my pregnant wife was treated throughout our visit. Even details like the online hotel portal automatically appearing in our language, German, showed how much thought has gone into the guest experience. The food was also genuinely excellent throughout our stay. Breakfast and dinner at Mom restaurant were really, really good, with great quality, variety, and service. A special thank you to Popi, Ritsa and Sofia at Mom restaurant, Sofia at check-in, Leonidas at the seafood restaurant, and Sofia from housekeeping, who took such good care of our room. The restaurant cat also deserves a special mention — a small but lovely part of the hotel’s charm. A very special thank you to Mr. Patsakis and the entire Minos Palace team for making our anniversary stay so memorable. The level of care and hospitality was genuinely amazing, and we left with very happy memories. We would love to return.