Minoa Palace Resort

Minoa Palace Resort is a sprawling resort with a lovely design that's enjoyed by couples and some families, thanks to facilities catered to both. The lobby is a wide-open space with an eye-catching, contemporary wave sculpture at its center. A grand front desk, modern furniture, and artwork adorning the walls give an upscale first impression of this hotel. Outside is where to resort shines, featuring expansive grounds that are beautiful and well-tended. Trim grass and wooden benches line outdoor walkways, and flowers are everywhere. The grounds are split between two buildings: The original main building is across the street from the beach and in 2008, a beach-side building was added with an overpass connecting the two sides. Being newer, facilities on the beach side are more up-to-date. With plenty of room to spread out, the atmosphere tends to be quiet and peaceful, even more so on the smaller beach side. 

Minoa Palace is on the coast in the municipality of Platanias, west of Chania. The road primarily has hotels, but guests can walk to a tour and vehicle rental shop or the well-reviewed Zafferano Restaurant in about a minute. Within ten minutes on foot, there are a few other restaurants, cafes, and a grocery store. For those with a car, there is free parking on-site. A five-minute drive will bring guests to the small port at Platanias, where boat rentals and harbor excursions are available. The town of Chania -- with its historic harbor district and many shops, museums, and restaurants -- is a 15-minute drive to the east. Kissamos Port, which has a ferry to the breathtaking Balos Beach, is a 30-minute drive west. There is a bus stop within a minutes' walk of the front entrance. Chania International Airport is about a 35-minute drive from the hotel.

Rooms in the main building are appealing and contemporary, utilizing of a brown-and-blue color scheme, though they're a bit generic. The design includes white walls and tile floors, simplistic wood furniture, light-blue accents in cushions, and nautical-themed artwork over the bed. All have sitting areas with couches doubling as spare beds, plus long wooden desks that house the flat-screen satellite TVs and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Rooms either have furnished balconies or terraces with varying views.

Marble-tiled bathrooms have plenty of counter space, shower/tub combos, and phones. A hairdryer, slippers, and products from a natural line of soaps and shampoos are available. All rooms have minibars, free Wi-Fi, and safes. Upgraded rooms include features such as separate living areas, second bedrooms, and private pools. 

The Imperial Building is more modern, consisting of wood flooring and wall paneling, green accents in place of the blue, and light-wood furniture. The bathrooms are also more sleek, including wood counters with vessel sinks, glass shower stalls, and separate tubs. Suites add bathrobes and DVD players.

There area a plethora of facilities for kids and adults alike. The main pool area is lovely, consisting of a few small pools clustered together, one of which is a kiddy pool. Fountain features, in addition to the bar set as an island above one pool, add character. The entire space is surrounded by grass and palm trees with plenty of shaded loungers available. There is another simple pool on the beach side of the resort, also with loungers but less shade. The beach is a mix of rocks and sand with free loungers for hotel guests. Cabanas are free with a purchase from the bar. 

Five restaurants and two bars all have their own style and well-reviewed food. The main restaurant has an interesting outdoor space, with wide amphitheater-style steps for tables and beautiful flower boxes between platforms. The seaside restaurant is breezy and comfortable with a gorgeous view of the ocean, but note that it's for adults only. There are also an Italian restaurant, one with Mediterranean cuisine, and an organic restaurant under a pergola dripping with plants. The hotel has an organic garden on-site from which some of the restaurants get ingredients for meals. All rates include a buffet breakfast, plus half-board and full-board packages are available.

The spa offers personal treatments and exercise classes in an attractive setting. It also has a whirlpool, sauna, medium-sized fitness center, and indoor heated pool for guests over 16. However, use of the whirlpool and sauna requires a fee. Guests under 12 can make use of the kids’ club with a small but cute indoor activity area and an outdoor playground. There are also a mini-market, jewelry shop, chapel, and two large conference rooms on site. Free Wi-Fi is available in common areas, and a computer room has a wired connection.