Avra Imperial Hotel

I booked a week with a friend on all inclusive so that we did not need to leave the hotel unless we chose to, the purpose of our week was to read and relax. This hotel delivered! We had a room with an inland view and it was a good size with a decent balcony and very clean and quiet room. The quality of the food and drink was amazing, I think this may be the best food I have had in an all inclusive from the variety to the taste and presentation. We only tried the Italian speciality restaurant but that was also of a high standard. We used the beach loungers on one day and spent most of the rest of the week in the adult only area, it was slightly before main season so we always found somewhere to lounge and enjoy the day in the shade. We booked treatments in the spa. The staff were great and the experience was relaxing and just what I needed, I would recommend booking something. Then on to the staff, all the staff we interacted with were lovely, friendly and polite. All in we had a great time and I would recommend and even return here!

We have just returned from the most amazing stay at the Avra Imperial Hotel, and we are still dreaming about it. We stayed in the Residence Collection in a Premium Double Room with a private pool, and it exceeded every single expectation.

What truly sets this hotel apart is the staff—everyone we encountered was incredibly kind, attentive, and genuinely invested in making our stay perfect.

🍹 The Ultimate All-Inclusive Experience We went with the all-inclusive option, and we really lucked out—it was worth every single penny. My partner was initially quite worried about doing an all-inclusive stay, fearing the food might become repetitive or the drinks would be watered down. This holiday completely squashed those worries and totally won him over!

The Food: We were blown away by the quality of the dining. The food in all of their restaurants was absolutely amazing. Every meal felt well-thought-out, fresh, and delicious, with zero repetition. The two bookable restaurants—the Italian and the Asian—were also completely amazing. Best of all, we had absolutely zero issues booking them exactly when we wanted to go.

The Petit Bar Team (Iro & Demetrius): A massive, special shoutout to Iro at the Petit Bar! She is an absolute credit to the hotel. Her kindness, attentiveness, and incredibly bubbly personality shone through every single day. Not only is she the most amazing woman, but she also made the absolute best, most fantastic cocktails of our entire trip. At one point, the pool area was completely full, and she was handling the entire bar on her own. It is a massive amount of work for one person, and she handled it like a superstar before we were glad to see Demetrius step in to help her. They make a fantastic team, and on the hottest day, they even brought us fresh watermelon—a deeply appreciated and refreshing treat! The hotel is incredibly lucky to have them.

The Residence Collection Experience: Upgrading to the Residence Collection was worth everything. The private pool was beautiful, but the shared Residence pool area was a highlight—it was super relaxing, and the sunbeds were noticeably more comfortable. Plus, the pool was beautifully cold, which was exactly what we needed to refresh in the 30-degree Mediterranean sun!

🐈 A Note on the Local Wildlife & A Constructive Suggestion

Crete is known for its stray animal population, and it was truly lovely to see the hotel staff caring for the local cats. However, to help protect these animals, it would be highly beneficial for the hotel to implement a few clear guidelines for guests.

During our stay, I witnessed children unknowingly offering the cats food that is highly toxic to them, and I had to quickly intervene to stop the cats from eating it. To prevent this, the hotel could: Put up signs advising guests not to feed the cats table scraps. Offer a donation option for guests to contribute toward proper cat food, perhaps even creating a scheduled "feeding time" that children can watch safely.

Alternatively, the hotel could keep safe cat treats at reception for animal-loving guests and children to give out under proper guidance. This would be a fantastic way to blend the hotel's existing kindness toward the strays with an educational, safe experience for guests.

☀️ Final Verdict If you are looking for a luxurious, relaxing, and deeply hospitable getaway in Crete where the all-inclusive package genuinely delivers premium quality, look no further. We cannot thank the team enough and cannot wait to come back!