Escape to Avra Imperial Hotel, a luxury family-friendly haven on the beachfront of Orthodox Academy of Crete. Indulge in aromatherapy and massage at Apivita Spa, or soak up the sun with a swim-up bar and sun loungers nearby. The 5 on-site restaurants serve Mediterranean cuisine, while yoga classes and bike rentals keep you active. Unwind at the garden or playground with free WiFi available throughout your stay; guest reviews rave about the helpful staff.
VIP Access
Reviews
9.09.0 out of 10
Wonderful
Popular amenities
Hot tub
Pet friendly
Parking included
Free WiFi
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Located in Platanias, Avra Imperial Hotel is connected to the convention center. Manousakis Winery and Old Venetian Harbor are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Balos Beach. Orthodox Academy of Crete is another place to visit that comes recommended. Scuba diving and snorkeling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and mountain climbing nearby. Visit our Kolymvari travel guide
Kolymvari, Platanias, Crete Island, 73006
What's nearby
Old Venetian Harbor
24 min drive - 31.9 km
Falassarna Beach
36 min drive - 29.6 km
Gonia Monastery
10 min walk - 0.9 km
Orthodox Academy of Crete
12 min walk - 1.0 km
Platanias Square
15 min drive - 19.4 km
Getting around
Ioannis Daskalogiannis Airport (CHQ)
46 min drive
Restaurants
Lounge Bar
2 min drive
Blackout
6 min walk
Μύλος Καφέ
1 min walk
Symposium Buffet Restaurant
3 min drive
Alexandros Restaurant
3 min drive
About this property
Avra Imperial Hotel
Luxury family-friendly hotel near Orthodox Academy of Crete
3 poolside bars, a swim-up bar, and a beach bar are just a few of the amenities provided at Avra Imperial Hotel. With a beachfront location, beachfront dining, and sun loungers, this hotel is the perfect place to soak up some sun. Indulge in a body wrap, a Thai massage, and a manicure/pedicure at Apivita Spa, the onsite spa. At the 5 on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, kids' meals, and Mediterranean cuisine. Yoga classes and fitness classes are offered at the 24-hour gym; Avra Imperial Hotel also has a terrace, shopping on site, and a coffee shop/cafe. In addition to a garden and a playground, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi, with speed of 25+ Mbps.
You'll also find perks like:
4 outdoor pools and an indoor pool, along with sun loungers, pool umbrellas, and a lifeguard on site
Free self parking and valet parking
Bike rentals, 2 outdoor tennis courts, and a bus station shuttle
A free beach club on site, an electric car charging station, and express check-out
Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All 328 individually furnished rooms feature comforts such as premium bedding and pillow menus, as well as thoughtful touches like laptop-compatible safes and laptop-friendly workspaces.
Other amenities include:
Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowtop mattresses
Designer toiletries and hair dryers
Furnished balconies or patios, wardrobes/closets, and separate sitting areas
All inclusive details
All-inclusive room rates at Avra Imperial Hotel are available. These rates are higher because they include onsite food and beverages in the room rate (some restrictions may apply).
Gratuities and taxes
Gratuities are included and additional gratuities at guests' discretion are accepted.
Food and beverages
All buffet and à la carte meals, snacks, and beverages included
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet
Parking and transportation
Electric car charging station on site
Bus station shuttle (surcharge)
Free secured, covered self parking on site
Free secured, covered valet parking on site
Food and drink
3 poolside bars
4 bars/lounges
5 restaurants
A beach bar
A coffee shop/cafe
A swim-up bar
Coffee and tea in common areas
Couples/private dining
Restaurants on site
Al Fresco
Avra Seaside
Basilico
Blue Dong
Xatheri
Things to do
2 outdoor tennis courts
24-hour gym
4 outdoor pools
Arcade/game room
Bicycle rentals
Bicycle shuttle
Bicycle storage
Bicycle tours
Billiards/pool table
Children's pool
Fitness classes
Free beach club
Free children's club
Full-service spa
Hot tub
Indoor pool
Library
Playground
Private wine tours
Sauna
Shopping
Steam room
TV in common areas
Winery release events
Yoga classes
Family friendly
4 outdoor pools
Arcade/game room
Baby toys
Babysitting (surcharge)
Children's games
Children's pool
Children's toys
Free children's club
Indoor pool
Laundry facilities
Lifeguards on site
Playground
Stroller
Supervised activities for children (surcharge)
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
ATM
Gift shop/newsstand
Hair salon
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Guest services
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Porter/bellhop
Proposal/romance packages
Tour and ticket assistance
Wedding services
Business services
10 meeting rooms
Business center
Conference center (21,528 square feet of space)
Coworking space
Outdoors
Beach loungers
Beach towels
Beach umbrellas
Garden
On the beach
On the waterfront
Outdoor furniture
Pool loungers
Pool umbrellas
Terrace
Full-service spa
9 treatment rooms
Aromatherapy
Body scrubs
Body wraps
Couples treatment rooms
Deep-tissue massages
Facials
Hot stone massages
Hydrotherapy
Manicures/pedicures
Sauna
Spa open daily
Steam room
Swedish massages
Thai massages
Accessibility
Hardwood flooring in room
No elevator
More
2 buildings
3 floors
At least 10% of profits reinvested in community and sustainability
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
At least 80% of food locally-sourced
At least 80% organic food
Banquet hall
Built in 2011
Comprehensive food waste policy
Double-glazed windows
Eco-friendly cleaning products used
Lifeguards
Locally-owned and organized tours and activities
Reusable cups
Smoking not allowed
Vegan dining options
Vegetarian breakfast available
Vegetarian dining options
Room amenities
Bedroom
Blackout drapes
Egyptian cotton sheets
Pillow menu
Pillowtop mattress
Bathroom
Bathrobes
Designer toiletries
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Slippers
Soap
Toilet paper
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Towels provided
Entertainment
HDTV
Food and drink
Champagne service
Free bottled water
Late-night room service
Meal delivery service
Minibar
Restaurant dining guides
More
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Connecting rooms available
Desk
Desk chair
Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
Heating (climate-controlled)
Individual decor
Individual furnishings
Iron/ironing board
Laptop workspace
Laptop-compatible safe
LED lighting
Phone
Separate sitting area
Water-efficient toilets
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 6:00 AM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in available
Check-out
Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
At check-in, guests must provide either a negative COVID-19 test result or a record of full COVID-19 vaccination
Negative COVID-19 test result requirement applies to all guests aged 5 and up; COVID-19 vaccination record requirement applies to all guests aged 10 and up
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of EUR 20 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total (up to 13 lbs per pet)
Food and water bowls are available
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
2 children, up to the age of 11 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Property payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
A tax is imposed by the city and collected at the property. This tax is adjusted seasonally and might not apply year round. Other exemptions or reductions might apply. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
A tax is imposed by the city: From 1 November - 31 March, EUR 4.00 per accommodation, per night
A tax is imposed by the city: From 1 April - 31 October, EUR 15.00 per accommodation, per night
COVID-19 testing fee (antigen/rapid screening): EUR 20 per person, per stay.
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Pet fee: EUR 20 per pet, per day
Service animals are exempt from fees
Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Cashless transactions are available
This property uses solar and geothermal energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Property Registration Number 1042K015A0208201
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 500, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation
Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property
Guests under 15 years old are not allowed in the fitness facility or hot tub, and guests under 10 years old are only allowed in the swimming pool with adult supervision
Guests under 14 years old are not allowed in the spa
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)
Property is also known as
Avra Beach Imperial
Avra Imperial Beach
Avra Imperial Beach Platanias
Avra Imperial Beach Resort
Avra Imperial Beach Resort Platanias
Avra Imperial Resort
Avra Imperial Hotel Platanias
Avra Imperial Platanias
Avra Imperial
Avra Imperial Hotel Hotel
Avra Imperial Hotel Platanias
Avra Imperial Hotel Hotel Platanias
Frequently asked questions
Does Avra Imperial Hotel have a pool?
Yes, this property has an indoor pool, 4 outdoor pools, and a children's pool. Pool access is from 9:00 AM–7:00 PM.
Is Avra Imperial Hotel pet-friendly?
Yes, this hotel allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 13 lbs per pet. There's a fee of EUR 20 per pet, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees.
How much is parking?
Self parking and valet parking are free at this property.
What time is check-in at Avra Imperial Hotel?
Check-in start time: 6:00 AM; Check-in end time: anytime.
What time is check-out at Avra Imperial Hotel?
Check-out is at noon. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).
Are there all-inclusive benefits at Avra Imperial Hotel?
Some rate plans available at this property are all-inclusive.
Where is Avra Imperial Hotel located?
Located in Platanias, this beachfront hotel is connected to the convention center, 0.6 mi (0.9 km) from Orthodox Academy of Crete, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Manousakis Winery and Old Venetian Harbor. Balos Beach is 18.9 mi (30.4 km) away.
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Reviews
Avra Imperial Hotel Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.2
Cleanliness
7.2
Location
9.0
Staff & service
9.2
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 171 out of 256 reviews
10 - Excellent
171
Rating 8 - Good. 53 out of 256 reviews
8 - Good
53
Rating 6 - Okay. 17 out of 256 reviews
6 - Okay
17
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 256 reviews
4 - Poor
10
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 256 reviews
2 - Terrible
5
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Kristie
2025/11/10
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We had an amazing stay. Everything was great - the staff were very friendly, the room and hotel was super clean, and the food was tasty as well. We can't complain and will return.
Kristie
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Vlas
2025/9/29
Liked: Amenities
Excellent Service. Excellent resort and facilities. Great selection of food, very clean rooms, tidy pool areas. Very friendly and accommodating staff from the reception to the dining areas. An excellent resort to relax in comfort. Will visit again. Deserves its 5 star rating.
I had a wonderful time at the hotel! I loved the spa, the pool and had the best night sleeps! It is a shame that the main restaurant does not serve a real espresso from ground coffee beans as it would have been nice to enjoy a good cup of coffee with the wonderful breakfast, but despite this, I will happily return to the hotel
Great hotel with many facilities. Lots of pools, nice spa, great gym and nice grounds.
The restaurants are good and many options.
Unfortunately they don’t label the foods in the buffet well. This makes it hard for vegans, people with allergies etc, I am sure they could do a little better on this!
The Best hotel and superb service, staff really go the extra mile to make it a holiday to remember. Great dining options and amenities. Beautiful hotel too and surrounding area
We loved our stay. The hotel is very comfortable and the staff is helpful. The pools are amazing (although a bit cold in the low season). The facilities are in great condition. We couldn’t have asked for more from this hotel!
The service was very good! The employees were very kind and helpful. Especially Jessy and George. We had a very pleasant stay and I would recommend the resort!
My daughter (15) and I loved this hotel. Our stay was just amazing. We enjoyed our room with a private pool and the awesome pool view. The food was amazing. We liked the buffet. The staff were very nice and the cleaning lady was very kind and caring. It’s a nice hotel for families too. We will be back. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful vacation. Your hotel was a big part of this wonderfulness.
Ideal property for families with children. The luxury all-inclusive package we booked was also great. A special call-out for the staff in the pool-bar where we spent a lot of our time. They were pleasant, warm, offering great level of service. They made our stay special. :-)
This hotel has a really good spa with gym, saunas and jacuzzi. Rooms are very modern, soacious and clean but the bed is extrmely hard. The buffet restaurant was more tyan enough for us for the weekend - they have extremely wide range of varieties on table and the selection changes day to day. But the staff was absolutely lost with allergy information and they had my wife eat food with nuts and almonds several times although she kept asking if it was safe ot not. Very poor job on several occasions from the restaurant staff. Otjer than that it was a very nice and relaxing stay!
We spent a few days in one of the larger suites. It was modern, quiet, comfy. The food was good - not the best we have had but above average. Staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. We'd definitely consider it again for quiet/relaxation time. They probably could pay a little extra attention to cleanliness especially around dining areas.
Was such a beautiful hotel, food was amazing out of this world so much choice. Staff all so friendly. Would recommend. Sun beds and chairs around pool was not very comfortable after a while.
The resort was great for the excellent selection of restaurants, food, pools, cleanliness/spotless. Great if one wishes to relax/lounge for several days and enjoy amazing food. On the other hand reception staff seemed a bit defensive and evasive with encountered issues. One particularly annoying thing was 2 treadmills for the hundreds of people at the facility. Having to wait for the right moment for exercise equipment, to work off all that overeating was disappointing. The property is not beachfront, and the beach was painfully rocky. Good stay nonetheless.
Nothing unique, just a regular hotel property. Unfortunately the food isn’t really Greek style and could be better. We decided to eat outside. Also the noise of the kids can be a bit annoying. But it’s not an adult only hotel, therefore you have to try to be seated at least outside. Staff has always been nice and try to accommodate our requests.
The a la card restaurants you have to make an online reservation and on the day you get confirmation for almost an hour later - sorry, that’s not how it should work. We canceled!
We traveled through Crete and stayed at a double bed luxury room with pool view. It was in de building across the street so not in the main building but it was much better over there. Perfectly for couple without kids. Our restaurant was much smaller and less crowded with extra chosen meals from 5 star chef Babi. At this point we wanne thank Nikos, Argiro, Manolis, Giannis and Elaine for your services. At the entrance is a baby kitty and lots of good places to enjoy. To mention the beach is full of
Stones maybe you could build a little path with sand sacks or something similar and the cleaners could be a bit precariously. Nevertheless it was a great hotel and so beautiful as well. Thank you for the stuff members who made it more nicer there for us. Greetings Ari and Zoi
Avra was a stunning large hotel offering multiple large pools with a smaller pool near the beachside, multitude of restaurants with some needing pre-reservation but easy to do throught the link they send you, covering asian, italian and pool side snacks as well as main buffets. The all inclusive option is fantastic and large variety of drinks all available within this. They catered amazingly for my 8 month old son especially for food, Jessie at the concierege helped us greatly in putting together meals to send to the chef and be prepared for him. Overall a few less vegetarian options (as mains) for adults but they did make efforts to do the other dishes without the meat. Staff were all very polite and courteous and hotel was large and very clean and maintined well. Spa area also large with indoor pool, sauna, steam lovely massage therapies also
Beach very close by but more pebbles than sand
Provided us with many baby amenities
We stayed in the adults only area which was lovely. We had our own private pool and the room was very spacious. We had no issues with getting sunbeds around the pool in this area but I know those in the main part of the hotel did have. However the sunbeds were the most uncomfortable I have ever come across and whilst the room accommodated three of us, there were only ever two sunbeds on our private patio, despite us asking for another one three times.
Food was great, loved being able to dine in each of restaurants once during our stay as we were all inclusive. The prices for these restaurants were as expensive as eating out in the UK so must be pricey for those on half board. The buffet was good, however the food was lukewarm most of the time and not hot. I have been all inclusive before at other hotels and they manage to keep the food hot. Not sure why they couldn't here, despite seeing other reviews complaining about the same issue. All in all, I would stay in the Adults only section again (though its actually age 13 upwards) but I don't think I would go to the main section of the hotel as the sunbed issue and waiting 30 mins to get served in the evening would be a really pain and put me off.
Only one additional last thought, they need a standard waste paper bin in the room, the small bins in the bathroom are not good enough for the rubbish such as empty bottles, food packets, paper etc, so we ended up collecting it in a pile for housekeeping to remove.
Our stay overall was good, the food was great, facilities etc were good; and staff were extremely helpful.
Some things however were not great, hence the four stars:
- Upon arrival to the room, although cleaned, the sheets had stains on them, room not entirely cleaned as dust and cob webs on furniture, also there were tiny lizards and other insects roaming around.
- There were cats wondering around in the food areas and restaurants, which wasn’t pleasant as not everyone is a cat lover, the staff didn’t respond to this very well, at some times there was also a dog wondering around.
- It wasn’t very friendly for children, lacking facilities.
- Our all inclusive package was self service only in the breakfast and lunch main buffet halls, where you can choose what to eat, but simple things like a soft drinks machine and tea/coffee and beer etc was all waiter service, it would’ve been good to be able to just get these yourselves. They did have a water and juice machine.
The snack bars were only all waiter service and nothing to just grab yourself; and although fairly timely, it’s still not very convenient when you cannot just help yourself and have to wait for food and drink.
Not a major issue, but good to mention.
- The venue said they have variety of gluten free options however in reality these were not great nor enjoyable. They had one type of GF bread which was not nice at all.
If the above were addressed, then we would be really happy to visit here again.
Rohit
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
10/10 Excellent
Juan
2025/9/16
Liked: Amenities
The room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. The property was well maintained and beautiful. The staff from housekeeping, bar, concierge, wait staff to front desk were fantastic. They all went out of their way to make you feel welcomed and valued. Thank you all for an enjoyable time.