Avra Imperial Hotel

At the base of the wild, mostly undeveloped Rodopos Peninsula in western Crete is the 5-star Avra (Summer Breeze) Imperial Hotel. The architecture is based on traditional Minoan methods, with 21^st century comfort and amenities. The hotel is an ideal place for both couples and families.

At the base of the wild, mostly undeveloped Rodopos Peninsula in western Crete is the 5-star Avra (Summer Breeze) Imperial Hotel. The 19km long, 6km wide peninsula stretches due north from the hotel, and is interlaced with hiking paths and, except for a monastery at its northern end, is almost completely uninhabited north of the village of Rodopos in its southern section. This means that virtually the entire coastline from the Avra Imperial to the north is undeveloped.

The Hotel itself has 328 luxury rooms and suites, 118 shared and private pools, 3 outdoor adult pools and 3 childrens’ pools, easy beach access, 2 buffet and 4 a la carte restaurants, 4 bars, a uniquely-designed spa and fitness center with heated indoor pool, an open-air amphitheatre, a childrens’ playground, 2 tennis courts, a private chapel, a mini market, and a hair salon, amongst other amenities. The architecture is based on traditional Minoan methods, with 21^st century comfort and amenities. The hotel is an ideal place for both couples and families.

Guests enjoyed the location, the wide variety of pools, the clean rooms, the restaurant options, the beach, and the great service.

Rooms

Rooms fall into two major categories, with some sub-categories. The two main categories are Rooms and Suites. As you may expects the suites are roomier, with a different layout, and can house more people in some cases, with a max occupancy of 5. The décor for both categories is very similar. The predominant color is brown, from the darker brown of the parquet flooring, to lighter browns shading lighter to beige on the walls. Furniture is simple, plain, functional, and elegantly comfortable.

An interesting touch is the decoration on some walls of the cryptogrammic ancient Minoan Linear A script, which dates from as far back as 1800 BC and has defied translation. So maybe someday some linguist guest of the hotel will be able to decipher the Linear A on his walls.

Room amenities include plug adaptor, baby cot (free on request), bathrobes and slippers, connectivity panel, newspaper delivery (extra charge), electronic safe, bathroom emergency cord, fire extinguisher and alarm, free high speed WiFi, hairdryer, magnifying mirror, iron and board, hot water kettle, king size bed, shower with hydro massage, pool and beach towel service, satellite TV, Simmons mattresses, and welcome basket on arrival, amongst others.

An unexpected perk is that Avra Imperial allows pets up to 6kg. So pack your Pomeranian.

Deluxe Rooms

Three categories: Garden View, Sea View, Pool View

Garden View gives you a nice view of some of the 16 acres of beautifully maintained grounds, sea view opens your horizons to the ever-changing texture of the Sea of Crete, whilst pool view gives a restful view of the light blue pools.

Deluxe Room Sharing Pool

These ground floor rooms come with a semi-private shared pool. Pool is 200m² (2150 sq. ft.) and shared amongst either 6 or 8 rooms.Room provides a nice view of the grass, shrubs and palms of the grounds. There is a door off the terrace to the pool that insures your room’s privacy. Terrace is furnished with anatomically-designed sun beds, tables, and chairs.

Deluxe Room Private Pool

Room overlooks the gardens and pools of the resort. Private splash pool of 15m² (160 sq. ft) is off a terrace furnished with sun beds, tables, and chairs.

Family Room

The Family rooms are larger than the Deluxe rooms, and accommodate up to 4 guests. A glass partition separates the lounge/sleeping area from the bedroom area. All other amenities apply, including, if needed and extra roll-away bed for the 4^th guest if needed.

Junior Suite Private Pool

Suite has its own small pool of about 35m² (375 sq. ft.) Its terrace, garden and pool of about are surrounded by a gated wall for extra privacy. Junior Suites 37m² (400 sq. ft.). Sleeps up to 4. Open floor plan, with a king size bed, double sofa bed, and a roll-away bed suitable for a 4^th guest.

Deluxe Suite / Deluxe Suite Private Pool

Both the Deluxe Suite and the Deluxe Suite Private Pool are configured into two separate side by side rooms with a pocket door. King size bed, 2 two sofa beds, a coffee table 2 satellite TVs, and a second, smaller bathroom with shower in the guest room. The veranda in the Deluxe Suite takes up a lot of real estate whilst the Private Pool Suite’s patio is smaller because of the pool 40m² (430 sq.ft.).

Executive Suite / Executive Suite Private Pool

At 90m² (970 sq. ft), these suites are larger by a third of anything else in the resort. There’s a master bedroom in this side by side configuration with a door, and a larger living area with two sofa beds with an extra available if needed.

Executive Suite With Pool: Also at 90m² , The swimming pool is large enough to do laps in. The terrace is walled for privacy.

Executive Suite: The spacious balcony on the Executive Suite gives you a view stretching to the sea and beyond.

Food and Drink

Avra Imperial offers guest 6 restaurants and 4 bars. The restaurants’ focus includes international, Asian, Italian, Cretan and Greek, seafood, and a cozy, 10 customer max wine cellar for fine dining. Most of the restaurants are located in the resorts food corner near the main pool. In addition, there is a lounge bar, 2 pool bars, and a seaside bar and restaurant.

The Basiliko Restaurant is a lovely indoor-outdoor eating venue, with a pleasant, spacious terrace, and a glass wall separating the indoor and outdoor sections. Restaurant overlooks the resort’s central pool and the beautifully landscaped grounds. Buffet breakfast and dinner are offered, with early breakfast on request. Special meals for those with allergies and food intolerances are available. There is a wide selection of premium wines on the menu as well.

Not far from the Basiliko, the Blue Dong is an a la carte Asian restaurant near the unique glass-wall central pool. Menu items include cuisine from China, Japan, and Thailand.

This Italian-themed eating spot is also by the side of the pool, its terrace wall forming one of the pool’s walls. Al Fresco Trattoria is about all things Italian; garlic bread, world-class pasta, ravioli, and fine wine. Gluten-free options are available.

Xatheri Restaurant specializes in Cretan and Mediterranean fare. The Mediterranean diet is world renowned as among the world’s healthiest. Many of the ingredients on offer at Xatheri are hand selected and locally scourced.

Avra Seaside Bar and Restaurant. This outdoor venue is right on the beach, where you can savour the fresh bounty of the Med in all its permutations. Whether it’s lightly fried kalamari, grilled sea bass, or sautéed octopus, you’ll go into sensory overload whilst dining, enjoying the play of sun on water, and allowing yourself to be refreshed by the cooling avra, the sea breeze.

The Wine Cellar is for intimate meals in a cool room where dozens of varieties of wine are stored along the wall in racks. Custom seven-course meals are crafted, as per your request, by the local chef. Another option is to allow the chef to design a menu for you that you will not be disappointed with. This is a small, reservation-only restaurant, with a max seating of 10.

Bars

Le Bar Lounge Bar, next to the resort’s lobby, provides a easy to find, central meeting point for guests, a place to socialize and enjoy a signature cocktail or two, or just somewhere to kick back and relax with a coffee or soft drink.

It’s a place to go to after a busy, active day at Avra Imperial, or to just enjoy the frequent music nights featuring the on-site piano.

The Aura Pool Bar, right next to the wonderfully-designed, glass-walled infinity pool, is a wonderful place to pass the quiet hours of a summer afternoon, and indulge in some of the wide selection of signature cocktails, a refreshing beer or two, or just a soft drink and a sandwich.

The Petit Pool Bar can be found at the resort’s annex, near the smaller pool. It’s a low traffic corner where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the annex area and indulge in your favorite liquid refreshment.

The Avra Seaside Bar and Restaurant can be found on the beach. It mirrors the architecture of the resort. This combined bar and restaurant allows you to continue your day on the beach uninterrupted, where you can go to hydrate, and then to get fed whilst enjoying your beach day. Cuisine is Mediterranean-focused, complementing the environment of sun, sand, and sea in the Med.

Spa and Wellness

Avra Imperial has extensive, state of the art facilities for wellness and fitness. The 1,900m² (20,000 sq. ft.) Wellness and Fitness Center has a huge indoor swimming pool, 6 hydro loungers, a water zone foot path with wall mounted jets for foot massage, mist shower, and bi-thermal shower.

The Apivita Spa has a 6-person Jacuzzi, a steam room, and a Finnish sauna. The Relaxation and Therapy Zone offers body and facial treatments, body massages, Asian treatments, and specialized packages for couples, pregnant women, and brides-to-be. There is a special color and aromatherapy area for after treatment use, with heated loungers and a tea corner. The gym is fully equipped, and there is a dedicated space for aerobics. Apitiva was the first company to use aromatherapy. It is a producer of world-renowned beauty products. Aptiva’s goal is the promotion of balance and harmony, dealing with the entire body and its environment in a holistic manner.

Activities

Activities at Avra Imperial include a wide range of fitness options at the Fitness Center, which also has a dedicated space for group activities. There are daily yoga sessions by the beach every morning, and a Pilates class in the studio. There are 2 tennis courts available as well.

Entertainment options include the stylings of Stelios, the resident DJ who pumps out the tunes on the deck of the Avra Seaside Bar and Restaurant. Stelios plays an eclectic mix of lounge tunes and Deep House (resembles disco). Meantime, at Le Bar hosts a Piano Night, where you can relax whilst the resident pianist tickles the ivories.

At the Avra Amphitheatre, Tony the Magician does his thing, entertaining big and little people alike with his 60-minute show.

Fun for Kids

A unique policy at Avra Imperial is that kids under the age or 13 stay for free, and eat for free if their parents use the half board and All Inclusive meal packages. In addition, a crèche and mini club are on offer for kids at Avra, as well as plenty of activities for older kids. Childcare specialists make sure your kids are safe as they provide structured activities for your little ones and give you peace of mind as you take some time for yourselves. All kids’ workers have been completely vetted with detailed police checks.

Crèche and Kids Club activities include arts and crafts, sports, cooking lessons, water sports, swimming, treasure hunts, and games. A complete timetable of activities for the week is available to guests. In addition, babysitting services are available at charge.

The Alpha Crèche is for babies and toddlers from 4 mos old up to 3 years. Crèche sessions come at extra charge. Staff for babies are certified childcare workers.

Alpha Kids is a fully equipped kids club for 4-11 year-olds. Arts and crafts, games, cooking and sports are available amongst other activities.

In the Area

There’s lots to see and do in the immediate area. The Rodopos Peninsula is a hikers’ paradise, crisscrossed with footpaths, and bordered by exotic, remote beaches. Balos Lagoon is 23km northwest of the resort, on a neighboring peninsula similar to Rodopos. Another must-see beach in Crete is Elaffonissi, 52km southwest of Avra Imperial, famous for its pink-tinted sands and crystal clear aquamarine waters, considered one of the best beaches in the world.

Chania, Crete’s capital, has a rich and varied history, and there is much to see there. It is one of most picturesque, beautifully preserved cities in Greece, with a wonderful harbor. Its history, reflected in its architecture, is Cretan, Ottoman, and Venetian. Its Old Town has twisting, narrow streets that are great fun to explore. The Venetian port is unforgettable, with its coffee shops and restaurants favored by locals and tourists alike. The Venetian Lighthouse in the harbour dates from 1595 and is one of the oldest extant lighthouses in the world. The Firkas Fortress, across the way, houses Crete’s Naval Museum. The Yiali Tzamisi, or Sea Mosque, built in the late 1600’s, is at present an art museum.

Further afield, there is the ancient Minoan city of Knossos, inland a few miles from Heraklion, Crete’s largest city, a couple hour bus ride away. In addition, there are a lot of boar and overland day trips available to guests at the Avra Imperial, if one should get the itch to explore this unique and ancient island.

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