Mythos Palace Resort & Spa - Crete — Hotel in Municipality of Apokoronas

My husband and I spent a week at this hotel. Overall we had a satisfactory time, however there are many things that could be improved on. The hotel has the ideas of 5 star but poorly executed. The attention to detail is lacking. ||Hotel |The hotel itself looks nice and grand from the outside. We were given welcome drinks on arrival, however we were not clear on what they were, but it was refreshing nonetheless. |On the journey to our room, the hallways were dirty with debris and large ants. There is a mini shop selling snacks, drinks, sun cream (€25) and souvenirs. There is also a jewellery shop which we didn’t visit. The WiFi is excellent and even reached the beach. ||Room|Upon arriving into our room we were greeted with a very musty smell. We stayed in a junior room with private pool. On first glance, you could tell the room was not throughly cleaned. The headboard was dirty and probably never been dusted. The bathroom had no ventilation apart from a small window which I didn’t fancy keeping open, because of all the bugs. There was a red/brown stain on the bathroom floor which very off putting.|The bath towels were no longer white which made them feel unclean but they did however smell like detergent. The bed was decently comfortable enough, two twins pushed together and a larger mattress on top and two separate blankets. ||For the first couple of days we noticed many flies in not only in our pool but our neighbouring pools too. However they disappeared a couple of days after, perhaps the pools were being cleaned infrequently. ||On the second day, we put the do not disturb sign on our door as we usually do when we don’t want staff going into our room whether we’re in or out of the room. We came back in the afternoon and found a tray with sparkling wine and two plates of food. Although a nice gesture, there was no note or information letting us know why they had come into our room to leave it, concerning especially as we had the do not disturb sign on. ||We decided to ask if there was a room upgrade available, as it was our mini honeymoon. Although the manager knew it was our honeymoon, she didn’t offer much of a discount and we didn’t know for sure if it would better our experience. We decided to save the extra £600. ||After the first day, there was a constant sewage smell in the bathroom, which we noticed extended to the outside hallways and generally all around the complex. The shower taps had lots of limescale and was horrible to touch. Generally the room was in need of sprucing up and deeply cleaned. We kept the air con in the other room on during the night and it was very quiet. ||Food|The main restaurant food was generally okay. We preferred it over the beach restaurant as the atmosphere, food and service was nicer. Some days the food was very good, some the food was okay. The dishes could also be very salty at times. |We went to each themed night at the other two restaurants. But still preferred the main restaurant. The Gusto restaurant’s service was not as friendly and a bit slower. ||We also thought it would be nice to have an a la carte restaurant instead of them all being buffet. Desserts each day were all very similar which got monotonous. The traditional hot orange cake was great. ||At breakfast the tea cups had many chips on the rim. Decaf tea option would have been nice. The cut oranges were a highlight, would have been nice to have them at lunch and dinner too. ||We would not recommend the sweets corner. We saw the waffles were pre-made so decided against it as who knows how long they’d be sitting there. We tried the popcorn and from first glance could tell it wasn’t fresh but tried it anyway. We asked for mixed sweet and salt and it was given with bough salt and sugar sprinkled over it. It tasted stale and horrible. ||Spa |We both got a Cretan massage. I didn’t realise it would be done by a male therapist for myself but didn’t mind too much, just wished we were told when booking. My massage was nice and relaxing. My husband’s was a bit too rough, so unfortunately not relaxing. My husband used the gym while I was having my treatment and said it was small and had worn equipment, but had air con at least. |We asked about the sauna and were told we’d have to book in advance. It’s usually 30 mins for one person or 60 mins for two. Which was a bit strange. ||Beach|Nice sandy beach but very pebbly near the shore. We were very thankful for bringing our own sea shoes. We noticed on days where the sea was rough, not many beds were taken so we didn’t have a problem finding a lounger. On days of calm seas, the beach was very popular so it’s best get there early. The loungers are very close together which can be annoying when the sun is behind and you want to face the sun but can’t move the lounger because of your neighbours. ||There were inflatables available for people to use. The WiFi even reached the beach which was a pleasant surprise. ||One evening we saw a staff member brushing sand off each lounger. If only the room cleaning was as attentive. ||Pool|On days where the sea was calm, the pool wasn’t too busy so there were plenty of loungers available. It was annoying that the umbrellas couldn’t be moved as I wanted to have some sun but not be in full sun the whole time. It got really hot so we ended up going back to our room pool which we were glad of and noticed our neighbours had the same idea. Perhaps a net would be good to fish out any bugs as we had to use a glass to scoop out a spider. ||We tried almost all the mocktails on the menu and were overall pleased with the selection. ||Service |Although being British born south East Asians, we were not treated any differently from the mainly German guests. We felt at ease and the service and friendliness from the staff definitely made the holiday a lot better despite the cleanliness and lack of attention to the smaller details. ||Service during meals was very efficient to the point where it seemed like they were playing a game of who can clear the most plates in a minute. Disappointingly, one breakfast morning our table was cleared even though a full pot of tea was left on the table. We think this was due to us taking too long waiting for the self serve Greek coffee to be ready. We did notice service had slowed to an acceptable rate after a few days and they were no longer playing the game of who can clear the most plates in a minute. ||Location |We walked to the local supermarket which was about 10 mins walk away and it was fun looking around. They had souvenirs too. However the path is not the best for walking and crossing the road is sketchy so be careful. ||Activities |We enjoyed darts, table tennis and croquet. We wished darts was available all the time instead of being part of the program but understand this may be due to safety. Perhaps the board could be left out and the darts could be picked up at the bar. ||We decided to go on the group hike to lake kournas on Wednesday morning. One of the near by hotels group also joined us and although their staff member was lovely, I felt rushed by him. Nathan from the animation team however, was great and decided to walk with us and said we could take a break if needed. Chatting with him made the journey much faster. He also made darts very enjoyable. ||Overall we had a good time, but expected better for a 5 star hotel. We...

Let’s start with the positives: the team was extremely friendly, especially in the main bar during the evening entertainment and the reception. rooms were cleaned daily and to satisfaction (but we did have a problem which I’ll detail in the negatives) very close to the private beach section of the hotel with free loungers which were in good condition. nice big pool which also appeared clean and well maintained. food was good (but some issues, will explain in negatives). enclosed playground which was nicely set between the bar/restaurant and the beach. Nathan, the animator really put his heart and soul into everything he did especially Aqua gym. very clean dinning area (main buffet restaurant). brand name alcohol (not top tier, but not no name). very nice and welcoming lobby. no deposit required for towels and can change daily.

Now for the negatives: this is not a 5 star hotel, tops 3 stars in my opinion (my wife says 4). closet space extremely limited, not nearly enough for a family of 3 and a half (baby). sharing pool was very dirty (see pictures), I didn’t see anyone clean the pools (maybe this happens early in the morning but we slept with the window open and heard nothing. food very VERY one dimensional, everyday pork, spaghetti, and fries and some other things, but not much variety. vegetarian selection was even more limited. food items not properly labeled (my wife who’s vegetarian had to ask repeatedly what items were (if someone was around and understood the question). after initial issues with first room reception was very generous in upgrading us to a private pool (which was clean); however, the closet space was less than the previous room and the room had ants. room smelled moldy (and sometimes unpleasant smells from gutter). overall the rooms seemed run down. only 3 restaurants (main buffet, beach restaurant (only open 2 a week), theme buffet (only open 2 a week). AC control was exceptionally dirty (forgot to take a picture, but looks like it’s never been cleaned…). Telefone was also very dirty (also looked like it’s never been wiped down). towels were paper thin two layer toilet paper.

The reason this is not a 5 star hotel in my opinion is due to the condition of the rooms. As I mentioned (shared) private pool was dirty, shower hooks were rusted and broken, shower head was dirty/chalky, rooms smelled like mold, limited closet space in rooms, very cheap appearing towels (paper thin). This is a sister Hotel of the Anemos which is also a 5 star where we stayed a few years ago and it’s simply not comparable on any scale. The Mythos is a bit less expensive, but it’s worth spending the extra money if you truly want a 5 star experience. Had the Mythos been listed as a 3 star hotel I would have been happy with the hotel (but would have never booked it), but for the money we paid and the association with one of the best hotels we ever stayed at, I expected a LOT more.

I do want to reiterate that the reception team did their very best to find a solution for us and offered the free upgrade. They were extremely helpful and very friendly. Overall we were very pleased with the service the hotel offered. Some might also find it appealing that the hotel is very small and easy to navigate (especially if you have kids). There are definitely better choices you can make and truly get your moneys worth, if you’re looking for a 5 star experience. If you don’t mind paying an extra premium for a 3 star hotel you’ll...

Reviewed today We've just returned from a stay at this hillside hotel and overall, it provided a wonderfully relaxing escape. The location is one of its biggest highlights – tucked away in a tranquil area with scenic coastal paths and a few charming tavernas within walking distance. It's an ideal setting if you're looking to unwind and enjoy nature.

Comfortable and Welcoming

The hotel is thoughtfully designed into the hillside, giving it an elevated charm (literally!). While it’s a bit of a climb in places, the staff are more than happy to shuttle guests around in buggies, making it accessible for everyone. The team here are polite, attentive, and always ready to assist. Our room was clean, modern, and offered a panoramic sea view that truly made the stay special – definitely worth booking a superior sea view if available.

A Thoughtful Touch

During our stay, it happened to be my husband's birthday – and to our delight, we returned to our room to find a beautifully presented birthday cake waiting for us. We hadn’t mentioned the occasion to anyone at the hotel, so it was such a lovely and unexpected gesture that really made our day. A true example of the attentive service here.

Dining Experience

Meals are served buffet-style, and there’s a good selection available. While it leans toward the typical offerings of a 4-star resort, there’s usually something for everyone. We appreciated the variety and the effort to cater to different tastes, even if a live cooking station would have been a welcome addition.

Drinks & Atmosphere

The all-inclusive package covers the essentials, but premium drinks and crafted cocktails come at an extra charge. It’s a good option for those who enjoy finer drinks now and then, and the beach bar in particular offers a lovely spot to relax with something cold in hand.

Beach & Leisure

Across the road from the hotel is a beach area – more rugged than sandy, but perfectly usable with appropriate footwear. It’s not exclusive to adults, though it’s generally quiet and peaceful. We found it a pleasant place to sunbathe and listen to the waves.

Evening Entertainment

There’s a variety of entertainment on offer, from live music to movie nights under the stars. It’s not flashy, but it adds a nice touch to the evenings. A violinist performance added a bit of character to our nights at the resort.

Final Thoughts

This hotel offers a peaceful setting, stunning views, and warm hospitality. We enjoyed our stay and especially appreciated the thoughtful birthday surprise – a small touch that made...