Avra Imperial Hotel
Avra Imperial is a five-star resort on the bay of Kolymvari, a fishing village in north-west Crete, spread across 328 rooms and suites a short flat walk from the beach. Families come for a crèche that takes babies from four months, a large glass-sided main pool and a quiet local setting well away from the resort strips.
On this page
Is it worth it?
Who Avra Imperial suits, what's in the price and the facts to skim first.
Avra Imperial is a large five-star resort on the north-west coast of Crete, run by the independent Greek group Avra Collection. For families, three things stand out: a crèche that takes babies from four months, a self-contained resort big enough to keep children busy for a week and prices that sit below the ultra-premium Cretan five-stars. The setting is the trade-off. Kolymvari is a working fishing village rather than a resort strip, so it's calm and local, and you'll want a hire car for days out. Evenings are low-key rather than a full animation programme. If you want a genuine five-star with proper childcare in a quiet part of the island, and you're happy to drive for sightseeing, it's a strong fit.
Best for
You want a real five-star with a crèche from four months, in a quiet local setting, without paying ultra-premium prices and you're happy to hire a car for days out.
Maybe not for
You want a lively resort strip, big evening entertainment or a car-free holiday with everything on the doorstep.
Best ages
Babies upwards. The crèche takes them from four months, there's a club to age eleven and babysitting on request.
What stands out
A crèche from four months at a non-premium price, a big self-contained resort and an adults-only Residence wing so couples and families share the same place.
What to check
Whether you'll hire a car, and that the Family Room is one room with a separate living area, not two bedrooms.
Where is it?
Kolymvari, a fishing village in north-west Crete, about 24 miles (39 km) and 30 to 40 minutes from Chania airport.
Quick facts for families
What the resort is like
Where it sits, how the grounds are laid out and how you get around.
Avra Imperial sits on the bay of Kolymvari, at the southern tip of the Rodopou Peninsula on the north-west coast of Crete. It's a self-contained complex of several building blocks set around central pool and garden areas, its architecture taking cues from Minoan palaces in a style the hotel calls Linear B, after the ancient Cretan script. The whole place looks out over the Cretan sea.
It's a big resort: 328 rooms and suites in all, and the official count includes 118 private and shared plunge pools attached to rooms across the grounds. One part of it is set aside as the Residence Collection, a separate adults-only wing of 65 renovated rooms for over-13s, with its own pool and bar. It's worth knowing that's an adults' environment rather than a family choice; more on it in the rooms section below.
The ground is broadly flat, and it's about 100m on the level from the hotel to the beach, so a pushchair is manageable throughout. There's no funicular, beach lift or internal golf-buggy service to shuttle you around; you walk, and the flat terrain makes that straightforward. The resort runs the Avra Green sustainability programme across the property, from geothermal energy and solar collectors to air conditioning that switches off when you open the terrace doors, and the protected Rodopou Peninsula rises behind it. For the wider island, its beaches and when to go, see our Crete guide.
Every restaurant and bar
The five restaurants, the three main-hotel bars and how the à la carte booking works.
You book on one of two boards, and children under 13 eat free on both.
| Board | What it covers for a family |
|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Buffet breakfast and dinner at Basilico, à la carte lunch and dinner across Blue Dōng, Al Fresco and Avra Seaside, plus poolside and beach snacks and drinks through the day. The fullest option if you'd rather not think about meal costs. |
| Half-Board (Dine Around) | Buffet breakfast and dinner at Basilico, with one dinner swappable for a Basilico lunch, plus 30% off the à la carte food (drinks aren't included). For main-hotel families this works out as the buffet in practice. |
The main hotel has five restaurants. Basilico is the buffet, and the natural home for families: it's on a terrace over the central glass-sided pool, serves breakfast and dinner (with lunch added on All-Inclusive), and has kids' food stations and high chairs, with no reservation needed. Breakfast runs roughly 07:30 to 10:30 and dinner roughly 18:30 to 21:30, though these hours can shift by season, and an earlier breakfast is available on request, which helps with an early-waking baby or toddler.
Blue Dōng is à la carte Asian fusion, Chinese, Japanese and Thai, set among palm trees by the main pool and open for dinner only, with a table booked 24 hours ahead. It's included on All-Inclusive, and Half-Board guests get 30% off the food. High chairs are available. Its own menu doesn't list a separate children's option, so ask about food for little ones when you book. Al Fresco is the poolside Italian, pasta and burrata, open for lunch and dinner, again booked 24 hours ahead and included on All-Inclusive, with gluten-free dishes and easy food for children. Avra Seaside is the beachfront restaurant and bar down at Kolymvari beach, serving à la carte lunch and cocktails and snacks through the day from 10:00 to 19:00, with the lunch included on All-Inclusive; it's the obvious choice on a beach day, and the resident DJ Stelios plays lounge sets here.
The fifth is the Wine Cellar, a private dining room under Blue Dōng with more than 100 labels and a seven-course tasting or "Trust the Chef" menu, arranged through the concierge. It's a special-occasion booking for parents with a sitter, not a family dinner, and it sits outside the standard board.
One point to know: the resort also has Xatheri, a Cretan restaurant with a champagne breakfast, but it's exclusive to the adults-only Residence wing for over-13s. Despite the wording on the general all-inclusive page, it isn't a dining option for families staying in the main hotel, where the buffet is Basilico.
Three bars serve the main hotel. Le Bar is the lobby lounge with a piano at its centre and live piano nights, open from late afternoon until 01:00, so it's an after-bedtime spot rather than a poolside one. Aura Pool Bar is by the main outdoor pools, with cocktails, snacks and drinks through the day and the daytime option for families at the pool. Avra Seaside Bar shares the beach space, open 10:00 to 19:00. Drinks and snacks at all three are included on All-Inclusive. There's a fourth, the Petit Pool Bar, but it's beside the adults-only Residence pool and not open to main-hotel families.
In the evening the dress code across all the restaurants and bars is casual chic, so no beachwear or shorts after dark. Gluten-free dishes are available in the à la carte restaurants, and the kitchens ask that you tell staff about any allergies in advance.
How booking works
The à la carte restaurants, Blue Dōng, Al Fresco and Avra Seaside, take reservations at least 24 hours ahead, so plan the week's dinners early and aim for the earlier sittings with young children. Childcare is best pre-booked by email before you travel. A suite guest's airport transfer has to be requested in advance rather than being automatic. The spa takes bookings about a day ahead, and the Wine Cellar and floating breakfasts are arranged through the concierge.
Rooms and suites
Every room and suite with its official size, and which ones suit a family.
There are thirteen room and suite types in the main hotel, from a 32 m² Deluxe Room up to a 90 m² Executive Suite with its own pool. The table is the full line-up with the official sizes; the guidance after it is which ones work with a baby or toddler.
| Room | Size | Beds | Sleeps and view |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Room, garden view | 32 m² | King or twin kings | Garden view |
| Deluxe Room, pool view | 32 m² | King or twin kings | Overlooks a pool |
| Deluxe Room, partial sea view | 32 m² | King or twin kings | Partial sea view |
| Deluxe Room with Shared Pool | 32 m² | King or twin kings | Terrace onto a shared pool |
| Deluxe Room with Private Pool | 32 m² | King or twin kings | Terrace with a private plunge pool |
| Family Room | 40 m² | King 180×200, plus a sofa and a 50" Smart TV in a separate living area | Up to 3 adults and 1 child; one bedroom, not two |
| Junior Suite, pool view | 40 m² | King 180×200 | Separate living room; up to 3 adults and 1 child |
| Junior Suite with Private Pool | 38 m² | King 180×200 | Private terrace pool; up to 3 adults |
| Two-Bedroom Junior Suite | 64 m² | Two kings, 180×200 | Two bedrooms, pool view; up to 4 adults and 2 children |
| Deluxe Suite | 60 m² | Super king 200×200 | Separate living room and bedroom, marble guest toilet; up to 3 adults |
| Deluxe Suite with Private Pool | 60 m² | Super king 200×200 | Private pool, two marble bathrooms; up to 3 adults and 1 child |
| Executive Suite | 78 m² | Super king 200×200 | Separate bedroom, living and dining area; up to 3 adults and 1 child |
| Executive Suite with Private Pool | 90 m² | Super king 200×200 | Private pool and jacuzzi; up to 3 adults and 1 child |
The five Deluxe Rooms all measure 32 m² and differ only in outlook, from a garden view up to a partial sea view, with two that add pool access: the Deluxe Room with Shared Pool opens onto a shared pool annex, and the Deluxe Room with Private Pool has a small private plunge pool on the terrace. They're the entry rooms and fine for a couple with a baby in a cot.
The one to understand is the Family Room. At 40 m² it's a single room, one king bed with a separated living area, a sofa and a 50-inch Smart TV, sleeping up to three adults and one child. For a toddler that's a cot-and-king arrangement, not a room with a door you can close on a nap. If you want two proper bedrooms, the Two-Bedroom Junior Suite at 64 m² is the only family room with two of them outside the full suites, and it sleeps up to four adults and two children. Above that, the Deluxe, Executive and private-pool suites add space and a separate bedroom, and the private-pool versions each come with their own plunge pool, with an indoor and outdoor jacuzzi in the top suite. Those private and shared plunge pools, 118 across the resort, are for cooling off and relaxing rather than swimming lengths.
Every room has APIVITA natural cosmetics, a panel to connect your own devices to the TV and the same smart air conditioning that switches off when the terrace doors are open; on All-Inclusive the minibar is stocked on arrival.
The Residence Collection wing
The Residence Collection is a separate wing of 65 renovated rooms for guests over 13, so it isn't a family choice, though it's useful to know if you're travelling with older relatives who want a quieter base while you're in the main hotel. Its rooms come with a premium all-inclusive board, the exclusive Xatheri restaurant and the adults-only Residence pool. The sizes are below.
| Residence room | Size | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Room | 32 m² | Up to 3 adults |
| Premium Room with Private Pool | 32 m² | Up to 2 adults |
| Premium Junior Suite with Private Pool | 38 m² | Up to 3 adults |
| Premium Suite | 60 m² | Up to 3 adults |
| Premium Suite with Private Pool | 60 m² | Up to 3 adults |
Pools and water
The centrepiece is the large glass-sided main pool in the central garden, a swim-up pool with clear panels along its sides that guests single out as the resort's best feature, and roomy enough that reviewers say it doesn't feel crowded. Basilico and Blue Dōng both overlook it. In all the resort has four outdoor adult pools and one children's pool; the hotel doesn't publish sizes or depths for them, and there's no separate splash pad, so the children's pool is the one dedicated water feature for little ones. The adults-only Residence pool, with its cabanas and Petit Pool Bar, is kept for Residence guests.
There's also a 200 m² indoor heated pool inside the APIVITA spa, with a surrounding cascade, six stainless-steel hydro-massage loungers and two water jets, but the spa is for guests over 13, so it isn't a facility for younger children.
The beach
Kolymvari beach is about 100m from the hotel, a short flat walk with direct pedestrian access, and the hotel describes it as "the unspoiled Kolymvari beach next to the hotel, with its crystal clear water and serene atmosphere". The official description also calls it fine sand and pebbles, so it's a mixed sand-and-pebble beach rather than all soft sand; water shoes are worth packing for small feet. The bay is partly sheltered but not always calm, and one guest noted plenty of waves, so it isn't a guaranteed flat paddling pool for toddlers, and the Meltemi wind can pick things up in summer. Sunbeds are set out, though one family found them in short supply at the busiest times. The Avra Seaside restaurant and bar sit right on the sand for food and drinks through the day, and the concierge can arrange boat trips and powerboat excursions to quieter beaches along the coast. In practice most families use the pools more than the beach and treat the sand as an extra rather than the main draw.
Babies and toddlers
The crèche and club, babysitting, the baby kit and what children eat.
The reason many families choose Avra Imperial is the Alpha Crèche, which takes children from four months to three years, daily through the season on the first floor of the main building, with a weekly timetable of arts and crafts, sports, cooking, swimming, treasure hunts, workshops and games. The crèche and club staff hold childcare qualifications and do professional childcare training. Places are limited and best reserved by email before you travel. For older children the Alpha Kids club runs from four to eleven, daily through the same season on the same floor, drawing on the same seven activities, arts and crafts, sports, cooking, swimming, treasure hunts, workshops and games, run to its own age-appropriate weekly timetable.
One thing to plan around: there's no teen club in the current programme. The crèche covers four months to three years and the club four to eleven, so there's a gap in organised provision for children of about eleven to thirteen, and the Residence wing is over-13s only. Worth knowing before you book if you have a child in that band.
Babysitting is available on request for any age, at a ratio of one carer to three children, with the hotel aiming to keep the same sitter through your stay. Book it through the childcare manager or the Concierge desk once you're at the hotel, or arrange it by email before you travel. Evening sessions can be booked, and there's a day's notice for cancellations, so it's a workable way to get an adult dinner. Children under 13 stay free sharing their parents' room on the existing bedding, and eat free on Half-Board and All-Inclusive.
On baby kit, the official position is high chairs in the restaurants and a baby and kids amenities form you fill in before you travel to pre-arrange what you need. Families have reported being able to arrange more through the hotel, cots, a baby bath, a bottle warmer, car seats and pushchairs, a small gift for children on arrival, along with complimentary baby food for under-twos and interconnecting rooms, so list what you need on the form and confirm it's available before you rely on it. All the restaurants have kids' buffet or children's food options, Basilico has dedicated kids' food stations, and there's a children's playground on the premises.
Things to do
Beyond the pools and the kids club, the resort has two tennis courts, with equipment free for in-house guests, and both tennis and the gym are set up as adult activities. The 24-hour Fitness Centre is fitted out by TechnoGym and sits in the spa building. Entertainment is deliberately low-key: the resident DJ Stelios plays lounge and deep-house sets at Avra Seaside, Le Bar has live piano nights, and there's an open-air amphitheatre, though there's no big nightly animation programme, which is one of the few things a review or two would have liked more of.
The concierge can put together the more special-occasion extras: boat trips and powerboat excursions to isolated beaches, a Samaria Gorge hike, wine tastings and winery visits through the Avra Uncorked programme, plus a floating breakfast or champagne in the private-pool rooms. For shopping there's a LAVIATE resortwear pop-up, an APIVITA cosmetics store, a beauty and hair salon and a mini market that one guest found cheaper than the shop in the village.
The spa
The APIVITA Spa is a 1,900 m² wellness centre named after the Greek natural-cosmetics brand built on bee-based ingredients. Alongside the treatment rooms it has four distinct areas: the 200 m² indoor heated pool with its cascade, hydro-massage loungers and water jets; a Water Zone with a 6-metre foot path lined with wall-mounted jets for a foot massage, plus a mist shower, a bithermal shower, a Scottish shower and a cold rain shower; a Temperature Zone with a steam room, a Finnish sauna and ice-making equipment; and a jacuzzi for up to six people. There's also a Relaxation and Therapy Zone for couples' treatment packages, with a colour and aromatherapy area, heated loungers and a tea corner, which is where parents are most likely to spend an afternoon while children are in the crèche or club. Access is complimentary for residents. The one catch is that the spa, including the indoor pool, is for guests over 13, so it isn't a facility you can share with younger children. Treatments are booked about a day ahead, with a robe, slippers and a locker provided, and the usual etiquette of arriving early and leaving phones outside.
The area and days out
Kolymvari itself is a traditional Cretan fishing village rather than a resort town, with a small harbour about 250m away and a handful of tavernas and shops. Just under half a mile (1 km) west is Gonia Monastery, founded in 1618, one of the more important monasteries on Crete, with icons, frescoes and a small museum, free to visit, and the Orthodox Academy of Crete sits beside it. The protected Rodopou Peninsula stretches north, wild walking country for active families with older children.
For a day out you'll want the car. Chania, Crete's prettiest city, is 14 miles (23 km) east, roughly 25 to 35 minutes by car or about 45 minutes by bus, with a Venetian old town, the Old Harbour and the covered Agora market, easy enough for a half-day with children. West of Kolymvari, Falassarna is a big west-facing sandy beach about 19 to 25 miles (30 to 40 km) away, fine in calm weather but exposed to wind, and Balos Lagoon is striking but busy, reached either by boat from Kissamos harbour, the easiest option for families, or by a rough 4km track from the plateau followed by a walk, which needs a decent car. Lake Kourna, Crete's only freshwater lake, is about 16 miles (25 km) east, with pedalos and lakeside tavernas and an easy morning with toddlers. The Samaria Gorge, roughly 22 to 25 miles (35 to 40 km) south, is a strenuous 16 km walk that generally doesn't suit children under about eight. For a splash-about, Aqua Creta Limnoupolis waterpark near Chania is about 19 miles (30 km) away, with 11 slides, a shallow children's pool and a 206m lazy river, confirmed running for 2026 and a half-day or full-day out for over-threes. Heraklion and Knossos, about 106 miles (170 km) east, are too far for a comfortable day with young children from here. There's more on the island in our Crete guide.
Loves and gripes
What guests rate and what they flag, how it compares, the journey in and the weather by month.
What families love, and the gripes
What families love
- The staff, named in almost every positive review, welcoming and going out of their way.
- The food, with good variety, dietary options, well-stocked buffets and the à la carte restaurants also praised.
- The large glass-sided main pool, spacious even when busy.
- The cleanliness, with guests calling it spotless and noting visible cleaners.
- The relaxed, easy-going feel and a broad mix of guests, with many returning year after year.
Common gripes
- The WiFi, the lowest-rated part of the stay and slow in places.
- Quiet evening entertainment, with one family wanting more organised activity.
- The beach seen as an extra rather than the draw, with some waves.
- Sunbed supply on the beach and a car park that can be tight at peak times.
- One UK guest flagged hard mattresses and poor pillows, and that it's a fair way from Chania without a car.
The picture across the reviews is consistent and warm. On Booking.com the hotel scores 8.6 out of 10 from 78 reviews, with a Guests' Choice award and a ranking of #26 out of 72 hotels in Kolymvari. The subscores break down like this: comfort 9.0, facilities 8.9, cleanliness 8.9, staff 8.6, location 8.3, value for money 8.0 and free WiFi 7.5, the lowest by some margin. On TripAdvisor it's rated four out of five from around 2,363 reviews, ranked roughly #374 of 1,490 hotels on Crete. Treat these as a rough steer rather than a promise, and read recent reviews yourself before you book.
How it compares
Avra Imperial's pitch is a genuine five-star at a price below the island's ultra-premium resorts, in a quiet western setting. Here's how it sits against the nearest alternatives.
| Resort | Where | How it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Daios Cove | North-east Crete | Higher-end and more remote, in a private cove a long transfer from Heraklion. Avra Imperial sits on an open bay in the west, at a more accessible price. |
| Domes Zeen Chania | Chania area | The closest rival, newer and more design-led, also with a crèche from four months. Avra Imperial is larger and longer-established, at 328 rooms. |
| Domes of Elounda | North-east Crete | Boutique-premium with a much longer transfer, aimed at a different guest. Avra Imperial suits families wanting a western Crete base at five-star without the premium. |
| Ikos Kissamos | 12 km west | A new ultra-luxury all-inclusive on a bigger scale and at a much higher price. Avra Imperial covers the same family market for less. |
What sets it apart is the combination: it's the one clearly documented crèche from four months in the Chania area at a non-premium price, on a large self-contained site with the infrastructure that brings, and the adults-only Residence wing lets couples and families share the same resort. It's an established Cretan brand with a high rate of returning guests, and the quiet Kolymvari setting is a plus if you want calm and a minus if you want things on the doorstep.
From the airportGetting there and when to go
The arrival airport is Chania (CHQ), 24 miles (39 km) away, a straightforward 30 to 40 minute drive west along the coast road; Heraklion is about 106 miles (170 km) east and not a sensible choice. Suite guests booking five nights or more get a complimentary return private transfer from Chania airport, but it has to be requested in advance rather than laid on automatically; other guests arrange their own, and the concierge can help. Souda ferry port is 22 miles (35 km) away. A hire car makes sense for sightseeing given the quiet location, and there's a car-hire desk at the hotel; Chania is reachable by bus in about 45 minutes if you'd rather not drive, though taxis are dear.
The kids club runs roughly late April to early November, and the main hotel's season is likely similar. For babies and toddlers, June and September are the pick of the season, warm with a swimmable sea and short of the July and August peak for heat and crowds. May is quieter with a cooler sea, and October keeps a warm sea as the autumn rain starts. From mid-May to mid-September the Meltemi, a north-westerly wind, can blow, which takes the edge off the summer heat but can leave the bay choppy.
When to goWeather
The figures below are typical monthly averages for the west Crete coast across the resort's operating season.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Rain | Wet days | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 20.5° | 12° | 22 mm | 3 | 17° |
| May | 24° | 15.5° | 11 mm | 2 | 20° |
| June | 27.5° | 19.5° | 4 mm | 0 | 23° |
| July | 29.5° | 22.5° | 1 mm | 0 | 26° |
| August | 29.5° | 22.5° | 2 mm | 0 | 27° |
| September | 27° | 20° | 13 mm | 1 | 26° |
| October | 24° | 17° | 54 mm | 4 | 23° |
| November | 20.5° | 13.5° | 63 mm | 6 | 21° |
Typical monthly averages from weather-station records. Sea temperature is the open-water figure, so a sheltered bay can feel a degree or two warmer. The kids club runs roughly late April to early November, and the main hotel's season is likely similar.
Practicalities
The terrain is broadly flat, with equipment and facilities the hotel describes as adapted for disabled guests, and pushchairs and car seats are reported to be available at no charge. There's a doctor on call; the nearest full hospital and pharmacy provision is in Chania, about 14 miles (23 km) away, with small local services in Kolymvari village. The hotel runs a 24-hour reception with porter, laundry and dry cleaning, a concierge, a private chapel and a conference centre.
For getting about and admin, there's the on-site rent-a-car desk, run by the car-hire partner Traffic, indoor and outdoor parking (which a guest or two found tight at peak times), and an electric-car charging point. All indoor areas are non-smoking. Dogs up to 6 kg are allowed, one per room, for an extra fee. There's a hotel app and an ATM on site.
Questions
The things families ask most, the official page worth a bookmark and when this guide was last updated.
How young does the crèche take a baby?
From four months, in the Alpha Crèche, daily through the season. Places are limited, so email the hotel to reserve before you travel rather than waiting until you arrive.
Is the Family Room actually two bedrooms?
No. It's one bedroom of 40 m² with a separate living area and a sofa, sleeping up to three adults and one child. For two separate bedrooms you need the Two-Bedroom Junior Suite at 64 m².
Do we need to hire a car?
For the resort itself, no; everything's on site and the beach is a short flat walk. For days out to Chania, the western beaches or the gorge, a car pays off in practice, since Kolymvari is quiet and taxis are dear. There's a rent-a-car desk at the hotel, run by the car-hire partner Traffic.
Is it a sandy beach?
It's a mix of fine sand and pebbles, so pack water shoes for tender feet, and note the bay isn't always flat-calm. Most families spend more of the day at the pools.
Can everyone eat at Xatheri?
No. Xatheri is exclusive to the adults-only Residence wing for over-13s. Families in the main hotel dine at the Basilico buffet, with the à la carte restaurants alongside.
Can we pre-arrange a cot and baby kit?
Yes, through the hotel's baby and kids amenities form before you travel, and high chairs are in the restaurants. Families report cots, baby baths and more can be arranged, so list what you need on the form and confirm it's available.
When's the best time to go with little ones?
June and September: warm, with a swimmable sea and less heat and crowding than July and August. The kids club runs roughly late April to early November, and the main hotel's season is likely similar.
What does All-Inclusive cover?
Buffet and à la carte meals across the restaurants, plus poolside and beach snacks and drinks. Half-Board covers breakfast and dinner with money off the à la carte food, and children under 13 eat free on both.
See more Avra Imperial photos
Open the Avra Imperial photo gallery →
Useful links
- Avra Imperial Hotel: the resort's own site for rooms, board, the crèche and booking.
- GOV.UK Greece travel advice: entry rules and safety updates before you travel.
- Crete with little ones: our guide to the island, its beaches and when to go.
Last updated 12 July 2026.
