This place really grew on me. We had taken a value holiday so we weren't expecting 5 star. The brothers greeted us with a beer and a handshake, and were thouroughly charming and generous throughout the week. The place was clean and well run. The rooms were small and basic, but comfortable enough. Couple of beds, a sink, fridge, kettle and hotplate, small balcony and a bathroom with a shower that you needed to hold yourself. Plenty of hot water. We got used to it, and it was cleaned every day except the weekend. Air con worked fine once it got going - 6 euros per day.

The resort however was disappointing. Nothing pretty about it at all. Every restaurant had the same menu of grilled meat or fish, pasta, pizza, salads blah blah, none of them all that good. Even the photographs of the food were the same in each menu. We found one place called Creta House (Zorba's) quite a walk through the resort towards the bigger hotels that actually had a decent menu and a lovely private feel to it. Don't be fooled by the very busy restaurant with the windmill outside - it wasn't very good despite seeming very popular with the locals. Zac at the hotel made us 'magic' chicken and chips which was nicer than any of the stuff we ate in the resaurants. Unfortunately we were pretty much the only guests there so we didn't get to sample the wood oven lamb or chicken and roast potatoes that is much talked about. I imagine it was very good indeed.

The beach was ok - if you buy drinks at some of the smaller bars beyond the lido place you can use the beds for free. Competing pounding music from the bars was irritating, much nicer by the pool at the hotel. It was very windy while we were there and the sea was too rough for me to get in, but the breeze kept me cool.

Weather was glorious - ave 30 degrees every day.

We hired a car and had a couple of days out to Ag Nik, Elounda and Bali. Bali was very pretty, and I wished the Imperial Studios had been there instead! Ag Nik was lovely but expensive (10 euro for 2 milkshakes).

So generally, good basic hotel, made better by the hosts. Wouldn't recommend the resort.

The Hotel Imperial or Imperial Studios in Amoudara, Crete is run by 2 brothers, Zac & Georgio. Zac & Georgio are amazing! They make a point of greeting everyone by name and come across as genuinely caring about their guests. The emphasis is relax and enjoy. This is an ideal place for couples and families but not suitable for youngsters wanting a clubbing and pulling holiday!
Situated on the road between Amoudara and Gazi away from the main Amoudara strip the hotel offers self catering accommodation with pretty gardens to the rear, swimming pool with attached kiddies pool and a pool side bar offering snacks and light meals. There is also a pool table.
The accommodation is basic but clean and comfortable. There are ten studio apartments sleeping 2-3 people. Each apartment has ensuite shower facilities; a small kitchenette; double or twin beds (double plus single for 3 occupancy), dressing table, triple wardrobe with built in drawers , TV and small balcony with washing line table and chairs.
The kitchenette is little more than a sink plus small work surface supporting a kettle and single hot plate; a refrigerator with ice box and three cupboards equipped with saucepan , frying pan, cutlery and dining ware but we found this more than adequate for breakfast and preparing light lunches. We chose to eat out in the evenings but could have managed to eat in had we chosen to.
The shower in the ensuite is the sort where you stand in the tray and rinse yourself with the shower head lifting it from a telephone style cradle but this was large enough to move about comfortably and there was always hot water and good water pressure.
From our room it was possible to watch the sun go down behind the mountains and look out over the farmlands.
The rooms are cleaned on a daily basis by Maria, Zac & Georgio’s Mum, a 75 year old marvel!!!
The hotel also has a one bed roomed apartment which sleeps up to 6 people and has a larger kitchen and bathroom.
The hotel has two bars one in the front which is only used in the cooler weather and another by the pool. From 9am in the morning you will always find either Zac or Georgio behind the bar. Zac used to work as a chef in a 5 star hotel and Georgio ran the bar so both know their stuff. As well as traditional Greek favourites the menu also offers kids favourites like chicken nuggets and chips, pizza, omelette and various English breakfast options. Zac will also occasionally cook for guests in the clay oven situated to the right hand side of the garden. The meals we had there were the best I’ve ever tasted and by far superior to any we had in the restaurants along the main Amoudara strip.
The swimming pool is of a decent size with a smaller circular kiddies pool to one side of it. It is supplied with plenty of inflatable to allow for hours of fun and games ( we had our own lilo Olympics). It is surrounded by sun loungers and parasols set amongst lovely gardens featuring palm trees and lots of flowers. Unusually for Greece the swimming pool is for residents use only and the hotel has security cameras fitted to stop unwanted intruders.
From the hotel it is an easy 10 minute walk to the beach, which is the longest beach on Crete and therefore never seems crowed. There is a lido right beside the beach which is free to use if you have paid for loungers on the beach (5 euros a day) and they will also provide you with free bottled water. The sea is fairly shallow and safe to bathe and it is supervised at regular intervals by very vigilant lifeguards. The main strip is a 5 minute walk and offers a good choice of restaurants, bars, car hire places and the usual gift shops. There is also a cinema and 3 cash machines.
This hotel is a truly lovely place to stay and many people return year after year. We have a policy of never going to the same place twice but we will be going back.