The Greek island of Rhodes was in the news a while back, as wildfires did their thing. For those few days it didn’t look like a picture postcard holiday destination. But that was then; this is now. Thankfully, time has moved on.
Now the fires are out, consigned to history. Now the weather is warm, the sun is shining and this magical isle is once again inviting holidaymakers to return; to taste of its delights, to wallow in its idyllic lifestyle.
Which is why I decided to take a whistle stop tour of 2 top notch hotels over there; to escape the English rain and cold, to see just what Rhodes has to offer. Turns out. It has all the ingredients you could ever wish for in a heavenly hot holiday. In short, it is fab.
Airport Hotel
These days, if I’m getting an early flight, I always make a habit of staying at a hotel on the airport the night before departure. This means the holiday begins a day earlier than expected. It also makes the whole process of airports so much more relaxing.
We were flying from Gatwick, so stayed at the Sofitel Gatwick North Terminal. I must say, it was the perfect choice. A luxury room, with great views of the runway; lights twinkling, planes taking off, everything looking rather exciting. Was just the thing to get us in the holiday mood.
We also had access to the Club Lounge, where they served free drinks and food all evening long. Most enjoyable. Next morning, after a tasty continental breakfast, we made our way to check in. A journey that took all of 2 minutes from breakfast table to baggage drop. Definitely the perfect way to start any airborne adventure.
Flight
Talking of perfect, we were flying with Easyjet. Must say, they lived up to their name. Check in was a breeze, getting onboard was hassle free and every single thing about the flight was, well, easy. So a big thumbs up for them, once again. Definitely one of my very favourite airlines for short haul destinations.
Rhodes
When we left the UK, it was wet, cold and darkly dismal. Stepping off the plane at Rhodes was a complete change of pace. We were welcomed by dazzlingly bright sunshine, sauna level heat and scenery to excite the eyes. A short taxi ride took us to our first hotel.
Lindos Grand Resort & Spa
The Lindos Grand Resort is one of several owned and operated by the Lindos Hotels group. Opened 3 years ago, this adult only hotel feels fresh out of the box, in the nicest possible way.
Walking through the cool foyer, standing in front of the enormous infinity pool, seeing far reaching views of the bay, with rugged hills beyond and the sparkling blue waters of the Aegean sea below, well, it’s impressive. Very much so.
Made me realise the publicity photos online had not done it justice. Admittedly, it looked stunning on the internet. But in real life, it was a whole lot better than that.
Breathtaking and completely over the top gorgeous.
Room
Our room was more of a super stylish, awesome apartment. With luxurious bathroom, featuring rainfall shower, a bedroom with more of those stunning views and, beyond the sun drenched patio.
Then there was the private, L shaped pool, allowing you to swim, chill and enjoy a glass of something refreshing, all within the comfort of your very own personal, private kingdom.
To add to the pleasure, there was a bottle of bubbly waiting for us, along with a selection of snacks, sushi and assorted nibbles. A reminder that in this hotel, attention to detail was everywhere.
Food
The Lindos Grand prides itself on the quality and range of its food. Their restaurants have something for every palate.
In the morning, you can breakfast beside the infinity pool. At noon, you can enjoy Greek dishes, cooked and delivered with style and flair. If fine dining is your thing, there is a rooftop restaurant offering exquisite dishes, along with incredible views.
If Japanese food is your fancy, there is an onsite master chef, trained in Japan, who specialises in the tastiest sushi dishes you will ever have encountered.
Watching him and his team at work was as almost enjoyable as the food itself. With such fantastic dishes and talent on display, was easy to see why, on Tripadvisor, it is the top rated foodie destination for the local area.
The Spa
If you want to treat yourself, there is always the spa. With a host of goodies on offer, from facials to water filled tanks where tiny fish nibble your toes.
We opted for a full body massage which was, without doubt, the finest most relaxing massage I have ever hoped to receive.
Romance
Sitting in the cool of the evening, as the sun sank behind the hills, it was no surprise to learn that the hotel is fast becoming a romantic hotspot, with proposals, weddings and anniversaries being the order of the day.
Whether in your room, gazing at the views, or relaxing on the private, soft shingled beach below, “romantic,” is the word that constantly springs to mind.
Lindos Old Town
The next morning, leaving our hotel, we took the short trip to Lindos, a pretty little village set beside the sea. Built in the shadow of an ancient acropolis, it’s the stuff of picture postcards.
Greek Island life at it’s very best. Narrow lanes, gorgeous whitewashed houses, shops, cafes and shady nooks. It’s got the lot. A place to shop till you drop, or sip contentedly as you watch the world go by.
Gennadi Grand Resort & Spa
Next on our whistle stop tour was the gorgeous Gennadi Grand Resort & Spa, an hours drive along the coast.
This family friendly hotel is owned and operated by the same folk as the Lindos Grand. With the same attention to detail, incredibly high standards and welcoming feel, it is another slice of self indulgent heaven.
The hotel spaces were filled with tasteful touches, many chosen by the owner herself. There is an amazing spa downstairs, awarded best luxury spa in the world, not just once but 4 times. The whole resort has a laid back, luxurious feel throughout.
Built on the flat, with low rise buildings, easy access walkways and public pools at every turn. Would have been very easy to move in and stay forever.
Rooms
Our room was sublime. Cool, crisp, large enough to play tennis in. There were the all the comforts of five star luxury living laid out for us to enjoy.
Beautiful bathroom area, enormous bed, chill out zone beyond. And, of course, outside was another sun drenched patio with our very own, private swimming pool.
Just right for those moments when you really don’t want to take more than two paces between bedroom and pool.
Food
The hotel is another foodies delight, a culinary paradise where calories don’t count. There are a host of superb eating destinations scattered around.
We started with lunch at Ouzo, a shaded, poolside restaurant with superb views of the sea. Each course looked like a work of art, tasting even better than it looked.
My favourite was a meringue nest, filled with exotic fruit flavours, all topped off with flecks of gold leaf.
Later, we tried the Tasting Menu at the Edesma Fine Dining restaurant, a masterclass in the culinary arts. Each plateful a tiny, tasteful symphony of flavours.
An irresistible tidbit of tongue tingling tastiness. But be warned: there are many, many courses, each one tastier than the last. It was an extraordinary and exquisite way to spend an evening.
Conclusion
If you are looking for warm days, warm hearts and wonderful memories, and maybe even fancy getting spoilt rotten along the way, Rhodes may be the answer.
Either of these gorgeous Lindos hotels would be the perfect place for you. Their discreet but attentive staff make sure there is a lot of something wonderful for every taste.
Managing to combine great food, great service and world beating facilities, along with smiling happy faces at every turn. If you are looking for a few days of Greek Island joy, Rhodes is ready to give you the ride of a lifetime, baby. Thoroughly recommended!