Full Hotel details for Sheraton Rhodes, GO >>
I was really excited to check out the Sheraton Rhodes to see how family-friendly it really was as the location, just a 10 minute drive from the awesome Rhodes Town, looked promising. Of course I love a luxury holiday with my family but after a few days unwinding I crave to sample the local food and soak up the atmosphere of the destination without a major day trip having to be planned.
OK so the Sheraton Rhodes building is nothing special but it is built into a hill so from inside looking out the views are gorgeous. As with other hotels in this buzzing area of Ixia the hotel is separated from the beach by the coast road itself. Quite busy there is a convenient underpass to the beach so no big issue there. I guess there is a price to pay for such a short airport transfer - just 15 minutes - and close to Rhodes Town itself too. Ixia itself is a complete mix of traditional tavernas and the obvious tourist shops, but it is all conveniently on your doorstep.
Rhodes Town is fantastic.The Old Town is stunning, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is great for shopping and enjoying the quaint tavernas all squeezed into little alleys and squares. The Old Town buildings are in excellent condition so those looking for culture will do no better. The Acropolis is in less good condition but is high on a hill overlooking the town so the great views make it worth it. There is also an Aquarium which may appeal.
I hired a car for the day and did a tour of the island. Again, it is very pretty with cloud shrouded mountains, deserted coves and lots of artisan stalls and businesses offering local honey, wine etc. The main attraction away from Rhodes Town is the town of Lindos. I did not visit this time as I had been before but it is picture perfect white Greek houses on a hill topped with a really super Acropolis in excellent state of repair - a must see for the culture vulture. You can see the Turkish coast and there are boat trips for the day to Marmaris (about 30 Euros) as well as the tiny island of Symi which is very beautiful.
The hotel itself is built to a high standardwith all rooms having been refurbished in the last few years. They are all similar size and decor the different names reflect the view and location within the hotel. The lead-in room is Mountain View and the view is fine. It is peaceful and not overlooked (see photo below).
The Superior Seaview rooms are on lower floors but still have uninterrupted sea views, whilst the Deluxe rooms are on the top couple of floors and have amazing views - this was the view from mine!
All of the above rooms interconnect (guaranteed) and they have lots of them too. The maximum occupancy of the above is two adults and a child so interconnecting can have up to 6 persons. A major plus with all rooms is that children up to the age of 14 stay free so it could be much better value for those with 12,13 and 14 year old kids.
Family Rooms can accommodate 2 adults and 2 kids. However, they have a few which will actually take 5! The photo below is of a family room set up for a family of 5 arriving that day.
Junior Suites will take a maximum of 2 adults, a child and an infant. All have sea views. Suites have a separate bedroom and lounge and accommodate two adults and two children. The idea is that the children will share a sofa bed. However, when there are older children - particularly of opposite sex, they will agree to put in an extra bed. They will still only allow four persons though.
I found the food to be very good, not fantastic.If you take half board it is the usual buffet arrangement with different cooking stations each night. Rib of beef one night, Souflaki another etc. Always fresh pasta with sauce including a plain one. Lots of Greek dishes too. Breakfast was the usual mix of hot and cold. However, the orange juice was proper and my coffee was served fresh in a pot - hot!
The price of the half board I did think was excellent value at 25 Euros per adult (2014) and drink prices were reasonable - a large glass of decent house white wine 4.5 Euros for example.
Kids Club:in 2014 there is a kids area with a kids club from 4 years which is run from a little hut situated in shady gardens. There is due to be investment in children's facilities for 2015 so I will keep you posted via our newsletter.
The beachwas narrow and part sand and pebble though the entry into the sea was only sand. It was pleasant with nice loungers and the sea was crystal clear.
There are three outisde pools and two of these have adjoining kids pools. The other is adult only and peaceful. There is an indoor heated pool in the spa but children are only allowed if there is bad weather - they have not had a rainy day since April and it was 27 degrees when I was there in October! Locals were apparently on the beach and swimming in the sea on New Years Day. It is meant to be the driest of all the main Greek Islands with at least 300 dry days a year. February is rainiest month.
Staff:I must make a mention of this as every person I met from the GM down to the housekeepers were particularly friendly and welcoming. They could not do enough for you.
A good example was one evening at dinner a young child dining with their family began to kick off. He will be an opera singer his wailing was so loud. I noticed a waitress looking and when it was clear that parental cuddles were not working, she ran up with a soft toy and played with the child. Once quiet she left them to it - impressive.
Overall this is a large hotel and a classic ofnot having your 'bread buttered both sides'. This will not suit those that are looking for an escape for a quiet beach holiday - there are other options I would recommend. However, the trade off is that you can walk to a number of bars, restaurants and shops. You can catch the bus into Rhodes Town or a taxi costs 8E. I actually walked there and it took me an hour. Rhodes itself is a beautiful island and has a climate that other Greek Islands are envious of, especially in early and late season.
Full Hotel details for Sheraton Rhodes, GO >>
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me,
Gary Whelan
