Rhodes Island, Greece

Anyone been to Rhodes? I have a week´s holiday there in July. The ticket is already booked, I just need somewhere to stay... If anyone has any personal recommendations I would love to hear them as I have never been to Greece at all.

Thanks!

This is just bizarre, Jenny L and myself were just talking about Rhodes at lunch.

What kind of place were you thinking of? 4* or backpacker or what?

I think you are better staying near Rhodes town as you have the old town to wander around and enjoy the scenery but also the newtown for livelier nightlife. Faliraki is just bleedin mental at night with lots of drunken Brits lay around producing pavement pizza.

Not a backpacker, a proper hotel with sporting opportunities nearby. Was hoping to stay away from mental drunken tourists, so thanks for the tip!

I stayed at this place a few years back.

Grand Hotel Rhodes

It's called the Grand, but it isn't all that grand (I always associate that with old, musty places)..nice modern and bright rooms, two big pools (in different parts of the grounds, so you get the sun in both), and in a fairly quiet location right on the beach as well as about 10 mins' walk from the city.

What I didn't like about it was the food service - although the quality was ok, it was always a buffet and you had to wait in a queue to be seated in a very full dining area (quite a big hotel; I think bout 400 rooms, or maybe people). However, they did also have two smaller restaurants (one Japanese and one Italian) which you could book for via reception and which ten served a la carte at no extra price...but you couldn't go every night as capacity was limited.

My experience of Rhodes was an awful one. However, it was on a lads trip a few years ago to that lovely Faliraki place. Extremely built up and incredibly dreary even by Club 18-30 standards. Perhaps there are nice parts, but we must have been light years away from them! There have to be better places to visit.

I stayed there years ago in a Hotel near Lindos and I would recommend staying near Lindos - its quiet and relaxing and not as busy as Rhodes or the UK hang outs...

Faliraki is just awful. Whatever you do, don't stay there.

There is a lovely little fishing village on the coast between Faliraki and Lindos called Haraki, which I highly recommend for anyone who wants peace and quiet. There are maybe 5 small restaurants and 2-3 cocktail bars, a couple of convenience stores, a car rental place, a ruined castle on the hill, and two great beaches. No buildings higher than 3 stories, no road between the hotels and beach. You can probably just show up there and ask around for a room. Most are one room studios with kitchenettes. Lindos is about 10 minutes' drive away.

There is also a large hotel between Haraki and Lindos, I think called Lindos Village or something like that, with more of a hotel/resort atmosphere, that looked ok from a distance.

Recommendations about Rhodes? Only one actually. Find another island. There are so many beautiful places in greece that are nicer, cleaner, have better spots for chilling out on the beach and/or partying, you shouldn't really waste your time there. I'm definitely sorry I did.

Hmmm, mixed feelings now, however I was really going there for the history among other things. In any case I am confident of finding what I am looking for (I usually do) and will let you know how I get on .

Note to self, stay away from Faliraki.

Speaking of the ghastly F place, I wish I hadn't read BD's post all the way to the end. I don't think I'll be having any pizza in the foreseeable future.

You'll find some history on Rhodes, even apart from Rhodes Town and Lindos. My photo of the ancient settlement of Kamiros (which you can pay a small fee and just go walking around in):

I thought Rhodes was a fascinating place, but you do need to rent a car and get off the coast and out of the main communities to find the best of the island.

Thanks Cinzia, I will take your advice .

Went to Rhodes about 8 years ago so this may all be out of date now...

I heard Afandou is nice but again not 100% so do some reseach first or maybe someone else has been there.

I dont think I would stay in Rhodes Town if you like the beach as there is a big port/harbour there but there may have been a nicer beach that I didnt see. From Rhodes Town you can also do a couple of day boat trips - to Marmaris in Turkey to the markets if my memory serves me correctly (or that could have been from another island on another holiday!!) and to Symi. Rhodes Town itself worth a visit though.

Lindos seemed nice but much hotter it seemed and also lots of daytrippers there.

Avoid Tholos - v small resort with not much happening at all. Got stuck here once on an allocation on arrival and had good time but more to do with the people we met and making the most of things attitude.

As everyone says avoid Faliraki like the plague. All Greek islands have their one club 18-30 resort but the rest of the islands can be nice and relaxing places to be.

check out this website for resort info, places to go, things to see etc

or this one for resort reviews and visitor reviews

If you are looking for accommodation ideas try holidaywatchdog.com which also has resort and accommodation reviews.

Thanks seb for the tips on day trips, I am also checking out those sites.

I actually really liked the town of Rhodes itself, and the problem with staying too far away is that you then only end up visiting the township once. Also not sure about the possibility of doing the boat-trips (Symi is well worth it) from other places...maybe just involves more organisation an an earlier start.

The town is full of history...a really good museum, streets and architecture.

Staying just a short way outside is maybe agood idea.

In anycase Renia, I think it's what you make of it and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for. I am not really sporty/Beachy or disco-y and I enjoyed my 2 weeks there.

I trust your opinion ruapehu and do agree that it is what you make of it. I am currently researching very carefully where I stay as that could make or break my experience I think.

ah...and if you intend to do the Turkey day-trip, a tip:

I don't know how many citizenships you possess, but take your NZ passport with you! NZers (and Germans) don't need a visa for Turkey; Brits and Australians do! You get it on entry, but it costs (of course it's possible my info is out of date, but it was true when I went to Turkey) which is a real pain in the arse if you're only going for a day's shopping.

I have found a nice little apartment in Haraki (not a hotel afterall). Just what I was looking for, will report back in late July!

The people I have rented an apartment from seem very sweet and they do love their exclamation marks! The reason I am posting this here is just to see if this is normal exhuberant Greek behaviour? We have had a number of emails back and forth and they are typically like this:


I am not trying to make fun of their English in posting this, just wondering about the !!!´s

I have to agree here. I have not been to Rhodes but have spent time at another island of Greece and found the main city one day worth of visiting at best. Well that was unless you wanted pure touristy like things. I just rented a car and drove along the coast on what can only be considered a road on paper. Every place I stopped was beautiful and wonderful to hike at and just sit in the sun. Plus I do believe there was only one other American on the island and that was especially nice.

Have rented a car already. I think that was great advice above and thanks for backing it up perdido.

Don't worry, Rhodes' roads are pretty good.

Renia, are you staying at Stella's, by any chance?

Yes!

Perfect. She's on the quiet side of the beach, right under the castle.

The reason I wondered if it was Stella is because she is the only one in Haraki (last time I checked) who seems to have a website and communicates in English via e-mail. She still sends me e-mails with photos, on the strength of an e-mail I sent enquiring about lodging for a return trip I didn't end up making. I actually stayed next door at Johanna's. I think you will like it there. If it gets too quiet for you in Haraki, just drive down the road to Lindos.

Here's a photo I took of Haraki Bay from my balcony at Johanna's one morning. That's Captain Jack's tour boat anchored out in the bay. Lindos is in the distance on the left side of the photo.

Thanks Cinzia, thats lovely and nice to know the background behind it!

We will have to compare notes when I return. I love the idea of staying right on the beach for morning and evening and the day times for boat trips and historical exploring .

Don't forget to hike through the olive grove across the road out back of Stella's and go around the point to Golden Beach (15 minutes on foot), or just drive there. It's one of the best (and also least-known) of the beaches on Rhodes.

Since you seem like a thoughtful visitor, Renia, you'll no doubt be reading up on Rhodes before you go, which I highly recommend. I think we got around pretty well with the Lonely Planet Greek Islands.

Do let me know what you thought when you get back. I'm curious as to whether Haraki has changed much since I was there in 2002.

I have already bought three guidebooks on Rhodes/Greek Islands as I am a compulsive guidebook reader!

Thanks for the tip about the beach and I will definitely let you know what I thought when I get back!

Btw, I did get back to Cinzia by PM last year to tell her how much I had enjoyed our stay in Haraki Bay, however neglected to post here.

It was a perfect low-key holiday, we had an apartment right on the beach (separated from the sand by concrete) and spent our days swimming in the morning, then sightseeing, then more swimming until 8ish (nap somewhere in there too) and then dinner along the beach after 8. The kids loved it, I didn´t have to move a limb from the sun lounger as they could run back and forth to our apartment by themselves. The sightseeing was also fantastic and we didn´t get to everything which gives us a few new things to go to this year when we go back to the same apartment .

So thanks again Cinzia!

http://www.harakimare.gr/english/index.html

http://www.rhodesguide.com/travelcentre/rh...mp;pg=viewHotel