OLIVE GARDEN HOTEL - Rhodes Island

Hotel is perfect! Comfortable, clean, courteous staff. Hotel is pefectely situated on the Faliraki beach (on the Mediterrean Sea) and within walking distance of Night Life on the strip. Loved the breakfast that comes with every room. The pool and sauna are great for relaxing after a night on the town.

GREAT HOTEL! GOOD PRICE AND FRIENDLY STAFF. CAME IN JULY AND MY ROOM WAS MISERABLY HOT. MY AIR CONDITIONING BLEW COOL AT THE VENT ONLY. THE ROOM NEVER COOLED AT ALL. I SPOKE TO THE STAFF 3X AND THEY SENT A MAINTENANCE PERSON TWICE BUT NOTHING WAS EVER FIXED OVER THE DURATION OF MY STAY. ASKED TO SWITCH ROOMS AND THEY SAID NONE WERE AVAILABLE. IT WAS SO HOT THAT SLEEPING WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

The resort was very beautiful. The only issue I ran into was the front desk seemed as if they didn't want to give me a set of new towels and wash cloth. I went to the beach and showered. Decided to go siteseeing and once I returned. I asked for a new set of towels. They said it's too late to come to the room, wait until tomorrow. I told them I would like to shower now and will come to you. He agreed. I walked there and waited about 30 minutes and went back to the front desk and he said, "Oh I am sorry I will let them know to bring to the room. So I walked back to room and about another 30 min later they showed up with only towels and no wash cloth. I just said thank you and settled. Also, during breakfast the locals continue to bump, without saying anything and they also skip you in line and look at you like you're wrong. That made me very upset.

We called ahead (from Chicago) to let them know about our late arrival, and they made sure everything was ready for us. The location was fabulous--right next to a big sandy beach. And the building wasn't some big resort, but a small, typical Greek house, white stuccoed with blue window frames. Actually not small at all, but quite spacious, with the promised view of the sea and the Flyers Bar next door. Delightful people, nice (all British) neighbors, though very tolerant of Yanks.

Ten minutes from the airport, ten minutes to Rodos Old Town, and right on their own private beach. So sweet! The reception manager was so awesome. They offer free drink vouchers to new arrivals, and gave us a couple extra ones since it was our honeymoon. We read that tips are included in the price, but are also highly appreciated in tough economic times. Where we live in San Francisco, when you tip the bartender, you end up getting free drinks here and there. Same here at Ixian Grand. Being genuinely polite helps too. Our room was a superior suite, but not the top shelf ones with private pools. Once we saw how small the private pools were, we knew we saved some unneeded expenses. Plus you are right on the beach with two large pools... one fresh water, one sea water. Nice! Their breakfast was a huge buffet that could rival the ones in Vegas... and of course came with the room, so no extra charge unless you wanted to go a la carte, which we didn't need to with such a spread. The one thing that threw me off, was that if you wanted dinner, you have to wear dress pants. I only brought shorts... oh well. That lead to us to adventure out into town, which was another added bonus. The Blue Palm has incredible cocktails and good happy hour deals. Rodos Old Town was prolly the highlight of our whole trip. So much history and medieval architecture, we were drooling every step of the way. The turkish mosque is a must see too. Go to the Socratous Garden for lunch. They have the best Greek style Lasagna ever! And they have Bitburger on tap... a potent German beer that is ultra refreshing on a hot summer day. (It is also the only restaraunt in Old Town that does not have a promoter outside trying to drag you in..it doesn't need it with a garden shaded by palm trees). Back at the hotel w soaked up the beautiful Ixia beach rays and swam in the Aegean for hours on end. We will go back next year for sure. Absolutely loved it!