After searching the internet for reasonably priced half term breaks and really struggling with it, I turned to those that follow the blog to ask for suggestions. I was quickly swayed towards Rhodes as it was the most recommended suggestion! After doing a quick google image search of Rhodes coupled with a quick glance of prices on the British Airways website, we decided it was definitely worth a trip!
We decided somewhere in Europe would be best given Arjun would be back at school quite soon after we arrive back and we didn’t want to have to battle with jet lag. Greece only has a 2 hour difference.
We decided on the Atrium Palace hotel as it looked gorgeous and the reviews on Trip Advisor were really good – they mainly spoke of the brilliant customer service offered. The hotel is situated on a shingle beach and I knew Arj would want to build sandcastles – it was a short car ride away from Lindos where they have a sandy beach. I opted for a hotel that was located in a quieter part of the island.
The hotel management were brilliant with responding to our queries and arranging for the bits we needed for the kids beforehand over email. Their customer service was fantastic and they really wanted to go over and beyond to make our stay a good one and we felt very welcome!
On arrival at the airport, we whizzed through security – courtesy of the brilliant family route they have at Gatwick airport. After a spot of lunch we boarded the plane. This was our first experience of a half term holiday and to be honest I was quite nervous about how chaotic it would be – although the plane was pretty full of kids, it was a relief as I didn’t feel as anxious about how the boys would be on the flight. It was actually pretty nice having lots of other kids on the plane – oh how times have changed from our pre kids time!
Arjun kept himself pretty entertained with a crafts magazine we picked up for him – he made lots of monster crafts and used every bit of recycling he could find to create more crafts! We always find craft items a winner on a plane.
Saaj on the other hand was quite restless but managed to sleep and play with Arjuns Lego for a little while.
We hired a mini van from the airport as there were 6 of us travelling in total from Sixt which we picked up from the airport.
The airport is about a 45 minute car journey from the hotel with no traffic. We landed at 9.30pm and got to the hotel by 11.30pm. Quite late for the kids but the odd flight times seem to be popular with most UK flights to Rhodes. The departure time from Rhodes was 10.30pm!
We’d visited Rhodes the last week before it became off season. The weather was pleasant for 4/7 of the days but very windy for the remaining 3. We didn’t let it hold us back from making the most of our trip though! Travelling at this time to this hotel also meant it wasn’t as packed as I’d thought it would be for half term.
The Hotel
Upon arriving at the hotel, the lobby area has beautiful marble and stone work reflecting ancient Greek art.
We were quickly checked in and had a quick spot of dinner before heading to the room. If you land late, the menu options in the bar are limited however they’re really tasty. We opted for a Greek pizza.
Superior Villa
We were fortunate to be kindly upgraded to the superior villa. It boasts a spacious dining and lounge area, a very large bedroom with an adjoining huge bathroom and an extra bathroom. The private pool area has 4 leather cushioned sun beds with a seating area making it perfect to escape from the hustle and bustle of the main pool and was perfect for a quick dip while the boys napped. Our outdoor area offered an uninterrupted stunning view of the mountains and sea – it was very peaceful.
The main bathroom had a huge Jacuzzi bath tub – perfect to relax in! The sheer size was really appealing especially with children. The bathroom also featured two sinks and a vanity stool which Arjun used to stand on when brushing his teeth or washing his hands! The power in both showers was phenomenal.
The storage in the villa was ample – we even had a few cupboards empty!
Coffee pods are replenished daily however water is not provided in the room on a daily basis which was disappointing.
I especially loved the decor of our villa. It was a beautiful blend of classical Italian and Greek styles. It was very different to what we’d usually go for but we loved it. The furniture comprised of mahogany and dark oak. My favourite part was the floral mural details on the ceiling and the beautiful art work which was spread over dual canvases differing in sizes. I’ve not seen anything like that before.
Breakfast
The breakfast selection is good. They were very accommodating to our vegetarian diet and told us to let them know if we fancied anything and they’d try and source it from outside if they didn’t have it inside. However we didn’t require it as there was more than enough vegetarian options! The fruit and fresh orange juice was absolutely amazing and I’d highly recommend their own brand Nutella!
Restaurants
Symposium
We had dinner buffet a couple of times at the main hotel restaurant – Symposium. The selection was really good for vegetarians such as a leak and cheese pie, enchiladas and lasagne and the desserts were especially delicious! The kids enjoyed trying new things such as the traditional Greek feta and spinach pastries.
Asterias & Vista Mare
The restaurant offers Greek and Italian food. This gorgeous up market slightly formal setting restaurant offers a stunning panoramic view of the sea and mountains nestled behind the hotel grounds. It’s really peaceful and so tranquil. As well as having dinner a few times here, I often sat here for hours while writing and enjoying a coffee. The staff were so generous and friendly and again, went over and beyond for example placing a shawl over my shoulders when cold! Dimitris, the manager, was so attentive and a pleasure to be around. The food was really lovely – I’d recommend their pizza and Greek salad. We didn’t get the chance to try their pasta dishes!
Swimming Pools
The hotel offers several swimming pools and we were lucky enough to have our own private pool as part of our villa.
The main pool was really cold during our stay so we didn’t end up using it more than once. The hotel does have an indoor heated pool which we didn’t get around to using! The pool bar offered a great selection of food and drinks and staff often go around providing free fruit for guests.
Spa
On one of our colder days, my sister and I decided to go to the spa for some relaxation. We spent an hour or two by the spa pool and enjoyed a dip in the warm water. I enjoyed relaxing on the water beds.
I went for a deep tissue massage and it was one of the best I’ve had. It was a high pressure but it felt really good to knock out some of the tension that had built up in my back and shoulders!
Beach
We were pleasantly surprised by the beach behind the hotel. I wasn’t particularly excited by a non sand beach but actually it was stunning. It was really quiet and as this hotel was the only one located on the stretch, you had a clear view for miles. Preetam and my dad enjoyed the sea water and actually it was nice to not have to worry about shaking wet sand off after a swim!
Mini Club
Mini Club is open from 10-6pm daily and children above 4 years are allowed to go without parent supervision. Kids younger are welcome but require supervision. Both the boys loved kids club so much so that Arjun cried the last day we left as he didn’t want to leave the girls. Celine, Debbie and Fally were all brilliant with the boys and so super friendly. It was really quiet as it was heading towards off season.
They offer several classes for children throughout the week. Arjun really enjoyed the Master Chef Junior class where he made his own pizza and received a certificate at the end! He enjoyed eating it after too!
The hotel also offers Mini Golf which we didn’t get the chance to try and also have two play areas for kids which the boys enjoyed!
Mini Market
There is a mini market shop on the hotel premises which proved really useful. I’d forgotten our travel adapter at home and managed to pick one up for 3 euros here. It was probably a little more expensive than usual but the convenience was fab. It was also a great place to pick up pool side snacks and souvenirs.
The thing that stood out to me about this stay was just how friendly and accommodating ALL the staff were at the hotel. We didn’t come across a single person that wasn’t polite, helpful or friendly – especially towards the kids. The staff really are a credit to this hotel.
As we’d hired a car, we wanted to explore the island and we had such a fab time doing so! Here are some of the places we visited.
Rhodes Old Town
This was about an hour away from our hotel but so worth the trip. It’s a Medieval town with lots of shops where they sell local items such as handmade leather sandals, t shirts and souvenirs. There are lots of restaurants and we’d highly recommend Da Vinci for the most epic milkshakes and gelato!
We enjoyed walking through the castle and exploring the grounds. The castle itself was breathtaking and it was so nice to be able to walk through it. I really loved Rhodes old town – I think it was my favourite place I’ve ever visited in Europe while on holiday!
Butterfly Valley
We decided to venture out to Butterfly Valley but just a heads up – there are no butterflies from September onwards. Arj was disappointed but the view was beautiful none the less! There’s also a restaurant located here which we enjoyed our lunch at.
Seven Springs
This was a bit of an anticlimax as the main waterfall is man made and not very impressive at all. The seven springs were dried out due to the weather. The tunnel lake that takes you to the main waterfall is quite narrow and low so watch out if you’re tall like my husband! Also look out for the little crabs rushing past.
Olive Factory
We visited two olive factories on our journeys. It was nice to try different olive oils – my favourite was rosemary and garlic. However it was a little disappointing not being able to see how it’s actually proceed. More than factories, they are shops and museums showcasing historic production machinery. It was a nice little stop off en route to our destination.
Local Honey Stop
It was our mission to locate a local honey production source and try their honey. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon one on our way back from Agathi Beach and it did not disappoint! The hand written labelled jars made it feel all the more authentic! We purchased a few jars of Erika honey and chestnut honey as well as beez wax which is meant to be a brilliant ointment. I’d highly recommend stopping off at one of these side street pop up stalls and honey tasting
Beaches
Lindos
This is a pretty popular beach in Rhodes. The beach itself is a beautiful sandy beach with still crystal clear blue water – perfect for the children. By the beach, there are also lovely restaurants and local shops – similar to those at Rhodes Old Town but pricier.
Agathi
This beach feels a lot less commercial than Lindos. The access from the car to the beach is a lot easier too. It’s less of a town than Lindos but offers the same crystal clear blue still water which stays shallow for a while. The view is simply breathtaking. It’s hard to believe we were in Europe and not in the middle of the Caribbean! There were two tavernas located on this beach – perfect for a spot of lunch.
We enjoyed building sandcastles and paddling in the sea as well as absorbing the breathtaking view.
Restaurants
Panchos Mexican
This restaurant has a lovely ambiance with its beautiful Mexican decor. The staff were friendly and accommodating to our dietary requirements. The food was tasty but the fajitas were a little spicy – even for me! We enjoyed the meal overall.
Sartaj Indian Restaurant
Just past mid week, we all fancied Indian food. Especially as it was a particularly windy day we wanted something warming! I searched for the best Indian restaurant in Rhodes and was drawn to Sartaj purely based on its 5 star rating (with over 500 reviews!) – it had to be good! Had I not seen the review, I’m not sure we would have even noticed the place if we’d driven past as it’s quite modestly placed and isn’t huge.
We had high hopes and it’s safe to say we were not disappointed. So much so that I’d rate it one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve been to in the world – and we’ve travelled a lot! The family that own the restaurant were really lovely and the food reflected their love for what they do. It tasted authentic, not too greasy and you could tell that everything was fresh. Their delicious homemade paneer and dehi were also impressive.
We’d highly recommend this place for a lovely authentic Indian meal and what’s even better – it has a direct sea view!
We had a really lovely half term break with lots of high quality food, scenic views and meeting such lovely friendly people! We’d recommend Rhodes and this hotel most definitely.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in the form of remuneration or a gifted product or service. However all opinions and views expressed above are my own.
I’m currently sat on the flight back from what was absolute
paradise. Usually by the end of a holiday, we’re all ready to come home but
something was different this time. This was the first time we’ve been away for
longer than 7 nights, 9 nights in total and even then, we didn’t feel ready to
come home. Perhaps it was having uninterrupted quality time with the whole family
… all 9 of us. Perhaps it was mother nature’s infinity pool that boasted
miles of crystal clear still waters. Perhaps it was the hospitality of the
resort where we were so warmly welcomed. I can’t quite put my finger on what it
was, but I wish every holiday felt this way.
Finding a holiday during half term was a pain to say the least – I’m definitely not cut out for the extortionate prices you pay for over packed hotels. We searched low and high for hotels to ensure we had the right balance of the hotel being family friendly but also luxurious. We wanted it to be extra special given we were going away to celebrate my mum’s upcoming 60th birthday. The Lux Belle Mare seemed to fit the bill for what we were after.
Prior to our arrival, I liaised with Sheila to discuss our
needs and she put me in touch with Jennifer and Elvis to ensure we had a
pleasant stay and my mother’s celebrations were perfect.
Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with lots of warm genuine
smiles – it was just what we needed after a long travel time. We were greeted
by Sheila, Hema, Sueena and a few other members of staff who were quick to
offer us a cold towel and a refreshing Mauritian drink while checking us in.
Check in is a pretty relaxed process where you sit in the lobby as opposed to
queuing in a formal reception type sitting. The gorgeous high ceilings, stylish
thatched roofs with open air sides with the gorgeous backdrop of the pool and
ocean scream paradise. The contemporary décor of the hotel was really
refreshing.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m no stranger to party planning – it’s definitely my forte and what makes me tick! From Arjun’s first
Recently, I openly and honestly shared on my insta stories that I’ve really struggled with the whole social media addiction. I had so many messages from you guys saying you felt the same so I thought I would share a little more … I hope you find it helpful.
I often find myself scrolling endlessly and before I know it a good hour that I had to myself has now passed. It’s like a sneaky affair – while the kids may be busy for a few moments playing, I’ll use it as an opportunity to scroll. Why? What am I looking for? I have absolutely NO idea. But somewhere, somehow, it’s become like an addiction, a habit. Instead of nurturing my body, mind and soul when I’m free, I choose to scroll on social media which has the opposite effect of what I should be spending my time doing! Instead of enjoying quality time with my husband when in bed before we sleep, I’m having a quick check again – why?! Instead of getting high on the joy of motherhood by sitting on the floor and playing with my children, I’ve chosen to sit on the sofa “monitoring” them from behind my phone screen.
I don’t think we are really aware of just how damaging social media can be.
My new iPhone update now tells me my social media usage in a week. 5.5 hours a week? That’s almost an entire 24 hours a month. How can I complain that I don’t have enough time for other things?!
We are the first generation to have so much access to so much technology and information but sometimes we don’t always use our tools correctly. Suicide is at its highest, I’m not suggesting that there is a direct correlation but I do believe there’s something in it. I don’t believe that too much of anything can be good for us – even too much information. Especially when the opportunity cost is so ridiculously high. The end to the scroll feature on all social media channels doesn’t exist – it’s infinite. You could spend your whole life doing it. For what?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m so grateful for social media – it has enabled me to connect with all of you, it has given me a support network through my toughest times, I’ve been able to support others, I’ve been able to raise awareness for my son, it’s given me food inspiration, clothing inspiration, travel inspiration, but somewhere, the lines got blurred.
To me, it’s unnecessary to share every single waking moment on social media – for what? But at times, I caught myself doing it. It began to creep in to my children’s space, my family’s space. I felt like I was imposing this addiction on them. So many times Arjun would say “mummy please no more” – a 4 year old asking me to just put my phone away.
I’ve had a long hard reflection on my unhealthy relationship with social media and have made a commitment which I WILL stick to in order to improve my life and get it back to the monster that I’ve created – because it is ME that has created that unhealthy relationship. It wasn’t imposed on me. I just want to live a normal, simple life, with my family. My phone and social media will always be there, my kids won’t be.
You often end up seeing things that you don’t really need to see, that play on your mind for ages.
I really had to dig deep and really challenge my behaviour and question why I do certain things.
Our phones have become such a useful tool encompassing a camera, email, online banking, social media (to name a few) in one place and it’s so easy to open your phone for one reason but end up using it for another (for me – social media!). I wish I could go back to having an old school Nokia that only did what a phone was designed to do – make calls and send the odd text message (that had a cap of 160 characters!!).
Here are a few things I’ve implemented:
What I choose to share: Many of you have noticed that I no longer share face on pictures of the boys (unless it’s a throwback). This is a conscious decision I made towards the end of 2018. I realised that actually, as Arjun gets older, one day he’ll be venturing out on the streets alone – something doesn’t sit right with me knowing that people will know who they are without the boys even realising. I don’t regret for a second sharing the boys on social media but I know that I don’t need to share their faces for me to be able to continue raising awareness while respecting their privacy. It’s a catch 22 for me especially with Saajan as part of sharing his milestones to raise awareness does mean that at times his little face may make an appearance! If he’s ever involved in any campaigns relating to raising awareness, I’ll be sure to share.
Manual diary: historically for years, I used the note section in my phone to manage my to do lists. Any time I’d go to update my list, it was an opportunity to use my phone for other things that weren’t productive. That’s changed. I now use a pocket diary and I absolutely love it. The limited number of rows for each day also limits how much you allocate yourself to do in a day, forcing me to manage my time better while also keeping away from the phone. Also, it means I can physically see how much I’ve achieved as I can’t delete anything – I can appreciate my efforts. On my phone, I’d simply delete a task once completed.
Social media cap: after being enlightened on how much time I’m actually spending scrolling, I decided to use the iPhone reminder setting to tell me when I’ve reached an hour of scrolling a day. The first day I did this, by 11am, I had used up my cap! it was shocking. I do sometimes still go over, but I’m working on it!
Notifications off: I’ve turned off whats app notifications. Again, my phone would go off so frequently and I’d end up spending so much time looking at forwards or memes and then I’d end up scrolling social media. It was just another opportunity to waste time.
Pictures: Previously, I’d place a lot of emphasis (leading to a lot of frustration) on getting a “perfect picture”. It was really unfair to almost ruin a moment by requesting that picture. Last year, during Arjun’s 4th birthday party, I didn’t have my phone on me and I really realised how much more I enjoyed the party compared to when I’d have it with me to try and capture every single moment. Some moments can’t be captured though – because with those moments come feelings and emotions and they’re better to be lived in real life as opposed to behind a camera. The “perfect picture” has become quite boring to me now. I quite like the candid crazy shots we have and I like not putting so much pressure on myself and my family to get an Instagram perfect picture. I love capturing memories to look back on, but instead of needing 100 pictures from the night, I limit it to a few now. This then limits my opportunity to scroll too!
I’d love to carry a camera instead of a phone, but the inconvenience of it puts me off!
Out of site, out of mind: I invested in some silicone pads that can stick to most surfaces to hold your phone. I have placed one in our living room on the side of one of the large speakers we have. After school, (mostly) I try and place my phone there and continue with the dinner and playing with the boys. I’ve noticed that if my phone isn’t in my site, I’m not actually tempted.
Focus: I did at one point wonder I wanted to pack the blog and all my social media channels in, and to be honest, if it wasn’t for my Saajy, it would be a no brainer, but anytime I feel like packing it in, someone messages me a really deep message and I know that I need to be here. So instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to focus on just one social media channel – that will be Instagram.
I still have a long way to go, but I feel like I’m on the right track and I’ve really found myself. I want to enjoy my life in an enriching way and I am so excited to make it happen! … Here’s to a 2019 full of happy memories that I view without the filter of a camera lens, more face to face interaction and a simpler life!
When I first started blogging, never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine some of the crazy things I’d be doing because of it – like hosting an event that so many likeminded women would choose to attend! I’m so thankful to you guys for embarking on my journey of motherhood with me and for encouraging me to push myself out of my comfort zone while cheering me on. I didn’t know where life was taking me when I first fell pregnant – it’s crazy how things have unfolded and your support has grown as we’ve 
