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.
