So, we are home after our first ever visit to Rhodes. We booked through Travelzoo which was very easy to do so i will recommend them, big savings on brochure prices.
Travelled with Olympic/Monarch, more about that later.
Arrived at Gatwick, no problems there, not too much waiting around before we boarded and took off. Breakfast on the flight, smelt horrible and as we had eaten at the hotel we both decided not to eat it.
Landed at Rhodes airport, easy transition through passport control, collected the bags, found one had been damaged in transit, and went outside where we "reported" to the Olympic rep. She took us away from the crowd, up went my antennae, somethings amiss, and she informed us that the Rodos Palace was closing earlier than planned so they were changing our hotel. Not happy as we had no notification prior to arriving in Rhodes. We were told we would be staying at the Amathus instead, 1/2 mile along from the Rodos Palace. The rep was very critical of the Palace, told us we were getting a better hotel, better food, better rooms, so i asked why they didnt use the Amathus instead if the Rodos Palace is such rubbish. At this point she started to ignore me and spoke to the wife instead. The new place was still 5 star so where can there be a problem??
Having never stayed in either hotel i was quite happy to change, what youve never had you never miss. Anyway, we were given an envelope and told a coach number, coach number i asked, wheres the "private taxi transfers"?? I was ignored again so i laboured the point and was told the coach was leaving and we had to get on. OK, i thought, lets see what happens. Onto the coach, travel for about 20 minutes and turn into the hotel drive. All looked fine, met another rep who told us to meet her after checking in and she would discuss any concerns we had.
Checked in, asked some questions of the receptionist and then a gentleman next to us started!! He was, in a loud typically British voice, DEMANDING to know why he had been given a twin room!!! We decided to go and check out the room before going all British on them!! Cant fault it, lovely layout, seating area, balcony with a fantastic sea view, king size bed, excellent bathroom, plenty of shelves/wardrobe space etc. Cleaned every day, the wifes nightie was" displayed" in a very nice touch each day by the cleaners, special little touches like that, a card wishing us a good nights sleep, very very good rooms. Cant see what he had to complain about.
So, 1800, off to see the rep to discuss our concerns. We explained that as we had not been to Rhodes before we couldnt comment on whether this hotel was better or worse, didnt know the area, quite happy with the change to be honest. OK, she says, sign this and heres £50 compensation!!! That was a night or two's wine covered then, well done Olympic.
So, to Dinner. Choice of about 7 main courses in a buffet style, plenty of choice, waiters were brilliant, discussed where we wanted to sit, inside or out, drinks were brought to the table, collect your food, which suited us down to the ground as we could try a bit of everything if we wanted, if you didnt like it leave it and go back for something else. Starers, main courses and sweets, all very well prepared and presented, again i cant fault it. Wes sat on the balcony most meal times, looking out at the bay and the main road disappearing to Rhodes one way and Trainada the other, very nice, again cant fault it.
Rooms were air conditioned, breakfast was a repeat of dinner with a massive choice. Full English, in a Greek style, cereals, breads and sweet type things, toast, croissants, anything you desired really. Again, no complaints, cant fault it. Nearly forgot, unlimited tea/coffee at brekky time.
So, entertainment on about 3 out of 7 evenings, that was great with traditional Greek dancing, an ABBA night, singers, most nights in one of the bars there was something worth going to happening. It was great to sit outside up until midnight or even later having a drink, still warm and very nice in just a T shirt.
Pools, choice of three, an adult only one where we sunbathed, a waterfall down to another one with a poolside bar/coffee house and a last one on the roof which was nice but too hot for us. Again, all clean, well looked after, nice grounds surrounding the pools downstairs, cant fault it.
We hired a quad for a couple of days. I know, you shouldnt but as i couldnt find a decent bike to hire we settled on a quad. It was brilliant, riding with no helmet on, quick enough, went to visit Rhodes, Lindos and then cut across the centre of the island to see it, fantastic, very hilly, some brilliant architecture and interesting sights. Go to Antonio and see the aqueduct, a feat if ever there was one as it goes across hills, through wooded slopes etc, brilliant.
Walked round the old town, got collared by timeshare "its not timeshare mate" touts by the main Taxi station in Rhodes which along with fat Americans who were on the biggest cruise liner in the world and filled the old town, these were the only bad bits about Rhodes. I had a swin in the bat where you leave old town and the cruise ships dock on the right as you look out, the water was perfect, clean and blue and after a couple of hours walking it was a very welcome dip. I started a trend because after swimming for 10 minutes another half a dozen had followed suit!!
So, any bad bits? Yep. Fat americans taking over old town, not timeshare touts, no tea and coffee facilities in the rooms which is a seperate issue between me and Olympic, expensive to drink in the hotel but it is a 5 star so thats to be expected, thats about it.
Any advice? Yep. If you stay at the Amathus, at meal times go to the far end of the restaurant and make sure you sit in Socrates area, if you drink in the Rodian bar see Stevikos, he's great and we have swapped email/fone numbers with him, very very nice bloke. If you go out in Rhodes avaoid the Taxi station due to the touts, learn to sit and relax and watch the world go by, its a great hobby.
In summary, Rhodes for a first time visit is a fantastic place. It is quite commercial along the coast but if you go inland there are some brilliant Tavernas and bars, very cheap and very friendly in little villages. The locals are very laid back but cab drivers can be uptight and in a hurry, understandable. The hotel is brilliant, staff are excellent, but if you go take a travel kettle, we spent a lot on teas, Olympic could be better and given us the info beforehand, reps are under pressure from customers when its probably best to have a look first, then see if the complain is justified. Rhodes is a brilliant place to cisit and we will return in the near future as theres a lot more to see yet.

Mick.