Afandou Bay Suites Hotel

The new friends we made at the bar ended up joining us for the rest of the week. They turned out to be Jon’s pasta fans too, so by the evenings there were four of us in line waiting for his Carbonara. My girlfriend and I spent a week at COOE Afandou Bay and enjoyed every day. The team were friendly and attentive, and when anything came up they tried to sort it out quickly. Jon and Daria were our favourites. At dinner on the first night, Jon greeted us with a big smile and his usual question: “Do you like Pasta?” He mainly makes Bolognese or Carbonara, and his Carbonara was so good we came back every evening for several courses and skipped the rest of the buffet. We’d sometimes stop by the bar during the day, where Daria might be bartending or serving. She chatted with us, made my girlfriend her new favourite, an extra-sweet Mango Mojito, and later got us dancing on dance nights. Thanks, Jon and Daria, and thanks to the whole Afandou Bay team for such a great week!

The food had plenty of variety and was very good, and the beach opposite the hotel was lovely, with a mix of sand and pebbles. We hired a car for the week, which I’d recommend because the hotel is quite secluded. Tsambika Beach is absolutely stunning if you get the chance to go. We stayed for seven nights. Our flight was delayed, so we arrived around midnight, but the staff kindly served us a light supper of cold cuts, cheese, bread and fruit. The staff were lovely and accommodating throughout, especially the restaurant manager and Christina, who both went out of their way to make things pleasant. The five-star rating set expectations the hotel didn’t quite meet. There were extra charges for nearly everything: €10 an hour for tennis, €4 for water at dinner, extra fees for the spa, and a nightly tax of €15. There was no tea or coffee in the room either, which was disappointing. Our evening flight home meant we appreciated being offered a late checkout, though six extra hours cost €40. We enjoyed our stay, but it didn’t quite feel like the five-star experience we expected.

We had a lovely, relaxing holiday here and were very happy with our choice. The hotel sits right by the sea, just outside the busy resort centre, so it’s a good place to get away from the crowds. Three evenings a week there was live music, which made for a nice atmosphere. Food was good with a decent range, though I missed lighter soups. There was soup every evening, but it was usually a heavier cream soup. The staff are what made the place feel more like a five-star hotel. Everyone was kind and helpful. Our room was cleaned daily, with the floors swept, bathroom washed and towels changed, and we got a bottle of water each day. There was also a kettle and mini fridge. If I’m being strict, the hotel itself doesn’t fully meet five-star standards. The local tax for a five-star hotel was a little over €100 in total, payable there. The hotel has its own beach sunbeds, but they aren’t free. Two cost €15, which surprised me. As guests, I expected a discount at least, if not complimentary use. There’s a bus stop beside the hotel with direct service to Rhodes old town. On the return, the bus drops you a bit farther away, so you have about a 15-minute walk back. We can warmly recommend it for a relaxing break.

The rooms were a little tired, but the pool and bars were great and the food was lovely. The beach is right across the road from the rear entrance. The staff really made our holiday, they were amazing. There isn’t much within an easy walk, so you’ll need a rental car or taxis if you stay here.