Afandou Sky

We booked this as a last-minute break and only read the reviews afterwards. It isn't the Ritz, as some reviewers seemed to expect, but we found a clean, low-budget hotel with very friendly staff. Several couples we spoke to return each year and agreed it's a good base for seeing Rhodes. The downside is the steep approach. Even we struggled to walk the last 50 metres, where the gradient is over 20%.

The sea view is lovely, especially at sunrise and when the moon reflects on the water. Staff were friendly, and the beds felt sturdy and comfortable, though the pillows could be better. Getting to Afandou village on foot is convenient; it's lively and has buses into the city. The shower cubicle is very small and wouldn't suit a larger person, and the water isn't hot late in the evening.

The pool is nice, and breakfast is passable. As a base for exploring Rhodes, this budget hotel will do, but it's tatty and very noisy at night. The first evening, another guest and I came downstairs and discovered reception itself was making the noise. There was also hammering early one morning, along with guests returning from Faliraki. The beach is a walk away. The walk should get shorter once the overpass is finished, which staff said would happen by July. I'd say this is fair enough for adults who bring earplugs.

The hill up to the hotel is quite a struggle, so it isn't suitable for disabled people. Still, it's fairly close to the beach, and the bus stops make it easy to get around the island. The hotel itself wasn't the best I've stayed in, but the two brothers who run it were very helpful and made our stay enjoyable.