The Ixian Grand and All Suites - Adults Only Hotel

The food had loads of choice and was great, and being an adults-only hotel was the best part. The hotel is right on the beach, with both fresh water and salt water pools. Service was fabulous, including drinks delivered to the sun loungers. A cab to Rhodes old town cost €13-18. My main gripe was the TV. We didn't spend much time in the room, but when we did, the channels were German, Greek, Chinese, and some French, despite British guests making up the largest group, so they were massively underrepresented. There was BBC World News if you fancied feeling depressed each day, but otherwise English was limited to random films late at night on random channels. Thomas Cook had said there would be satellite TV, but there wasn't, and we couldn't stream from our phone either. A bit crap, and probably our only serious complaint.

We travel quite a lot as a couple aged 28, so this is our honest take. For us, this didn't feel like a five-star hotel at all. The pool was absolutely freezing, and the gym was poor, with old, outdated machines and weights and barely any lighting, which made it feel almost scary. The downstairs lobby toilets were completely dark too. The rooms were dated, though the beds were very comfortable. We also had to pay €105 tax on arrival, which nobody had told us about. The food was disappointing and below average overall, though the one-night upgrade to Milonges restaurant was really nice. Drinks were a weak point too: cocktails came from premade mixer bottles and there wasn't much variety. The iron arrangement was frustrating for a five-star place. You have to call, wait ages for one, then return it straight after using it. Most staff, about 80/20, were friendly and helpful, though a few brought the experience down a little. Nothing major. We did enjoy the live music in the evenings, the lovely sunsets, and the amazing views when you pay for the upgrade. There were cats everywhere, and guests and staff seemed to look after them well. We visited Old Town, took a beautiful trip to Symi Island, went on a catamaran tour with Freedom via Get Your Guide, and checked out the waterpark, which was average. We also rented a car for a couple of days from EFREM, which I'd 100% recommend. Very reasonably priced.

The island of Rhodes is beautiful, with lots of history and sights. We loved Old Town Rodes, Lindos, and the Butterfly Valley. The hotel itself was clean and nicely located right beside the beach, with a shop area about five minutes away and no ATM at the resort. Staff were accommodating, the bar team friendly and attentive, and there were some good entertainment options. There are other restaurants, but you need to book ahead. The buffet had few food choices if you went all inclusive. There were lots of friendly cats, too. That said, it didn't meet five-star standards. Some electrical sockets were loose and needed repair, the TV didn't work, and the room looked unfinished.

We had a really enjoyable stay, with amazing breakfasts, restaurant evenings, and a band we especially liked at the end of the week. Evening entertainment runs every night, but the WiFi limitations make video streaming difficult and TV choices are limited. If that kind of entertainment isn't for you, heading out in the evening might be a better plan. Service was fantastic and the staff were helpful. The spa team was quite pushy, though I enjoyed the treatment; booking early in the trip lets you use the heated pool as a quiet hideaway while you're away. Vegetarian choices at dinner were repetitive and limited.