Island Boutique Hotel Rhodes

The location is superb, right on the beach, with bars and restaurants a five-minute walk away and the old town about 15-20 minutes on foot. Reception was lovely. We arrived early before our room was ready, which was fair enough, and the receptionist offered to text when it was available. She did. The rest of the stay didn't match what we expected from a four-star hotel calling itself Boutique. I tried to raise problems as they came up, but none were fixed during our short visit. The frosted glass bathroom door stopped about eight inches short of closing, leaving too little space to stand at the sink unless we left it open. The light above the sink went out every 20 seconds, so shaving or using the mirror meant reaching around to the switch outside and toggling it. Our balcony was missing the towel rail that every other balcony we could see had. I reported all three on the first afternoon, but nothing was done. The bathroom fittings felt cheap and poor. It was a large bathroom with a tiny, cheap shower cubicle that I could hardly get into, and the taps and shower fittings were poor. We put out the room-cleaning sign on day two, and I seriously think my kids could have made the bed better. I know how continental breakfasts are prepared, but seeing a woman open supermarket packs of sliced cheese and put them on the buffet felt more like a youth hostel. Even the hotel's front door was broken, and reception wasn't open 24 hours, so anyone could come and go at any time. The place felt cheap, though it certainly wasn't. I wouldn't return, since there must be better stays for this price.

Island Boutique Hotel is a great place for couples, families or friends looking to relax. It's one minute from the beach and close to the centre and Old Town. Rooms were sparkling clean and had everything we needed. The lovely maids came every day, and towels were replaced daily or every other day. Everyone seemed happy to do their job, and no one was in a bad mood. I recommend it 100%!

Our room had a spacious terrace with a sea view, a large comfortable bed and a small kitchenette, all of which we appreciated. But we booked it specifically for the jacuzzi, confirmed before arrival that it worked, then were told when we got there that it was broken. They offered breakfast with a very limited selection and a small discount as compensation. We chose to stay because we didn't want to find another hotel at the last minute. There was also an unlocked door by the elevator on our floor that led straight to our balcony. The front desk said it was normal when we reported it. When we came back the next day, the door was open again and a chair had been moved. They only agreed to lock it after we raised serious concerns. Between the safety issue and the unusable jacuzzi, we wouldn't return.

The location is excellent, but I won't stay here again. Breakfast was reasonable, though there wasn't much choice, and the coffee machine broke down every morning. The room was disappointing too: the door lock stayed broken for three days before it was fixed, the toilet seat was partly broken, and the air conditioner only seemed to work after a few hours. Some towels were dirty, and drinks at the hotel bar were very expensive.