Island Resorts Marisol

The food had plenty of choice and was pretty good, and the staff were good too. My room was adequate, with a good shower, Netflix on the TV, decent WiFi, a kettle and a minibar that was topped up daily for all-inclusive guests. The pool was cold, though there were lots of sunbeds. We had 21-25°C all week in October. All-inclusive drinks were okay, but the gin tasted strange. The hotel was clean and fine overall.

The food is okay for an all-inclusive stay, and the hotel is clean with friendly staff. The bathrooms are very small. We booked a sea view, but the hotel sits at an odd angle and we don't have one, so I wouldn't pay extra for that. It's in a remote part of town, with the beach across a dual carriageway, and there aren't bars or shops nearby. Getting into town means quite a walk, or a taxi for 8-10 euros. There's also a bus if you prefer. A heads-up for all-inclusive guests: the bar shuts at 11, and after that you pay for drinks. There's little evening entertainment too. We've had a good stay, but won't come back because of the location and the lack of amenities around the hotel.

It's a small hotel, but had what we needed for a holiday, including a pool, gym and bar. The food and drink selection was broad and good. Just outside is a busy commercial neighborhood with lively cafes, coffee shops and bars. Old Town, where we spent most of our time, is about a 20-minute walk away. The front desk staff were absolutely fantastic, with excellent customer service. One lady in particular was brilliant and genuinely pleasant.

We enjoyed the beach across the road, with its sand and clear water, and liked visiting Rhodos Old Town. The coast path makes for a pleasant half-hour walk there, or it's about 20 minutes through the streets if you find the right way. The medieval walled town is large, with gift shops and tavernas as well as quiet, cool little lanes. You can also walk around the dry moat, though it's a long trek, especially in midday sun after exploring town. The streets near the hotel felt a bit grotty. We still enjoyed our stay and thought the price was fair, except for what we paid to upgrade to a sea view. The welcome on arrival was nice. The hotel frontage is beautifully presented, and we were invited to lunch before checking in because service was due to end in ten minutes. It was a lovely gesture, and the lunch was fabulous. Afterward, though, the desk staff gave little direction and didn't seem genuinely welcoming. We guessed the lunch invitation was hotel policy rather than a sincere offer from the staff. Our upgraded room did have some sea views, but mostly looked over an ugly flat roof and a huge building opposite, dotted with air-conditioning units. We think it was the ministry of births and deaths. The maids kept the room clean all week and replenished the tea and coffee supplies and fridge daily. It was frustrating there was no bottle opener for the bottled beer. The beds were very comfortable, and the air conditioning was adequate for the early October heat. The bathroom was the smallest we've ever had in a hotel, with barely room to move your arms. It couldn't comfortably fit more than one person, even just to brush teeth. There were only three electrical sockets, and plugging something in hit the nearby light switch, so the plug wouldn't go all the way in and the switch was left in limbo. We found the restaurant very good. The food was plentiful, fresh, tasty and well presented, and the friendly, attentive staff ran things efficiently and with care. The bar had a good choice of drinks and a nice cocktail menu made with basic ingredients rather than syrups, which was a big plus. But it was hard to get a smile from the bar staff, and again we wondered how genuine they were about making guests happy and promoting the hotel. The pool was clean, with comfortable sunbeds and parasols, and the paved area was level, modern and well kept. It felt too cramped for us, so we barely used it except on a stormy day when it was quiet. One last bit of bad luck: I'd saved a brandy for last orders on our final night, but they'd run out, even though I'd seen some poured at the bar earlier in the week and had been looking forward to that rare treat.