Rhodes is the largest of the twelve Dodecanese islands of Greece on the Southeastern Aegean Sea. These groups of islands are known for their architectural buildings, archaeological sites and mediaeval castles.
Rhodes is well-known for its pebble beaches and the Old Town, a mediaeval city which was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 1988. The city, which is home to roughly 6,000 people, maintains its architectural character, gothic architecture and historical importance and is one of the best preserved mediaeval towns in Europe.
Visitors to the Old Town can enjoy mosques, traditional fountains, oriental motifs, Byzantine and Gothic churches, as well as souvenirs and cafes.
Location
The Ixian Grand & All Suites is a 5* hotel situated on the beach of Ixia Bay, just metres away from the sea and only 6km away from Rhodes town and the Mediaeval City of Rhodes and 7km from the International Airport "Diagoras."
Because who wants to pay another £50?
It offers breathtaking sea views overlooking the Ixia Bay and the Aegean Sea. It owns the 'Adults only hotel' title in the immediate area, which makes it extremely popular with guests as you would have to travel 20km to find the next one. Unlike other hotels in Rhodes where a road often separates the hotel from the beach, visitors at the Ixian Grand can enjoy direct access to the sea.
Hotel
Vassilis Karagiannis, CEO of the Ixian Grand & All Suites is a local who rebuilt and renovated the hotel over 15 years ago, with a complete overhaul of the concept. The hotel provides a relaxing, luxury setting for its guests with a main building, a large garden complex where the main pool is situated as well as its Suites area. The hotel feels modern, contemporary and upscale. The gardens are well kept and colourful, with flowers in bloom and well-primed hedges cut perfectly into quirky shapes that line the path on the walk to the main reception area.
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My Room
I stayed in one of the Beachfront Swim-up Grand Suites, the most sought-after rooms at the hotel, which can book up months in advance. It's not hard to see why, as they are ideally located on the waterfront yet separated from the main pool area with a wedge which offers guests semi-privacy. It makes you feel like you are staying at a private villa with a wooden deck with sunbeds and your very own private part of an infinity-style shared pool and unobstructed sea views. Upon my arrival, I was met with delicious platters of fruits and a variety of hams and cheeses, as well as bottles of water which was a lovely touch.
Room sizes are a spacious 60m2, featuring a king-size bed, a sitting room area with two large sofas, a large wardrobe with lots of storage and a spacious bathroom complete with a separate spa bath and shower.
Guests staying in Suites also have exclusive access to the Alazonia Suites Restaurant, a stylish restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating areas which serve Suites guests breakfast and dinner, with table services as well as a buffet on offer. Other exclusive services include a Concierge Service and Private check-in, and complimentary early check-in and late check-out upon availability.
There are 348 rooms at the Ixian Grand of which 69 are Suites with swimming pools. Other room options include double rooms with inland and garden views, premium guest rooms with spa baths and swim-up rooms and deluxe rooms with inland, garden or sea views to suit all budgets.
Staff
Michalis Papadopoulos, General Hotel Manager of the Ixian Grand & All Suites believes the hotel's selling point is its staff. He says, "we invest in our people and, as such, are especially proud of our staff and the customer service they provide our guests". The process starts with the hiring process, where character and personality are placed above all else. "Skills can be taught, but a genuine smile that comes from within someone who is happy to provide the kind of service that guests have come to expect from the Ixian cannot".
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Staff around the resort were always on hand to cater to the needs of guests in an efficient manner, and no request was too small. In addition to the numerous staff around the resort, also on hand were the Guest Relations Team Nastazia and Lena at reception. Whether you wish to book transfers, excursions, a day on a yacht or just need advice on things to keep you occupied in Rhodes, Nastazia ensured that hotel guests were comfortable during their stay and armed with all the information they needed.
Pools
There are two freshwater pools at the hotel, sized at 375m2 and 322m2 respectively, with views of the sea. The main pool is a heath of activity during the day with music coming from the sound systems and water aerobics classes for guests. There are comfy sunbeds, parasols and pool towels available, and guests can grab as many cocktails and beer as they want from the Blue Bar by the pool.
The queue for drinks during the busiest time of day can be extensive, but bar staff work tirelessly to serve as many guests as possible. You can also order at the beach, and staff will come and deliver drinks to you directly. For guests who prefer a little peace, there is a "quiet pool" available with enough sunbeds for roughly eight couples.
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Spa & Gym
The hotel spa has a complete range of treatments, including massages, facials and beauty therapies. The spa comes complete with an indoor pool and a Turkish bath. The gym provides a fitness instructor on hand to do exercise classes or offer fitness advice.
Restaurants & Bars
Vis-à-Vis, the hotel's main buffet restaurant, focusing mostly on Mediterranean and Greek cuisine but also international cuisine, offers a view of the hotel's garden and the sea. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Milonges, this open-air a la carte restaurant, offers traditional Greek cuisine and is located by the main swimming pool, serving lunch and dinner.
Muza Htista, is a la carte fusion restaurant which combines the culinary tradition of Japanese and Peruvian cultures, known as the Nikkei cuisine. It has become the latest gastronomic sensation in Europe, and guests can book a visit during their stay.
Truman's Lobby Bar offers a great variety of beverages, such as cocktails, spirits and coffees, all day. Guests can relax indoors in a contemporary setting, and it features a terrace with views of the green gardens, the pools and the Aegean Sea.
The Blue Bar offers cocktails and various beverages, snacks and ice-creams and is situated by the pool and the sea. It is the main daytime bar for guests sunbathing by the pool and serves cocktails, beers and soft drinks.
Alazonia Suites Restaurant - open for breakfast and dinner only for guests staying in the Suite rooms.
Worthy of a seat upgrade.
Final Thought
My visit in July marked the busiest time of year at Ixian, but the hotel was large enough to absorb the numbers and not feel overly crowded. My Suite allowed me to experience what felt like a private holiday, and there was no need to rush to the pool to grab a sunbed unless I really wanted to, which removed time pressures and allowed me to enjoy the day completely at your leisure.
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General Hotel Manager, Michalis Papadopoulos, says the Ixian wants its guests to chill by the pool whilst enjoying cocktails in a romantic and luxurious atmosphere. The Ixian Grand & All Suites certainly provides that, and you can slow down and unwind in a luxurious setting with top-level hospitality service.
For further information on Ixian Grand & All Suites, click here.
