More about Grand Hotel Rhodes
Grand Hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
Just spent a week at the Grand Hotel, I got a deal through lastminute so the amount paid was equivalent to that of a "lesser starred hotel".
The hotel is attractive with a great location close by to shops, the beach and the old and new town.
When we arrived (at 2am) we didn't find the reception staff particularly friendly and there was no porter to help with luggage. Our room was very big and nicely decorated (better than the online pictures). The room had a extra bed in which the reception staff told us would be removed, it wasn't, not really a problem though.
The pool areas were clean and we didn't have a problem getting sunbeds, even though we arrived poolside around 11.
There is a good selection of food. However the buffet restaurant isn't a relaxing place to eat, waiting staff are constantly clattering around you and eager to grab what looks like a finished plate off the table. We often found our table wasn't fully laid and felt like we had to bother staff to get a knife or spoon. The staff often appeared to be bickering between themselves (as I don't speak Greek this may have not been the case). The Chinese restaurant and the Italian restaurants were great though. The food in the Chinese restaurant was really delicious and the staff were really sweet. We ate out of the hotel for lunch but didn't find a restaurant as nice as the two in the hotel. In the restaurants outside the hotel one often felt that good quality food wasn't the name of the game, afterall tourists come and go, the restaurants don't aim for people to return rather to persuade passers by to eat there. We ate at a restaurant called Jason No 1 near the hotel, it looked really nice from outside with little tea lights. The food was dreadful, salty mushrooms, tough chicken and stale bread. Don't be fooled by appearances.
The hotel facilities are good, pools, gym etc. The bar had a nightly pianist, but had no atmosphere, however there are so many bars nearby this was not an issue.
In all we had a really enjoyable time. I think if I returned to Rhodes and budget wasn't an issue I would stay in the Hilton. The hotel is very nice but by no means is it luxurious.
Great Hotel and Staff
by TripAdvisor Member soapy
Hi,
Just back from Rhodes Grand yesterday 7th July'05. Had a great time, was apprehensive after reading some reviews but decided to go anyway a good decision! Greeted by a very friendly staff at the desk they apologised they could not get us two rooms together me + wife+two kids, even better give us 4 rooms each at different corners of the building I thought!, but would the presidential suite do? after picking myself off the floor I consented and we were led to room 443 lately inhabited by Mel Gibson. Behind the double doors through the vestibule into the office through the living room, overlooking the Agean, past the dining room table next to the kitchen and into the lobby passing the marble stairway that led to the upper apartment with sauna, shower, toilet etc and of course giant hot tub and grand rooftop balcony lay the two bedrooms both ensuite the master bedroom with jacuzzi and the twin both with thick white carpets. Breakfasted every morning at the hotel (B+B) good selection considering we were in a different country,culture etc.Staff again very friendly despite rude Brits I'm ashamed to say although some of our continental chums were as bad. We had dinner at the Italian restaurant very good value at 32 euros for two courses of very good food each wine was extra but not overboard at 15 euros it was a very nice white. Outside food was good again unfortunately not too many selling seafood but no complaints on that front either - try 'REMI's' out the door turn right and right again from hotel and about 150 yards on your right down a little alley way nice food try the mussles best ever. Castle very interesting if you want peace try the walk around the moat.Son et luminaire show, at night!!!, rewarding espec after a not too hurried meal and a nice bottle of wine. Don't fill your suitcase before you go, Get over to Turkey Marmaris 38-40 euros + 19euros for visa. Go for the later crossing,go on the guided tour as we did DO not pay extra for this! The manie at the ticket booth said we would have to pay someone 20 euros!! (you can get taxi if you want to just go shopping) the Turkish tourist people and the carpet,jewellerand sweetie shop subsidise this but you do get some free time to explore the bazaar excellent for really cheap clothing, watches jewellery etc don't question the authenticity of the label to closely and DO haggle pay a resonable amount and all sides are happy!! The Turkish show near the end is really something else - excellent as was the food! Belly dancer v fit. On our return the crossing was a bit choppy a bit ginger might help prevent the mal de mer a wee bit. will go now sorry going on a bit but some of the rubbish written about Rhodes, the hotel, the people must be put right It's a great place to go Cooler on the west side by about 3-5 degrees with a good breeze. We would certainly go again!!! Try and this I think is important try to learn a few Greek words the dividends it pays makes a good holiday a great one- GO FOR IT
Nice, but not 5*
by A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed two weeks at the Grand in August 2004.
Problems started right away at the check-in. We waited our room 1,5 hours (up to 16:00), and finally the room with seaview was what you can see in the first picture... It took three days to get room with view, but it was worth it (picture 3).
Hotel reception staff was really bored to their lives, and couldn't care less of anything that happened outside reception desk. Restaurant staff was totally different! We really got 5* service, even it was high-season and all seats were taken all the time. Breakfast and dinner buffet (also Italian and Chinece) were ok, and great value for the money.
Rooms may have seen better days, but were also ok. Except beds, they were hardest ones that I ever have seen.
A/C went broken three days before check-out, and once again there was no help from hotel staff. Promises, but never fixed...
Definitely Not 5 star, but OK if you get a good deal.
by TripAdvisor Member ansalm
We got to Rhodes on a late flight, and were looking forward to getting to the hotel to relax in our room. No such luck: we were sent to the "sister" hotel (4 stars) just 2 blocks from there overlooking the most awful run down building ever... and we were paying for a sea view! The next day we dragged our bags to the hotel again, where we were told the room wasn't ready and to come back in a while. We FINALLY got our room around 1 pm... All through this the staff were too busy to care and when we complained the reservations manager asked "but you did get a room, didn't you?!" thanks to the help of the very friendly travel agent from the online agency we got a free day car rental, so in the end it was ok.
As for the facilities, restaurants are nice and even the buffet has great food and good service. The pools and lobby area were nice and could have passed for a 5-star were it not for the room. The ugliest thing, blue and white 80's decor, old rusty fixtures in the bathroom and weird smelling, the "twin" bed (actually two singles pushed together) kept sliding apart and the minifridge broke down during the night and made a mess of the carpet. Maybe I was just still annoyed by the bad service, in the end the stay wasn't that bad but don't expect luxury. far from it. the pool looked nice, although we preferred the beach! the one across the street is ok, but the best ones are on the other side of the island so don't pick this hotel for the beach. Overall, not bad if you get a good deal but it wouldn't be my first choice.
A perfect holiday retreat
by TripAdvisor Member shazzaSouthWales_UK
Just returned home with unforgettable memories of memories. If you want a reasonably quiet beautiful hotel with a great food option (I'm a chef, so I tend to be a bit choosey) friendly courteous staff, a delightful pool, private access to a beach and safe bathing this is the one for you. Situated in its own little valley with no other hotels or dwellings overlooking it the Lindos Memories is certainly a jewel of Rhodes. I had read some mixed reviews before we went on our holiday (especially referring to the food) so I didn't expect too much as we have been disappointed in the past (although this is quite an expensive hotel) but everything was superb particularly the view from our window overlooking the agean sea. I wouldn't have thought this hotel really suited teenagers because of its isolation and lack of entertainment (there is a singer/ pianist everynight, and a Greek evening with singing and dancing once a week) but the ones who were there had a really good time and were very well behaved (there is an excellent games room and a small well appointed gym) and all rooms have satellite TV. When we were there all the guests were of the same opinion as my husband and myself and wouldn't hesitate in making a return visit to this treasure of the agean.
Great Location
by A TripAdvisor Member
As in the last review I was quite worried about this hotel a week before we were due to go. However, having just returned from a great holiday, there is no need to worry! The hotel is right on the sea front and the sea view rooms are well worth it. The locals refer to this area as the "windy area" because of the constant breeze/wind from the sea. For us this was fantastic as in August the temperatures are v.hot. The hotel has two outdoor pools and you get the usual problems with everyone getting up at 7am to reserve the best spots. There are plenty of beds though and they provide beach towels (15 Euros deposit).
The rooms are clean but a little dated now. The towels are changed every day and the bed linen every other day. We had a fridge, a safe (25 Euros for the week) and a rubbish hairdryer (take your own if you have long hair or you will be there all day). One of the lifts was broken the entire week we were there which was a pain as they can be quite slow and the stair wells are all glass so it is like walking inside a greenhouse if you decide to take the stairs. The other lift had been vandalised by people scratching their names etc on the wooden panels which didn't look very impressive.
The staff were all friendly and spoke good English. The restaurant was always busy meaning lots of waiting around for things like eggs, toast and pancakes etc. On day one all three meals had crockery that had chips or cracks in them but after that I didn't see any more like this. The Italian and Chinese sections were better and you can book a time slot at reception. Not sure if you can choose a B&B option but I would next time.
There is a small gym with a couple of treadmills, cross trainer, stepper and weights etc which you pay for daily or weekly and an indoor pool which would be good for lane type swimming but tends to be full of kids playing.
The new town location is good for bars and restaurants and it is about 10 mins to the old town which has loads of fantastic shops. All in all I would go again because of the location and views, but it is not a luxury hotel by any standard.
room with a view
by A TripAdvisor Member
We were quite worried about the forthcomming holiday at the Grand after reading some of the reviews, but fortunatley we were very pleasantly suprised. The use of marble throughout was wonderful as were our rooms, especially the view which was wonderful and constantly changing. All the swimming pools were good, although I must say for a 5star hotel there should have been some sort of matress on the sun loungers, not good for the back! The restuarants were of excellent quality especially the Chinese and Italian, what I did not like was actually queing to get into the restuarants. The staff were very attentive, and could not do enough for you, even though some guests were downrighy rude to them treating them like second rate citzens. Everywhere was absoloutley spotless, clean sheets and towels, every day, clean linen after every use.
If you looked very closely yes you could pick up on some negative points, perhaps some taps do need looking at and perhaps a bit of paint here and there, but nothing like we were led to belive from some other comments, We would thoroughly recomend this hotel this to anyone.
nightmare
by A TripAdvisor Member
We arrived at the hotel early hours of the morning only to be told the hotel had over booked 90 people and were transferred to a hotel in a side street where the air conditioning worked but was so noisy you could not sleep. the food was inedible and there was no evening entertainment. the staff were not interested in anyones complaints. The hotel was called the Petit Palais. We were allowed to use the Grand facilities which meant a trek every day as there were no facilities in the Petit Palais. You can imagine the distess caused when every day you saw other people checked in and checked out and we were left to stay in another hotel that was 2* at most
Overbooking policy
by A TripAdvisor Member
Arrived at 22.30 to be advised that accommodation was double booked. During our discussion/argument with the manager it became apparent that a further two couples faced a similar problem. Having reviewed comments by other guests booked for this hotel it becomes obvious that this is a policy by the Mitsis Group. They deliberately overbook then offload to the other hotels in the group. This was denied by the manager but when pressed why the overbooking his only reply was that we may not have turned up in the first place. When I pointed out that the reservation department requested my Mastercard details at the time of booking and advised that I would be charged for 'no show' he shrugged and walked away. Anyone considering this hotel should be aware of this overbooking policy. You have been warned !!!!!!!!
Photos
Mitsis-Grand Resort Hotel
Mitsis-Grand Resort Hotel
Mitsis Grand Pool & Sea View - Rhodes Town
Sign in with Facebook
