Hotel Capsis

Ixia is a small and lively seaside resort in the northern part of Rhodes. There are numerous hotels along its beaches and it is a paradise for windsurfing and other nautical sports. The strong wind that batters the coastline probably has something to do with it! It takes only a few minutes to get to the restaurants and boutiques in the city centre, same for the beaches. Furthermore, the hotel benefits from an excellent location on the coast, which makes an ideal starting point for numerous excursions. The city of Rhodes is only a five minute drive away, and it will take you about a quarter of an hour to reach the international airport.

Since it doesn't have a spa worthy of the name, the hotel has converted one of the big conference rooms into a massage parlour. The music and decor make you quickly forget the room's previous purpose. As for the catering service, it offers a wide variety of options but you should be aware that the 'all inclusive' option does not include snacks. It is a good idea to enquire about the terms before booking. If you are relying on activities to occupy your holiday (or to entertain your children), this may not be the ideal establishment : only a few themed evenings (Greek, jazz music or other), are held once a week.

The entrance hall doesn't stand out at all from all the other hotels on the island: spacious, marble fittings, chic decor... However, the presence of old machines scattered here and there in the communal areas adds a little class and mystery to the place (what are they doing here?) The rest of the hotel is not any more original. As far as facilities and sports are concerned, the hotel offers at least as much as its competitors: a large fresh-water swimming pool, a sea-water swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a gym, a playground, a pool table, table football, tennis, beach-volley, basketball, ping-pong and bridge, among others. Notice that the deckchairs and towels are available to clients free of charge.

With its 693 rooms, the Capsis is one of the island's 'giants'. Several categories are available: standard rooms, apartment rooms, or the twenty-four suites on the ninth floor. You are more likely to get a partial or full view of the sea (70%) than of the mountains (30%). The rooms were refurbished in 2006 and they now all include a bed with a "Coconut" mattress (as comfy as it gets), a duvet and a bedspread, classical wooden furniture, a television, a minibar, a safe (?20 per week), air-conditioning, a balcony with a table and chairs and a decent bathroom with hospitality products, a hair-dryer and a telephone. In addition, bathrobes, slippers and mosquito repellant are available for the guests.

Given the size of the hotel and the potential number of guests, there are many options as far as food is concerned. The main restaurant, the 'Pandora' offers a buffet meal and a "show cooking" section that is open in July and August. A more private area provides for an extra 530 to 680 seats in case of high occupancy. The 'Lagoon' is an a la carte restaurant which offers a wide array of international, local and Italian dishes. It can accommodate up to 4,000 guests when additional tables are set up by the poolside! This summer, a new snack bar is to be opened next to the second pool. As for drinks, the hotel has three bars : there is the bar in the entrance hall which is open 24/7, there is an 'all-inclusive' bar for the hotel guests only, and there is the poolside bar.

There is also a tunnel that you can take to get to the nearest public beach, which is only about three hundred feet away. There are no deckchairs or any particular equipment set out on the beach and you will have to remember to bring your own towel! The beach is a black sand and pebble beach, which means that it can become quite tricky to walk around without proper sandals. In this part of the island the sea can also get a little rough, which gives the opportunity for some to enjoy the waves, while others indulge in the water sports which are available (for a fee). Indeed, as is the case in many other resorts, the water sports facilities are separate from the hotel...