Amy Adejokun
Section editor
The imposing 4 to 6-storey Electra Palace Resort is rather alarming at first sight, but turns out to be a good place to laze around or let off steam taking part in the numerous activities organised by a well-motivated team. Built in 1974, it was fortunately completely renovated in 2007 and now presents a modern face to the world, just a stone's throw from the Aegean Sea.
Electra Palace - © I. Lubinetsky / EASYVOYAGE
Electra Palace - © I. Lubinetsky / EASYVOYAGE
The Electra Palace Resort stands on the west coast of the island, just over a mile from Ialyssos town centre, 6 mi from Rhodes and about 2 and a half mi from the airport. The entire bay is lined with many modern hotels, making it a rather upmarket holiday destination, and the hospitality you'll experience here is second-to-none. The gentle breeze of the Meltem blowing in from the sea is also very pleasant and the sea itself provides both a real challenge for sailing-sports enthusiasts and refreshing relief for others, particularly during the summer. The nearby Filerimos Hill, with its ruins of the ancient Acropolis of Ialyssos and the Monastery of Panaghia, dominates the whole region. It is a great destination for walks, offering superb panoramic views along the coast.
Lifts lead up to the 308 rooms, spread between two buildings, and whilst 60% of the rooms have a sea view, the others make do with a view of the swimming pool or gardens at the back of the hotel! The rooms are spacious and well-lit by a large picture window and all have a small balcony (with a table and chairs), twin beds, bedside tables, a desk, a small round table, armchairs, somewhere to store suitcases, a minibar, a television, individual air-conditioning and - as a one off - a free safe! The bathrooms are rather large and consist of a large washbasin, a small table to hold a few things, a hair-dryer, a telephone and a bathtub. Hospitality products are also provided and include bath/shower gel, shampoo, soap and body lotion. The cupboard contains two bathrobes and two pairs of slippers, which is worth a mention if only because it is a rare treat on the island! Beach towels are also provided. Simplicity and modernity are the touchstones of the decor, with black and white photos on the walls, which are of course white, wooden furniture and basic coloured bed sheets.
If you are horrified by the idea of all-concrete complexes, relax! The Electra Palace buildings are laid out in a garden decorated with pretty plantations of palm trees, ylang-ylang, bougainvillea and rose bushes, among other things. As is usually the case, the whole ground floor is marble-clad and houses a stylish, modern lobby and lounge corners with tables, armchairs and sofas. Outside, there is a very large swimming pool with deckchairs and parasols set out for guests to use free of charge. You can either catch some sun beside the pool or lounge on the lawn under a palm tree, where it is a bit cooler. There is also a mini-club cottage for children, complete with swings, slide and a fairly large pool.
The hotel boasts three restaurants, each offering a different style of dining! The main restaurant opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving up an international buffet (Chinese, Greek, Indian and "show cooking" demonstrations) in a large, attractive room that seats 400 diners. The small Italian restaurant opens for late breakfasts, lunch and dinner (reservation required). Finally, the Chinese restaurant opens for dinner and is a pretty, small room just next to a pool and it is advisable to book on arrival if you wish to dine here. You may enjoy all the complimentary drinks you wish from the hotel's 3 bars at the swimming pool, lobby and lounge, with the added bonus of tea time from 4:30pm to 5:30pm followed by snacks from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Just don't expect very good quality beverages...
The beach is covered in black sand and pebbles, making it difficult to walk without sandals unless you head for the mini-pontoons, where you will be fine in bare feet. There is no need to get up at the crack of dawn to make sure you get a deckchair, either; unlike many other resorts, plenty of loungers and parasols are available free of charge for guests here. The sea is a little choppy in this part of the island, which is perfect if you like splashing about in the breakers and surf or want to try your hand at water sports. However, the water sports centre is not actually part of the hotel, so such activities do incur an additional charge.
Most guests here opt for an all-inclusive package, but this does not include use of the Internet, which incurs an additional charge, as is the case in most of the hotels on the island. You may check your e-mails using the hotel's computers or on your own laptop via Wi-Fi, which is available only on the ground floor of the hotel and which incurs a charge of ?4.50 per half hour or ?50 per week. The friendly receptionists can provide more information on this.
massage, sauna, hammam, keep fit, spa, Turkish bath
tennis, gym, aqua gym, volleyball, basketball, archery, water-polo, fitness, sports
Anonyme.
Un très bel hôtel avec de belles chambres bien entretenues. Une belle piscine et des restaurants de bonne qualité et variés. Le personnel de salle est aimable mais attention vous êtes dans un "palace" donc la chef de salle veille au grain.
Les chambres ont une petites terrasse très agréable et la plage n'est pas loin.
Un goûter furtif, premier arrivé, premier servi et un manque cruel d'animation. Je déconseille aux personnes avec des enfants.
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