"We have just returned from a stay at this lovely hotel in Rhodes, where I was travelling with my 88-year-old mother-in-law and my adult daughter. We had been looking forward to a relaxing holiday, but shortly after we arrived, we experienced an unexpected medical emergency. Thanks to the incredible staff, what could have been an extremely stressful situation was made so much easier.
We arrived late on our first evening and were shown to our room after check-in. The following morning at breakfast, my daughter and I became concerned because my mother-in-law seemed to have very little energy. We hoped she would improve after eating, but it quickly became clear that she needed medical attention.
The restaurant staff reacted immediately, and within minutes the manager, Anna, was with us. She contacted the doctor straight away and, after speaking with him, he advised that an ambulance should be called. While I accompanied my mother-in-law to the hospital, the hotel staff took wonderful care of my daughter, regularly checking on her and asking for updates until we returned.
When we arrived back at the hotel, everyone showed us such genuine kindness and concern. They even offered to move us to another room if we felt it would help us feel more comfortable. We really appreciated the thoughtful gesture, although after viewing the alternative room, we decided to remain where we were.
Although the start of our holiday wasn't what we had hoped for, the care, compassion and professionalism shown by every member of staff made all the difference. It wasn't just excellent customer service, it was genuine kindness, and we will never forget it.
We would especially like to thank the members of staff who had such a positive impact on our stay. I'm sure there were many others working just as hard behind the scenes, but these are the people we had the pleasure of getting to know:
* Anna, Manager
* Maria, Reception
* Silvan, Housekeeping
* Christoff, Food & Beverage Manager
* Mikeos, Restaurant Manager
* Nikos, Faiq and Demetra, Restaurant Team
* Akkis, Pool Waiter
* Johnny, Bar Attendant
* Anastasios, Chef in the à la carte restaurant, whose food was absolutely outstanding.
Although we were staying on a bed and breakfast basis, we chose to dine in the à la carte restaurant every evening, except Monday when it was closed, because the food was so exceptional. Every meal was beautifully prepared, and Anastasios deserves special recognition for making each dining experience memorable.
If I had one constructive comment, it would be regarding accessibility. The hotel has a number of steps throughout the grounds and, there is no lift. Unfortunately, there are also no handrails alongside the steps. While there are ramps for wheelchair users, they are quite steep. The hotel very kindly offered us the use of a wheelchair for my mother-in-law, but in reality, I would have found it difficult to push someone safely up and down the inclines. My mother-in-law is still reasonably mobile and would have managed much better if handrails had been fitted alongside more of the steps.
Another consideration for elderly guests is that our bathroom had a shower over the bath. Unfortunately, this meant my mother-in-law was unable to shower safely during our stay. If the hotel were ever to refurbish the bathrooms, replacing some of the shower-over-bath combinations with walk-in showers would make a huge difference for elderly guests and those with mobility issues.
These comments are certainly not intended as criticism of the wonderful staff, who could not have been more accommodating, but simply as suggestions that could make an already excellent hotel even more accessible. If you have mobility issues, or are travelling with someone who does, I would recommend contacting the hotel before you travel to discuss your requirements. The staff are incredibly helpful and will do everything they can to assist, but it is worth being aware of the layout of the hotel in advance.
Thankfully, my mother-in-law recovered well after receiving treatment, and we were able to enjoy the rest of our holiday. Rhodes is a beautiful island, but what will stay with us most is the warmth, care and kindness shown by the wonderful people at this hotel.
Thank you all for looking after us so well during a difficult time. You turned what could have been a very worrying holiday into one that we will remember with gratitude. We would not hesitate to recommend this hotel and very much hope to return in the future."
