Olivia Blue Sea

"My wife and I stayed at Olivia Blue Sea in October 2025, and I think the stay can be be summarised by my review title - underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, the hotel pretty much looks as it does in the photos on their own website, but it feels very much like it's style over substance as other reviews have said. LOCATION Afandou is roughly 40 minutes from Rhodes Town, and 45-60 from Lindos so is well placed and easy to get to both. Make a note of the bus stop numbers as 'next stop' announcements on the buses include them so it makes it easy, and if you're travelling by bus, ask for 'Afandou Avenue' (not Afandou, as then you'll have a 20 minute walk back to the hotel), and it seems preferable that you buy your tickets before boarding at the nearby kiosks in Lindos and Rhodes. There are a couple of dogs that live in nearby houses which seemed to delight in starting barking around sundown each night and stop around sun-up. Obviously not the hotel's fault, but don't expect an unbroken nights sleep. ARRIVAL We arrived late at night and were greeted by a lady who was very efficient, but let's just say it wasn't a warm, friendly welcome. A nice thought was a plate of food (given the time we arrived) - a very unappetising, slightly stale-looking ham and cheese sandwich and a piece of battered fruit - but badly executed. ROOM The room, again, looks like their online photos, but very average. Little to no storage space (half a dozen hangers and two small drawers) meant one of us had to live out of our suitcase for the week. The bathroom was (as an estate agent would phrase it) 'compact' with nowhere really to put any toiletries meaning we both just had to leave everything in washbags, and the shower wasn't great - the waterfall head mostly dribbled, and the other head would end up soaking most of the bathroom floor. A fridge was handy, but 8 large bottles of water were just on a shelf nearby and the fridge was off when we arrived, so anything would've been warm, and it was noisy meaning we had to switch it off each night. Just about enough power sockets to get by, but in 2025 no USB ports? Really? Enough coffee/milk to make one cuppa each, but not replenished at any point in our stay, though the paper cups were taken away so we couldn't have had a drink even if we'd wanted one. Our bed was made up on the first and last full days we were there, the rest of the time two folded sheets were put at the foot of the bed and we had to make it ourselves?! FOOD & DRINK The restaurant area felt very much like a canteen (the only thing missing to complete the effect were trays!) with very little atmosphere. All drinks (tea/coffee/'fruit' juices), including red/white/rosé wine, were from a self-service soda/vending-type machine. The food was pretty average, often looking incredibly unappetising and greasy - the omelettes in particular were swimming in oil - and on one occasion (the Chinese themed night) we elected to just have salad as we had a boat trip the following day and weren't sure it'd be safe to be onboard. My wife took to living on salad for most of the stay, and even though we were all inclusive we chose to eat out some nights. Drinks from the bar were OK (we knew they weren't branded when we booked), though the mocktails were all just different coloured soda mixed together from the same soda pump. The gyros from the pool bar was very good, and wished we'd discovered it sooner in our stay then a couple of days from the end. FACILITIES The lift goes from the lower ground floor which has a reasonably steep ramp down to it - not too bad generally, but fun and games if you're wheeling a suitcase or two - so beware if you're not too steady on your feet. The pools look lovely, very long and narrow though we didn't partake. The gym is just an outdoor concrete shelter (I think 'gym' is pushing it a little), and there are an outdoor pool table and a couple of table tennis tables and a tennis court. There's no poolside drinks service, so a schlep to the pool bar and back are in order should you be so inclined. Lots of cats live around or nearby the hotel, which didn't bother us (though when they're begging at your table it's not a great look), but if you don't like cats, be aware. The staff did their best to chase them out of the restaurant which did cause some amusement. There's no luggage room, so if you've a later flight home you'll have to leave any bags in the main reception area but out of sight of the reception desk which didn't feel great from a security perspective. On our penultimate day we asked if we could pay to keep our room as we had a very late flight and were quoted €60, though this immediately dropped to €40 when we declined, followed by a request that we wrote a Tripadvisor review there and then, with the implication being that we could use reception's PC with or without their help. At no point did reception tell us about the 'courtesy room' (our holiday rep had told us) so we could reserve a room for half an hour to change and freshen up. All in all, not somewhere we'd return to, and we're both at a loss as to how Olivia Blue Sea has so many five star reviews (though suspect we know exactly why, as some other reviews have said)."

"Let’s start with the good points, the grounds and room look lovely and are as advertised, that’s where it ends. After that, lots of small issues led to a very disappointing stay. Food – very repetitive, very little flavour and clearly cheap ingredients, even the bacon was ‘plastic’. Omelettes very oily. Salad bar was OK. Arrived on a late flight and were handed a ham sandwich and three small pieces of bruised fruit as our evening meal together with an efficient but unfriendly welcome. Gyros form the pool bar is very good. Drinks – all non-branded as we knew in advance – soft drinks all flavourless Mocktails are just different flavour sodas. Drinks in dining room were all from machines, including wine. Non-alcoholic drinks from the bar are from a soda pump including tonic water. Fruit juices clearly from concentrate due to flavour and colour. Revolting coffee from vending machine. Room – paper cups for drinks, milk and cups not replaced at any point once used. Bathroom so small there is no storage space so we had to live out of wash bags. Shower clearly ancient and no water comes out of most of the waterfall shower head. Bathroom floods when shower used due to poor design Only two small drawers to store clothes, so lived out of suitcase for the week. Towels poor quality and some had holes in. Flashing light above bed very bright, did not help sleep. Bedding changed regularly but two single sheets left folded for us to make up ourselves on some occasions. Cleaning very minimal Room doors cannot be closed without slamming which wakes other guests up, not ideal with late check ins and early starts. Mini fridge a great addition but not switched on for arrival so water left in room was warm. Occasional drain smell from bathroom. Handwash running low so it was topped up with water rather than being replaced. Bathroom extractor fan did not work. No secure luggage storage s provided. You are expected to leave your cases in the public area out of sight of the reception staff so they take no responsibility for it. We were asked to write a review of the hotel by the reception staff. We were expected to do this with them watching over our shoulder and they seemed a little surprised when we refused. This maybe explains all the 5 star reviews as it really is not a true reflection of the hotel and is incredibly underhand. It would be very uncomfortable to write a trueful review with them watching over your shoulder. Overall, it was the end of the season and it clearly showed. This is not a 4 star hotel, apart from on initial looks and facilities, it is 3 star at best."

"We enjoyed our time here among the last guests of the season. Due to the imminent close, the wind down of staff became evident but didn’t really affect service. All areas and rooms kept clean. Food range these last few days a bit limited but enough choice and good quality with chefs Spiros and Vasilis asking for our opinions and making recommendations so that was 5+ attention to detail. Kitchen team worked hard ensuring the buffet was replenished regularly and restaurant staff always friendly and helpful. Pleased to have more Greek food on offer, along with all the usual international types. No "theme night menu” which was a relief, as they are often a disappointment. Enough vegetarian options too. Outside snack bar offered gyros etc but not much else. Drinks were mediocre, but staff worked hard in the bars and service was always with a smile. Using the indoor pool, sauna and steam room is apparently free but needs to be booked as under control of the spa team which is a separate company so didn’t bother. The outside freshwater pools are interestingly designed and good for long swims but cold this time of year. Car hire rep on site which was useful and got vehicles on two different days to explore the island. Jet 2 rep had helpful information without pushing tours etc, but we ended up booking the Symi day trip with her anyway as it meant all the arrangements and connections were covered. The hotel and grounds have a few cat families, and as cute as kittens can be, not fans of them on the tables and in the restaurant. Staff do their best to keep them out and are vigilant to clean and sanitise areas affected. Hotel is quiet with entertainment only a couple of nights, but a husband and wife singing/comedy act was the best show we've enjoyed at any resort. Ideal for a quiet time away and the vibe is definitely chilled."