"Reviews: many on here are 5* for the spa treatments. I’d be interested how this hotel scored if these reviews were not taken into account. This is not a 5* hotel, there is too many improvements needed and too much lacking. There are too many inconsistencies too, not all mini bars filled, not all bathrooms having toiletries provided. I also had to report poo smeared up the wall in one cubical. Standards seem to be slipping from older reviews which is a shame as I do think this hotel has so much potential. We were away as many schools returned (those that do not have 2 weeks at whit), the hotel never seemed at capacity, yet the main dining and entertainment were too busy. I would worry about returning in the main summer holidays.
Location: second time in Kolimbia, it’s quiet and sadly there’s no sandy beach. However there are shops to walk to and if hiring a car (like we did) nowhere is too far to travel to. Lovely views all around the hotel and the weather in early June was perfect with a little one. We visited Lindos and Faliraki this time (great mini golf at Faliraki beach).
Rooms: we paid extra for a swim up room in the deluxe area. We arrived in the early hours and made our way to our room to find a fully stocked mini bar and a few boxed sandwiches. We saw a few ants in the bathroom but didn’t think too much of it. When we woke a few hours later it was horrendous, we couldn’t use the bathroom for ants. We immediately told the staff at reception and made our way to breakfast and for a walk around the holiday village. Giving ample time for the bathroom to be cleaned. We were disappointed to find that it hadn’t been, so called down to reception again. We noticed later that afternoon the bathroom had been ‘cleaned!’ We returned home after tea and the evening entertainment to find hundreds all over the bathroom again.
After showing photos to staff the next day an army of staff were in the room, the are was sprayed and we were told it was fine. As you can imagine, they returned. At this point management were involved and we had another big clean, the next evening we were moved. Whilst we were told this was an ‘upgrade’ we didn’t feel it was.
The room wasn’t the same quality. The mini fridge wasn’t filled. There were no towels. We were now in a family room, we hadn’t booked this due to sleeping arrangements for our toddler. In the double room he slept sideways in the sofa chair, two single beds with a flimsy bed guard were not an option that we could use so he ended up in our bed for the rest of the week. We had several ants in this room, but nowhere near as many as the first room. The rooms in the first few blocks do not get the sun. If you are in the furthest away blocks it’s a bit of a pain getting to the pool in the morning, over bridges or around the pool and through a gate. Not ‘easy’ to pop back with a little one if needed, personally it’s definitely worth paying for the swim up room.
Pools: we only used the pool on the deluxe side. It was perfect with a beach like sloping entrance that little ones can sit and paddle in, it got slightly deeper and then shallower again towards each swim up room. The only downside was the temperature, being there early in June meant the pools were freezing! We could never stay in too long with the little ones and always made sure we entered gradually not to shock him! Cups weren’t really cleaned up around the pool and young children were eating ice creams in the pool which wasn’t really great when they started melting. The waterpark was great, perfect for our little one. Was shocked to see how many parents let their little ones run free on the pirate ship, myself and my partner slipped a few times at the top and we both had to check on/help a few other children up there without a grown up. There was a life guard on the side with smaller sides but not on the pirate ship, so kids were coming down when others were on it. I can only imagine in the summer holidays when this is busier this is much more dangerous. The lesson pool was open for use when lessons weren’t on, it was quieter and we often went to this pool after the water park in the morning, so we were the activity side to grab lunch then back over to the deluxe area for the afternoon.
Cleaning: not to a high standard. Bed sheets and mattress dirty. Cups not taken from your room or the tables on your terrace. Several times we needed to ask for clean cups and cutlery or picked up dirty plates in the buffet. This was an area that we were really disappointed in. The flowers and grounds were so well kept, it’s such a shame the cleaning wasn’t to the same standards. Especially when there are so many ants around due to the location. At night we’d return to our room to bags of bed sheets/towels outside and blocking the path, a wheel chair user would have had difficulty to get to the room on several occasions.
Food: loved the restaurant on the deluxe side. Breakfast was great, you were taken to a seat, omelette and hot drink orders taken and you helped yourself to a buffet selection. There may not have been as much continental here due to space but the calmness, cleanliness and friendliness of staff in this restaurant definitely made up for it compared to our experience in the main buffet in the activity side. We ate at the Italian and American restaurants. Italian was better out of the two, the burgers were poor in the American. Children’s meals served first which seemed lovely until you realised how long the wait was for the adult meals to be served! We noticed a large family before us have all their children finish before the parents had even been served.
The noodle and giros snack bars were great, they can both get very busy! This is probably because of the short time the buffet is open for lunch, 1 1/2 hours! This isn’t ideal.
Entertainment: wow, the HV team work soooo hard. Great singing and dancing and lots of effort, every night. We were really disappointed with the tots disco and PTY- playing games on the large screen and not your traditional holiday dances. It was too old for our young one, but I think it was also too young for anyone over 9. The visiting entertainment were all fantastic, a lot of singing though, some variety would be better. We enjoyed the African acrobats, the Bruno Mars tribute act and the older male singers. Great voices! The entertainment is very late! Tots disco 7.30-7.45, PTY, 7.45-8.00 then another session, then something else, visiting acts usually arriving around 9.45/10. Then dancing 10.45-11pm. I can’t imagine you’d get much peace until 11.30pm around the activity side! The venue is very small, whilst it was much emptier later on, getting a seat for the beginning is near on impossible.
The park: in my opinion this can be dangerous, saw a few children fall down the slide. Our son included when the sole of his shoe stuck to the slide and he fell off the side. The bars at the top of the frame were attached by only 2 fittings top/bottom and wobbly. Children were climbing all over the park, unattended, chairs were all over, upside down and cups discarded. (Chairs and cups sat more about the guests than the hotel team, however having someone go around at night and refresh this for the next day is the least I’d expect from a 5* hotel)
Kids clubs: we went to the under 3 club a few times, this was to avoid the mid day sun and break the day up after lunch before swimming again. The room and resources were lovely. The staff seemed new and were pleasant enough however I wouldn’t have left my child alone there as he wasn’t too keen on the rough and tumble play they were trying to engage in with him, even when he was saying no. The kids club is poorly signed, we walked round twice before finding a door that someone would open, knocking on windows etc. we weren’t the only ones to say this. It just wasn’t clear where the different entrances were.
Activities: there was something going on all the time. We’d have liked the archery to have been open for the adults more, maybe the ping pong table for adults too. As a holiday village with everything on offer for the kids, it’s be nice for the adults to have something to do whilst the older kids are in club.
Tip: hire a car from Rodos in the activity building entrance, it’s cheaper than online and comes with a car seat with no charge and insurance was a better option too. The lady at the desk was very helpful too."
