Kalithea Mare Palace

This is a long review, but the details are important, so please read to the end. Kalithea Mare Palace is an enormous resort spread down a hillside roughly the size of a golf course. What may not be immediately obvious when booking is that the resort is actually made up of several hotel sections within the same grounds, including Kalithea Mare and Kalithea Horizon Royal. Each section has its own pools, bars, and restaurants, and some offer a higher standard of accommodation and facilities. Because of the size and layout of the property, a map is extremely useful. Unfortunately, reception staff seemed reluctant to provide one, which made navigating the resort more difficult than it needed to be. The resort also operates different board packages. Guests wearing blue or yellow wristbands have access to different levels of service and amenities. An upgraded all-inclusive package is available for approximately €40 per person, per day. There are four separate pool complexes throughout the resort, some of which appeared to be more exclusive than others. When booking, we specifically chose a half-board room with a sea view and requested accommodation close to the beach. However, we were allocated a room in the Kalithea Mare section at the very top of the hill, near the reception area and adjacent to the main road. The "sea view" was disappointing, as it was largely blocked by a row of trees, with only small glimpses of the sea visible through the foliage. In addition, the location was far from what we had expected. The beach was approximately 1 km away, requiring a long walk downhill (and later uphill) or the use of the resort's golf cart service. While the resort itself is impressive in scale and offers a wide range of facilities, prospective guests should be aware that the location and quality of rooms can vary significantly across the different sections of the complex. Now here is the kicker. Hidden just beyond the hill and behind a row of trees is a large sewage treatment plant (take a look on Google Maps). Our room was closest to the road used daily, except on Sundays, by large tankers transporting effluent to the facility. Whenever the wind shifted to a north-easterly direction, the stench of rotten eggs became impossible to avoid. The smell permeated the entire area, both outdoors and inside the room. It was particularly strong at the upper part of the resort, especially around reception and the Delfina Bar. Several guests commented that the problem had become worse over the years. The odour is likely associated with gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which may be especially problematic for guests who are sensitive or allergic to these compounds. f it weren’t for the unpleasant odour, this would be an excellent resort for families. The grounds are extensive and beautifully maintained, with playgrounds, water parks, and scenic walking trails throughout the gardens. The room itself was very basic and certainly not what would be expected from a 4 star resort. It contained three single beds, a small TV with only two English-language channels, a small fridge, some kitsch artwork on the walls, and a tiny safe that was only large enough to hold a tablet. Surprisingly, there was a €20 charge for the safe key. There were only two power outlets in the entire room for charging devices. The bathroom featured a shower over the bathtub. Soap and shampoo were provided in a combined dispenser, and there were no additional toiletries. The bath plug was broken during our stay. Bath towels and pool towels were supplied. The balcony had a table, two chairs, and a clothes drying rack. However, due to the noise from the passing effluent trucks and the awful odor, it was effectively unusable. On a positive note, housekeeping was excellent, and the room was cleaned thoroughly every day. Breakfast and dinner were served buffet-style in the Thalassa Restaurant. The selection of hot dishes and salads was extensive and varied. However, after several days it became apparent that many of the cold starters and desserts were repeated regularly. We chose not to sample the uncooked items. The restaurant could become very busy and crowded, particularly during peak periods. The waiting staff often seemed more interested in chatting amongst themselves than assisting guests. Tables by the windows also appeared to be informally reserved for certain guests, usually those with wine buckets already set out. Reception at Mare Palace was extremely busy and appeared to be significantly understaffed. The staff were friendly, helpful, and clearly doing their best, but the queues were often so long that it could take up to an hour to receive assistance. Information available at the front desk was surprisingly limited. Neither resort maps nor maps of Rhodes were available, and there was very little information provided in the room apart from details of the restaurant dress code. By contrast, the Tourist Information Office in Rhodes was extremely helpful and supplied large, detailed maps of both the town and the island. The local bus to Rhodes Old Town cost €2.50, although services were sometimes so crowded that buses passed by without stopping to pick up additional passengers. Rhodes Town and its Old Town are delightful destinations and were among the highlights of our stay. The historic centre and harbor are full of character, with beautiful architecture and plenty to explore. It is well worth visiting several times.

One of the best hotels I've stayed at. I will have marvellous memories from those seven days. The complex is enormous and every part of it is beautiful. I especially would like to recognise two places: - The Roc Beach Bar - First of all, fantastic people/staff whom I'll miss a lot. Moreover, food, orange juice + greek coffee 😎 - Thalassa Restaurant - Super tasty, varied food and also great staff (special thanks to Alexandra 💪👌). Τα λέμε! Marek

I highly recommend staying at this hotel. Everything is of a very high standard, and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The hotel and rooms are well maintained, spotless, and cleaned daily 👌The bars and restaurants are excellently managed, especially the Thalassa restaurant. The food is delicious and varied, and the service is top-notch 🙂 A special mention goes to the lovely Evelina, who is clearly the heart of this place ❤️ She is kind and smiling every day, and at the same time 100% dedicated to her work ❤️ I wholeheartedly recommend it !

The best hotel I've been to in a long time. It was our first trip to Rhodes. This hotel certainly won't be our last visit. Everything was great, the food, drinks, pools, hygiene, the rooms. We had a amazing experience here. The staff were incredibly hard working and very helpful. Shout out to Alexandra in the restaurant who served us most days she was great. Always working hard definitely deserves a holiday. George was awsome to lovely man.

A nice experience,everthing was extraordinary Thank you Evelina,Nicitas,Stavros,Flora you help us feel very good. See you next year!!😘