Words by Georgina Rodgers
Families are somewhat spoilt rotten when it comes to Greek holidays and the myriad of five-star options available, with kids’ clubs and waterparks aplenty. A new offering from Ella Resorts is Helea Family Beach Resort on the island’s northeast coast, which aims to elevate the traditional all-inclusive offering with boutique hotel looks – think raffia shades and jute rugs in calming, neutral tones combined with easy-going and accessible luxury.
Rhodes is one of the best-loved and most frequently visited Greek islands, and with good reason; it is one of the easiest places to travel to with direct flights from easyJet, TUI, British Airways, and Jet2, and it also boasts 300 days of sunshine a year.
Our family of four – my husband, myself and two daughters – have travelled extensively in Greece and were keen to see what Rhodes and Helea Beach Resort offered. Two days after the end of a hectic end of term with one daughter finishing primary school, we hopped on a flight, in dire need of time relaxing in the sun to recharge our batteries.
Hotel
Helea Beach Resort opened its first fully operational season in April 2023 and is set across a sprawling 45,000-square-metre estate. The hotel is situated on Kallithea Beach and is the sister hotel to the adult-only Elissa Lifestyle Resort, located next door.
A short 20km taxi ride from the airport, 6km away from the medieval city of Rhodes, and just 3km from the seaside spa of Kallithea Springs, the hotel also makes the perfect spot to explore the island. Car rental is easy, and there are many idyllic beaches and fascinating historic sites on the doorstep.
Rooms and suites
There are 503 rooms, ranging from standard doubles to Helea Suites. We stayed in a premium suite, which was bright and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors. The king-size bed was spacious and comfortable – thanks to a Simmons orthopaedic mattress – and the bathrooms were immaculate. The girls were on sofa beds in an adjacent room, separated by sliding doors.
The colour scheme and style of the room matched the communal areas of the hotel, all neutral earthy tones and understated luxury. Our bathroom had a double walk-in rainfall shower and basin, which was welcomed after a day of hopping in and out of the sea and pool.
There were all the amenities you would expect in the room, including a minibar with water and soft drinks, a safe, HDMI TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, bathrobes and slippers and a complimentary jute beach bag, which is always a welcome touch. All rooms have a balcony or veranda, and our sea view balcony had stunning views. Importantly for families, the rooms were quiet, and there is evening entertainment on at the resort, but we were never disturbed.
There is also the option of swim-up rooms, with access to a private pool and private sun loungers on the terraced area. As we watched families bob around on their inflatables long after dinner when the evening was still hot, we planned to book a swim-up for our next holiday!
Food and drink
The hotel has a main restaurant, Lopia, that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food here was always freshly-cooked and excellent, featuring many styles of food and cuisine. One of my daughters has allergies, and the patisserie staff patiently came out every night to discuss which ingredients were in which cake, always with a smile.
Children and vegans had their own mini food halls to select their meals. However, during breakfast and lunch, it was often hectic and felt chaotic, and despite their best efforts, the staff could not cope with the volume of guests, and there was plenty of broken crockery as they valiantly attempted to keep up. The evening meals were more relaxed and enjoyable.
There was a Street Food Hub, serving snacks inspired by street food trucks, at an additional cost, which was also a convenient spot for lunch for those who didn’t want to move too far from their sun loungers. Drinks and snacks were available at the beach club, Ammuda. My kids devoured daily afternoon ice creams from here and were always met with a welcoming face at the bar. The poolside bar Souma served drinks all day, but was often busy with long – and very hot – queues.
There were also three a la carte restaurants, which were outstanding. Tsouka opened for lunch, serving Greek meze, and we visited the Italian and Latin American restaurants, Matsi and Laerna on a few evenings. My kids devoured the chicken bao buns and tortilla rolls at Laerna, and the pasta dishes and delectable desserts at Matsi were also a firm favourite with all the family. At the a la carte restaurants, the food was exquisite, and the service was impeccable. There is no extra charge for eating here unless you order premium spirits, but during our visit, the restaurants were fully booked, and pre-booking is not allowed, so early reservation is key.
The pools
There is one vast main freshwater pool and a handful of other pools dotted around the site, including a dedicated toddler pool for little ones. There were plenty of beach towels available, but there was always a race to get a sunbed around the pool every morning (there tended to always be space near the sea). We witnessed a handful of arguments between guests when items had been removed by staff in an attempt to stop people from getting up early to reserve space and not returning for a few hours.
One of the main highlights for kids – and big kids – is the Ella Splash Land, across the road from the front of the hotel. It features many waterslides, aqua towers, and activity stations, and my older daughter spent a few afternoons having a fantastic time here. The lifeguards are a visible presence near all water areas, allowing parents to relax. There is also a playground adjacent to the waterslides, but the weather was very hot when we were there – tipping the thermometer to 39 degrees on some days – so it was simply too hot to use, but a welcome addition to the hotel in cooler months.
Entertainment
Ella Land Club is a kid’s club for children aged four to 12. They have a private room, outdoor area, and action-packed programme featuring activities, including crafts, pool play, and outdoor games. On the days we visited, themes included Disney, animals, or ocean day. Our kids stayed with us throughout, and the club was very quiet when I looked, though there were plenty of staff on-hand to welcome young guests.
Our kids also enjoyed the games room, which features arcade games and pool tables, available at a small extra charge. There are also some escape rooms for guests to attempt.
Plenty of sports are available, including a state-of-the-art gym with plenty of cardio equipment, such as running machines, elliptical trainers and stationary bicycles and weights. A fitness programme, with yoga, Pilates and other classes, is available at an extra charge, and for exercise lovers, there is also personal training within the gym, outdoors, or even at the beach. Down at the beachfront, a range of motorised and non-motorised water sports were also available.
The in-pool aqua gym and dance, which took place twice a day, was a big hit with my youngest daughter and is run by a team of friendly and popular entertainment staff. Each evening, a kids’ disco (a massive hit for all under eights) is followed each evening by entertainment, including singing, magic and circus acts.
Spa
The spa was another high point of Helea, home to a beautiful and peaceful indoor pool. I had an exceptional deep tissue massage, where my therapist expertly worked through the knots in my tight back and shoulders. I went in feeling incredibly stiff and afterwards felt 300 per cent better.
Here, they offer a comprehensive range of treatments, including facials, massages, body scrubs, waxing, manicures and pedicures, and hairdressing. The spa uses natural and sustainable products from skincare experts Biologique Recherche and Ariadne Athens. Biologique Recherche’s products contain a higher concentration of marine, botanical and biological extracts for results-driven performance. Ariadne Athens is a Greek-born concept of luxury skincare and spa products designed to offer incredible results.
In a nutshell
This resort has many elements that make it stand out in a competitive market; the a la carte restaurants, spa, and interiors are top-notch. However, it still has to do a lot of work to iron out the teething issues relating to staffing, guest numbers and restaurant bookings. I have high hopes for its summer 2024 season.
Factbox
Nightly rates at Helea Resort start from €251 (approx. £223) for a family of four, all-inclusive in a family junior suite.
Address: Leof Kallithea 215, 85100 Rhodes, Greece
Phone: +30 22410 54400
Website: ellaresorts.com
All imagery credit: Helea Family Beach Resort
