From ancient cities to dreamy coastlines and luxurious resorts to foods that satisfy your every craving, the Greek island of Rhodes truly has it all. History buffs and culture vultures will flock to the Medieval UNESCO Old Town of the city of Rhodes in the north and to Lindos’s awe-inspiring acropolis; partygoers will head to the beachside resort of Faliraki; and oenophiles will be in paradise with the wineries dotted across the 541sqmi island, while revelling in the fact that winemaking here dates to antiquity.
With such an impressive range of luxe hotels and resorts dotting the coastline here, how does one narrow down the list when choosing the perfect accommodation for their stay? Whether you’re travelling with family, friends, as a couple or by yourself, your first stop should be Ella Resorts and their two neighbouring properties – Elissa Lifestyle Resort and Helea Family Beach Resort, which sit on Rhodes’s northeast coast.
The stylish and modern Elissa Lifestyle Resort has a focus on food and wellness, leaving neighbouring sister hotel Helea to the families, and this adult-focused retreat will leave you feeling full. Of good food, good times, and of a strong desire to return, and soon.
Hotel
Boasting 15 freshwater pools, a sprawling spa (just a short buggy ride to Helea), retail shops, five restaurants and four bars, it’s safe to say that Elissa Lifestyle Resort has plenty to keep you interested, well-nourished and well looked after during your stay.
The gated resort, which is in the midst of its first full season, rests on the blissful coastline and offers stunning seaside views as well as the city of Rhodes in the distance – best enjoyed as you lounge aside your accommodation’s secluded allocated pool.
The hotel’s modern, calming décor is inspired by nature, so expect creams, browns, soft edges and textures, and plants galore, which result in a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere. Staff members go out of their way to make you feel welcome, offering assistance with anything you might require, from restaurant bookings to spa treatment bookings, transferring you between the neighbouring hotels for the above via golf buggy and transfers to Rhodes’s hot spots.
Room
An impressive 332 rooms and suites are dotted across the resort, but what’s more impressive is that, thanks to the sprawling layout of the accommodations and separate pools, you feel more like you’re in a boutique hotel than a resort of this size.
Elegant natural tones and eye catching design touches make the rooms and suites calming and comfortable, but the wow factor element here has to be the views and access to the pools. I was staying in a pool suite, which meant that I could not only reach the pool in just a few short steps from my terrace, but I was also lucky enough to have uninterrupted views of the coast, especially distracting when trying to catch up on an hour of work!
Rooms are described as ‘eco-chic’ and the warm woods and soothing stone grey floors are a testament to this. An archway with a wood slatted partition separates the bedroom, bathroom and dressing area from the lounge and patio beyond, a design touch I loved. A king-sized bed provided oh-so cosy nights sleeping and luxury essentials like the bathrobe, Hermes toiletries, air con, minibar, two TVs, and espresso machine were welcome additions for an all-round deluxe stay.
Food
Some of my favourite moments at Elissa were spent across the selection of delightful restaurant spaces, sampling the array of delectable, globally-inspired cuisine. Whether it was a private breakfast, grilled goods at Fourni, lunch at seafood restaurant Kavos, or a dinner at Asian restaurant and sushi bar Massari, I was in food heaven. And these are just the eateries you can dine in at Elissa, for if you head over to Helea you can sample Greek cuisine at Tsouka, Italian at Matsi, Mediterranean at Lopia, or Latin American dishes at Laerma.
It’s too hard to pick a favourite, so I won’t, all I know is that the range of foods I tried throughout my stay were exquisite. Succulent seafood – huge prawns, crispy calamari, tuna tartare – and juicy Greek salads and crispy breadcrumbed vegetables at Kavos, with seaside views and sumptuous wines to match. Exquisite sushi and sashimi, melt-in-the-mouth beef, salmon and steak tartare-topped California rolls with super-crisp panko coated prawns at Massari.
Butter-soft steak with chargrilled vegetables, juicy prawns, full-of-flavour salads, expertly crafted mezze at Fourni. Endless options for breakfast and dinner at the buffet in Fanes (though busier service times were not handled very efficiently).
And the desserts. From deconstructed banoffee pie to molten chocolate puddings, ice cream to Basque cheesecake and so many more delectable desserts, it’s safe to say that I was fully satiated after every meal at Elissa.
Spa and wellness
As if it isn’t relaxing enough lounging by the pool, amidst the super stylish surroundings under the Rhodian sun, you can induce further indulgence and relaxation by visiting Ella Wellness and Spa, which resides at the Helea resort.
A short buggy ride next door and I was at the serene spa ready for my head, neck and back massage aptly entitled ‘the crown’. Promising to ease the mind and invigorate the senses, while specifically addressing the tension in the head, neck and back, I thought this would be perfect for a desk dweller like me. Including a scalp massage with warm oil to relieve any tight muscles in the temple and neck too, I was eager to say the least.
After a brief filling out of the necessary paperwork I was being led by Cristina to my treatment room, who proceeded to massage my back, neck, arms, hands and head with the perfect firmness, leaving me so relaxed and, more importantly, free of tension. There’s little more relaxing to me than a scalp massage taking any residual tension away at the end and, coupled with the rainforest sounds filtering through the speakers and soothing environment within the treatment room, I was left a calmer and more chilled individual.
The soothing spa also holds an indoor pool, steam room, ice room, experience shower and sauna and plenty of other delightfully relaxing treatments to choose from including a foot massage, full body and deep tissue massage. And if you like to stay active while holidaying you can head to the fitness centre, tennis or padel courts, water sports centre, or partake in a fitness class, for an extra fee. Choose from the likes of gentle yoga, cross training, Pilates and Aqua Aerobics.
To do
Elissa boasts a truly gorgeous location on the coast with a little beach you can walk down to to sunbathe and sips drinks, hire a jet ski, or enjoy a boat trip around the beautiful shores. However, it has to be said that with a history so rich and varied, it would be remiss of any visitor to this island to not head out and explore the many treasures that Rhodes offers.
Culture vultures like me will be attracted to nearby Rhodes city and its old town, just 7km away, where you can walk through the ancient gates and around the cobbled streets to discover gems like the Palace of the Grand Masters, which is now a museum; the medieval Street of the Knights; and the Archaeological Museum, which showcases artefacts, statues and mosaics from the past few thousand years. A guided walking tour from a local comes highly recommended, so that you can learn all about the highlights of the city and island including its Greek, Ottoman and Italian past.
I couldn’t resist the offer of a quick afternoon trip to Lindos, arranged by the hotel, and was keen to see if I could make it to the famed clifftop acropolis in the brief time I had. The small town is 44km from the resort and is known for its rooftop restaurants, alleyway-like streets (no cars here) and white buildings, but it’s the Acropolis of Lindos, one of Greece’s most notable archaeological sites, that, quite literally, stands out.
It’s a fairly steep hike up with plenty of steps, but it’s totally worth it for the utterly stunning panoramic views and to see such incredible history up close, including the Temple of Athena Lindia and the 14th-century Castle of the Knights of St. John.
In a nutshell
Expect indulgence galore at Elissa Lifestyle Resort, from the glorious food and great wines to the sumptuous spa, poolside lounging and activities galore. Add in a helping of heart-warming sunset views and you’ll be itching to return to repeat it all over again, like me.
Factbox
Address: Kallithea, Rhodes, Greece 85100
Tel: +30 22410 54500
Email: info@ellaresorts.com
Website: ellaresorts.com
See snippets of my travels on Instagram @tashheard_food_travel
Hotel imagery provided by Ella Resorts.
