Inside one of best value luxury hotels on Rhodes with great meze and brill beer

RHODES has long been a favourite destination for us Scots looking for stunning scenery, glorious food and a warm Greek welcome.

The island — whose name means ‘rose’ in English — blooms all year round with class and sophistication.

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But the new 5* Elissa Lifestyle Resort has emerged as the pick of the bunch when it comes to a new level of luxury for a getaway.

The hotel occupies a stunning location on the Mediterranean coast with not one, not two but ELEVEN pools, four restaurants, two cocktail bars, a wellness spa and a private beach all for you.

I flew with Jet2 from Glasgow and had a fabulous start to my holiday.

It’s no wonder it’s often voted best leisure airline and most punctual.

The staff were friendly and entertaining, the seat comfy, meal delicious and we landed right on time. Can’t ask for much more. Flawless.

The first thing that grabbed me about Elissa was the view.

Walking out from reception, all I  could see was the ocean sprawling in front of me.

But the best was yet to come when I saw the room.

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Opening the balcony, I had a pool directly in front of my room – reserved for just me and my immediate neighbours.

The main pool, just a short walk away, had giant bean bag loungers which saw several cocktails sunk – and naps achieved.

For beach lovers, the sands are a stone’s throw from the main hotel and that’s where I hired a jetski to buzz around the coastline which gave me a chance to admire the hotel from the ocean.

That was in between trying to stay on the jetski of course!

There are more sedate pedalos if you want to take it a bit easier – rather than be a daredevil like me.

There are two bars in the resort – Istrio near the pool and Siana in the hotel.

The latter was a very popular place  to enjoy the sunset before heading to one of the resort’s eateries of which Kavos was my favourite.

It’s a seafood lover’s paradise. The meal began with a cool glass of bubbly to get the appetite sharpened up.

Then the food started coming – and didn’t stop! Obviously there was the obligatory Greek salad but that’s a dish that is far more than the sum of its parts in the country of its birth.

For a start, the tomatoes are the real deal – plump, juicy and deep red – not the supermarket chaff we are used to in Scotland. The feta cheese is sharp and tangy and the olives are huge.

Then came the seafood dishes. The  ceviche was delicious and was complimented by a generous seasoning of coriander and lime juice.

Next was the calamari and tartar sauce which was a winner – followed by the unusual but brilliant aubergine fritters and meatballs with pitta and tzatziki.

GO: RHODES

GETTING THERE: Jet2 fly to Rhodes  from Glasgow airport with prices from £100pp one-way. See Jet2.com or call 0800 408 5599.
STAYING THERE: Double Superior Deluxe  rooms at the Elissa Lifestyle Resort start from approx £175 a night, B&B. See ellaresorts.com
MORE INFO: For more on visiting Greece see visitgreece.gr

Then a plate of jumbo prawns came along – although I honestly thought they were lobster due to their size. Sea bass fillets and grilled octopus added to the decadence.

Another winner, this time for lunch, was Tsouka. Again, locally caught produce was the star of the show with the grilled octopus my dish of choice.

A completely different vibe is also available at Japanese eaterie Masari. The plentiful seafood was turned into perfect sushi with an explosive dollop of wasabi on the side to keep you on your toes.

Breakfast and dinner is offered in the buffet restaurant Fanes. Even the fussiest eater won’t be disappointed with the spread of food available.

For brekkie, there is everything from Greek yoghurt and fruit to cooked eggs and bacon – plus plenty in between.

Meanwhile for dinner, there is a full range of starters, salads, hot, cold and vegan mains.

If you have any room – and of course I always did – there are plenty of sweet treats and cheese for dessert.

While I spent most of my time outside, I also ventured into the hotel spa for two mornings of pampering.

The relax and rewind massage was so good I drifted off – the masseuse had to gently rouse me after I conked out.

After that, it was a trip to the sauna and steam room to relax further. The spa was finished off by an ‘experience shower’ which was a new one for me.

It began like a normal shower but then went into hot jets of targeted water onto my shoulders, then a mist, then finally a cold blast to close the  pores.

The spa also had a ‘cold room’ but I have enough freezing days in Scotland so I left that out. It really was a hard day that day!

Elissa is situated in the quaint village of Kalithea, a few miles south of Rhodes old town – the largest on the island.

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The medieval masterpiece was the first to be declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1988 – and it’s not hard to see why.

It was occupied by the knights of St John of Jerusalem for 200 years during which time they turned the town into a fortress.

There are even a few Knights still dotted about the town who are very keen to have their picture taken!

The whole settlement is surrounded by a two mile wall and it remained impenetrable until 1523 when  the Ottoman Empire successfully invaded after a six month siege.

The most impressive part of the town is the huge castle in the middle, built for the Knights centuries ago.

The Gothic masterpiece would be an impressive work of art these days – you have to wonder how it was built so long ago.

The various rulers of the island have used the palace as the focal point of the town.

The Ottomans used it as a command centre, while the Italians used it as a home for their King Emmanual III. In later years, fascist dictator Benito Mussolini used it as a holiday home during the Nazi occupation.

Two years after the Second World war ended, Rhodes and the nearby islands were handed back to Greece and the palace was turned into a museum.

The townsfolk also seem to have a love of parrots as I found out while having lunch.

One green and yellow bird became my pal for a few minutes,  while a cockatoo decided to jump on my other shoulder for a snap. The kids will love that bit!

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Later in the day, we journeyed to the hilltops above the town to enjoy the view.

The sky was red as the sun set behind the Turkish mainland just 40 minutes boat ride away.

Back at my luxury abode at Elissa I enjoyed another couple of cocktails at the bustling Siana bar before reluctantly returning home.

They say every rose has it’s thorn but I couldn’t find it.

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