Lindos Grand: New Adults-Only Resort And Spa Brings Modern Glamor To Rhodes’ Ancient Attractions

With its guaranteed great weather, obscenely blue Mediterranean waters, delicious food, rich culture, and warm, welcoming people, the Greek Dodecanese islands have long been a staple destination for sun-deprived vacationers from Europe and beyond. Of these, the largest and perhaps most historic (home as it was to the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is Rhodes. 

A glistening jewel of fantastic beaches and ancient ruins, the island’s latest attraction is an altogether more modern affair – a sprawling five star, adult only resort set in the tranquil cove of Vlycha, a stone’s throw from the gorgeous village of Lindos and its formidable clifftop Acropolis. 

Officially opened in July 2021 after a delay courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lindos Grand Resort & Spa brings a welcome touch of luxury and indulgence to complement its traditional setting. Happily, these nods to modernity are subtly introduced and entirely sympathetic to their surroundings. 

Despite its sizeable footprint, the Lindos Grand’s simple white-washed, low-level architecture plays to Greece’s traditions and reflects the look and feel of the buildings in nearby Lindos. Structures seemingly tumble down the hillside towards the sea, scattered carefully in close-knit clusters around the star of the show – a vast open air infinity pool, one of the largest in Rhodes, that beckons guests in with lingering views over the beach at Vlycha and Aegean Sea beyond stretching far to the horizon. 

Rooms and suites follow a similar pared down but luxurious theme, decked out in ultra-comfy beds, soft linens and modern bathrooms all finished in a palette of grey stone and white washes set against bespoke wooden furniture. Standard amenities are of course also on offer – coffee machines, 43-inch TVs and great WiFi throughout. 

But for the majority of the Lindos Grand’s 189 rooms, it’s the private pools that deliver the all-important wow factor and the resort’s USP. Some would call them a plunge pool but that would be a disservice to their design and size, as they cleverly wrap around each room’s living space in an ‘L’ shape accessed via huge double sliding doors that create a wonderful open plan feel, as if the entire room is hovering over the pool. It’s quite the effect. 

Once you’ve torn yourself away from your room, there’s plenty to keep you busy – even if several of the hotel’s amenities aren’t set to open until 2022. On the public Vlycha beach there’s a dedicated section of hotel-owned loungers so you’re as good as guaranteed a comfy sunbathing spot steps from the sea with food and drink services to boot (important as space around the pool is limited and fiercely fought over with many guests rising at the crack of dawn to nab a prime spot). 

The on-site Evridiki spa is capacious and well-fitted with massage rooms, indoor pool, enormous Jacuzzi and vegan-friendly products throughout. Despite this vegan approach, interestingly the spa also offers Garra rufa fish pedicures – a practice that grew in popularity for tourists in the Middle East and Asia at the turn of the millennium but that has come under recent scrutiny (and indeed is banned in many countries) for its potential health and ethical concerns, as many believe the fish will only eat the dead skin if they’re starved of other food. Dip a toe or ten in at your own discretion then.

Speaking of fish, the highlight for many guests has to be the various eateries serving up a truly diverse range of mouth-wateringly delicious food. Executive chef Stavros Manousakis (and his excellent entourage of sous chefs and assistants) is a culinary tour de force seemingly (thankfully!) given free reign to create the kind of food that beckons you back every day until your stomach, wallet or both can take no more. 

Of the three excellent à la carte restaurants currently open (more are coming next year) – the Mediterranean Acqua e Sale, the Greek fine-dining Thalatta, and the Japanese Yume Mou, it’s the latter’s omakase sushi experience that wins the most plaudits. And rightly so thanks to its extraordinary ocean-backdrop setting and the sheer theatre of watching Stavros create masterpieces in front of your eyes, from the deeply characterful Dashi to the charcoal-singed red snapper and every one of the many courses in between – each morsel a testament to his versatility and dedication to taste.

To make the most of the services on offer, technology plays a significant part in every guest’s experience. The cleverly designed Lindos Exclusivi app gives you control over every aspect of your stay and offers a simple, Covid-safe experience for everything from booking a table for dinner to arranging a local tour – it even delivers the weather forecast. Undoubtedly it’s the future of hotel interactions and will soon become the norm for hotels around the world. 

If you do decide to venture beyond the Lindos Grand, Rhodes is a playground begging to be explored. Make sure to take a stroll amid the cobbled streets of Lindos and if you’re feeling fit, embark on the climb to the extraordinary Acropolis that dates back to 300BC. And for an even more impressive dive into the region’s rich history and a stroll in the footsteps of the Knights Templar, a walking tour of the capital’s Medieval Old Town (the largest and most in tact anywhere in Europe) is an absolute must. As you might expect, the excellent team at Lindos Grand can organize this and much more for you.

Prices start from £200 (around $270) a night for a Deluxe Double Garden Room on a B&B basis. Find out more at Lindos Grand Resort & Spa.