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***The sea view from the Lindos Acropolis*** *(Marco Ng)*

The Itinerary

Trip Dates: 28 May 2022 - 4 June 2022 (7 nights)
Flights: Club Europe, British Airways - 36,000 avios + £100 taxes + American Express Companion Voucher
Car Hire: Mercedes E Class, Avis - £319
Airbnb: Kiotari Akti Villas - £1,162 (£166/night)

How to get there (and back)

I’ve long been an advocate of collecting frequent flyer miles and using credit cards to accelerate earnings as well as boosting rewards. The British Airways Premium Plus American Express Card (www.americanexpress.com) is a great example of how redeeming miles, especially during peak season, can be great value for money – if you book ahead and can guarantee availability.

Rhodes is one of those examples where, in my opinion, redeeming miles for flights could save you a decent amount of cash. Whilst our dates weren’t peak on the British Airways (www.ba.com) redemption calendar, they were during the UK school holidays, pushing flight prices exceptionally high.

Our outbound flight was scheduled to depart Heathrow at 11:15 in the morning and got us into Rhodes for 17:20. Our return flight was scheduled to depart Rhodes at 15:15 and got us back to London for 17:35. I thought both flights were reasonably timed and that getting into Rhodes at 17:20 allowed us to settle into the Airbnb and have dinner at a nearby restaurant.

For these flights, I opted to use British Airways Avios and an American Express Companion Voucher as cash prices were being quoted for almost £600 return, per person, for Club Europe, British Airways’ business class product. The flights cost 35,000 avios + £100 in taxes - which felt like an amazing deal, especially when compared to the cost of paying for flights in cash.

How to get around

Whilst Rhodes is one of the larger Greek islands, it doesn’t have a rail network. Instead, the country has a well-maintained road network that connects all the major towns. Buses are the cheapest way to get around with the main bus station located in Rhodes Town, which then feeds routes to major destinations across the island.

As always, I value flexibility and there are also quite a few secluded locations that are only accessible by car so, for us, car hire was the best option. Booking ahead is the key here with prices soaring exponentially as you get closer to your travel date. Alternatively, motor scooter is a renowned way for getting around Rhodes. Driving in Rhodes is like the rest of Europe with left-hand side drive vehicles on the right-hand side of the road.

Car hire with Avis (www.avis.co.uk) was a tad expensive with our Mercedes E-Class setting us back £319 for 7 days hire. The usual collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance was offered at the counter, but I declined as usual as I have alternative pre-arranged cover which a lot cheaper. If you ever hire cars abroad, check if you’re covered by your credit card like I am through the American Express Platinum Card and Curve Metal Card or consider purchasing a separate policy via a specialist insurance broker like Questor Insurance (www.questor-insurance.co.uk). If you have cover on your credit card, make sure you pay for the car hire with that card to activate the cover as this is usually part of the terms and conditions.

***Our Mercedes E-Class outside our Airbnb at the Kiotari Anti Beachfront Villas*** *(Marco Ng)*

Where to stay

As this was a family holiday with my dad and two brothers, we opted for an alternative accommodation option, which was to book a villa through Airbnb (www.airbnb.co.uk). We ended up choosing the Kiotari Akti Beachfront Villas in Gennadi, which is where we stayed for the duration of our 7-night trip. Located on the south-eastern coast of Rhodes, the villa is a little over an hour away from Rhodes International Airport.

There are three newly built, individual, two-storey villas in this development with gated access and walking a minute’s walk to Gennadi beach. Each villa has Wi-Fi (priorities!), two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a well-appointed kitchen, ample parking, balcony, a private pool and terrace, barbecue facilities and sea-views. The villa we stayed in was designed with comfort and luxury in mind with the interiors modern and welcoming.

The villa set us back £1,162 for the stay or £166 per night, which wasn’t expensive for what we were getting in return. We made full use of our villa by spending down-time when not exploring Rhodes in the pool. We also made use of the kitchen and barbecue facilities by having taking some of our meals back at the villa.

What was nice was that we were in contact with the owner of our property during our stay through WhatsApp and they even dropped by the villa to bring us local home-made treats as a welcome gift.

Places to eat and drink

Stefano Fish Tavern
Greek, Mediterranean | Address: Kiotari Beach, Kiotari | Pricing: ££-£££

With breath-taking views across Kiotari Beach, Stefano Fish Tavern offers a variety of fresh seafood in a traditional Greek setting. Ample outdoor seating and chilled wines are great for those warm summer evenings.

Vayia Mediterranean Cuisine
Greek, Mediterranean | Address: Kiotari | Pricing: ££-£££

Run by twin brothers who are the most gracious of hosts, Vaiya Mediterranean Cuisine was our favourite restaurant on this trip. Delicious Greek food, coupled with amazing service made us come back after a first visit with us celebrating the end of our holiday there. Whilst not on the beach front in Kiotari, the restaurant is only a short walk away.

Mama Sofia Restaurant
Greek, Mediterranean | Address: 28 Orfeos Old Town, Rhodes Town | Pricing: ££

Located in the heart of Rhodes Town, Mama Sofia Restaurant (www.mamasofia.gr) is nestled amongst a host of other restaurants and bars. Offering up authentic Greek food that includes huge portions of souvlaki and gyros, you’ll be hard pushed to find anything better in the vicinity.

Petalas Restaurant Kiotari
Greek, Mediterranean | Address: Kiotari Beach, Kiotari | ££-£££

The closest you’ll get to dining on Kiotari Beach is at Petalas Restaurant Kiotari. Flavourful salads coupled with fresh seafood, this is a great place to enjoy dinner whilst watching the sunset change the colour of the sky. If you’re visiting, try the octopus – it’ll be the most tender you’ll have ever had!

Places to go and things to do

Lindos

A mere 20-minutes from where we were staying in Kiotari lies Lindos, a picturesque fishing village sat on a hilltop and surrounded by a charming bay and immaculate beach. Parking is located on the outskirts of the village with most of the village’s shops and attractions set on pedestrianised streets. Be warned though – it can be extremely difficult to find parking during peak times so plan to arrive early if you can. Comfortable footwear for walking is advised as many of these streets are cobbled, and a lot of steps need to be climbed to get around the village’s slopes.

Located at the top of Lindos is the ancient Lindos Acropolis (www.odysseus.culture.gr). The impressive archaeological site dates back to the 10th Century BC and what is left of the ancient village is well preserved. A large part of the Doric 4th-century temple devoted to Athena Lindia still stands and shows the wealth of the ancient Lindos village before the City of Rhodes was built in the 5th Century BC. At just under 120m above sea level, the site offers amazing views of the nearby bays. Entry to the Acropolis requires a ticket and costs €12/£10.

Across the rest of the village, the shops are full of great souvenirs and there are a host of great cafes and bars for a cold drink in the shade.

Monolithos Castle

A 40-minutes’ drive west from Kiotari and you’ll get to Monolithos Castle, a castle built in 1480 by the Knights of Saint John to protect the island from attack. To get to the castle, park at the side of the road at the foot of the rock before following the path that takes you up to the castle via ancient stone steps. The reward for climbing the rock is unrivalled views of the west coast of the island. As well as the views, the ruins of the castles remain open to the public as well as two small churches, one of which has been fully restored.

Rhodes

Rhodes, more commonly known as Rhodes Town, is the capital of Rhodes Island, located just over an hour away from Kiotari. A declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is often considered to be Europe’s largest and best-preserved fortified city with the Old Town still surrounded by the city’s walls. Driving to the city requires parking in the New Town, with the Old Town’s roads mostly pedestrianised, adding to the feeling of walking back in time through history. Parking can be expensive so research where to park for free – I found one street near Saint John’s Gate, where parking is free.

There are a number of gates that you can use to enter the Old Town and we chose Saint Athanasios Gate. Once inside the Old Town, you’re immediately immersed into history, surrounded by stone walls and pebbled streets. Deep within the city, there are a couple of sites worth entering: The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (www.odysseus.culture.gr), which was built in the 14th Century on the 7th Century site of a Byzantine fortress, and The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (www.odysseus.culture.gr), which was once the hospital of the Knights of Saint John. Both are spectacular buildings in their own right and house various exhibits relating to the history of Rhodes.

Entry to The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes costs €8/£7 and for The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes costs €6/£5.

Out by the immaculate marina, lies the Myth Colossus of Rhodes, which features a a colossal statue representing the Greek sun god Helios, standing guard over the harbour of Rhodes, symbolising ancient Greek engineering and grandeur.

Glystra Beach

Glystra Beach is a beautiful beach located 5 minutes from Kiotari. Featuring a sandy beach, clear warm waters and rockpools on the far eastern edge, it’s a great place to spend a day topping up the tan. Other facilities include a snack bar and water sports providers.

Seven Springs

The escape the heat, head to the oasis of the Seven Springs (www.7springs.gr) where seven springs form a stream in a hidden forest area. The waters from here flow into a lake which remains full throughout the year thanks to a dam. For those adventurous enough, and equipped with wet shoes, there is a dark, unlit tunnel that runs 186 metres from the stream through to the lake.

Bottom Line

Rhodes was the holiday we never knew we needed. Rhodes was the captivating and enchanting island that you’d expect - the immersive rich history that Greece provides whilst delivering stunning natural beauty and befitting of the vibrant culture of the Mediterranean. The trip felt chilled when compared to my trips to Athens with our Airbnb creating a sense of sanctuary and relaxation, whilst the restaurants we visited provided a sense of familiarity with homely meals and laid-back service, allowing us to take our time.

Whilst I’m used to filling the itineraries on my holidays to the brim, Rhodes was a welcome change, making a week feel longer than it was yet, still not long enough. Regardless, Rhodes has definitely won a part of my heart and I’d definitely go back.

Rhodes