THE TRIP: The Ixian Grand offers ultimate peace of mind: all inclusive and adults-only. That means no unexpected holiday overspending and no screaming kids by the pool. We stayed in one of the swim-up suites, meaning our room had its own terrace onto an infinity pool, shared with the other suites, and a beachfront view.
This was the crowning jewel of our stay. The room itself was spacious, if a little dated, but really who cares about the cushion covers when you’ve got a front row seat to the Aegean Sea? Rhodes itself is famed in Greek mythology as the island of sun god Helios, so it’s no wonder it has long captured the vitamin D-craving, rain-sodden hearts of the British. Float along and admire the views of Turkey in the distance, which looks close enough you can imagine swimming over and maybe bumping into Odysseus.
And the good news is the sea is still bathtub-warm in September and October, with fewer crowds now the kids are back to school. The Ixian Grand is one of a cohort of superb beachfront properties on the island; for something more labyrinthine, try the Amada Colossos with its frankly overwhelming 16 restaurants and bars . THINGS TO DO: Gotcha: one must not do at the Ixian Grand, that would be close to a sin.
With a spa, four restaurants, a private beachfront and even an in-hotel minimart all on site, five-star resort the Ixian Grand is designed not to be left. Embodying the epitome of fly and flop, our advice is to lean into the slumberous mood built into this.