We’ve all had a stressful day or two and someone has playfully told us ‘you look like you need a holiday’.
But last month, I really did.
This year, while being one of my best for my career, has been filled with bereavement, stress, relationship drama and health struggles. It’s safe to say I was slowly reaching my breaking point.
In fact, I spent the 48 hours before my trip at a funeral, so when the offer of sun, sea and a care-free five-star stay in Rhodes came my way, there was no way I was turning it down.
To be honest, when I touched down in Rhodes after the four-hour flight, I was absolutely exhausted and dreading the hassle of finding a taxi.
But the Ixian Grand & All Suites hotel, our accommodation for the week, provided a transfer which is available to guests and takes you the short ten-minute hop to the resort.
Talk about easy.
After checking in the first port of call was the on-site authentic Greek restaurant, Milonges, and let me tell you it was food for the soul. I had gluten-free bread and olives, tomato prawns with feta and a delicious sea bass. I could also eat easy knowing that all the staff took my allergens very seriously and explained the menu to me – as dining out at new places as a coaeliac can be a stressful experience at times.
After that I simply went back to my room, took a dip in the suite pool and lost myself in a good book under the beaming rays of sunshine.
That evening dinner was at the Alazonia Suites restaurant – which is only available to guests in a suite room – the meal consisted of a heavenly beetroot soup, beef carpaccio, chicken and a berry pana cotta.
The following morning, a buffet breakfast at the main VIS A VIS restaurant – perfect for someone who wants to graze like me – was my first stop, before heading to the main pool.
Normally, I find pools a little stressful on holiday – purely because they’re usually full of children splashing and belly-flopping while their parents try to keep track of them.
And listen, I know parents need a break (and family holidays are great), but sometimes to truly relax you need peace – no running or screaming. It’s what I needed anyway.
And the Ixian Grand & All Suites is adults only, so you can be sure that your stay will be tranquil and mature.
If you’re travelling to Rhodes I would, typically, recommend going mid-June to August, because in May – while I got a couple of days of baking sunshine – there were also thunderstorms. But if, like me, the sound of rain soothes you, it’s not so bad. Not to mention price increases during the peak summer months – so May, September or even October are still great options for those craving a break from it all.
I spent a lot of time baking by the pool and developing a healthy tan-line while reading a book and exchanging glances with a handsome man across the resort.
One thing I didn’t expect to indulge in on the island of Rhodes was Japanese and Peruvian cuisine – but the Muza Htista restaurant was pretty delicious. We ordered prawns and ginger to start, a generous amount of dragon rolls and then a steak – which arrived over hot coals with sweet potato.
Each evening offers musical entertainment by the Truman bar, which was manned by a fabulous mixologist. So, for the rest of the trip, whenever I spotted his cap I asked him to make me a Margarita or Pornstar martini.
For those of you who like a day trip, the village of Lindos is a great little place to explore. It’s about an hour from the resort by taxi but well worth it.
The Acropolis of Lindos is a 20-minute walk up the rockface and offers a brilliant glimpse of Greek history, as well as panoramic views of the Aegean sea.
A day trip much closer to the resort – just a 15-minute drive in fact – is Rhodes Old Town, and it doesn’t get much more quaint.
It’s a medieval city, and it certainly looks like one, will stone walls, narrow alleyways with countless gift shops tucked into the walls.
Wander through the streets picking up souvenirs for your relatives back home, or stop and people watch with a coffee like I did in one of the many eateries and cafes.
The best eats:
Breakfast: For your first meal of the day, my favourite eat has to be the Alazonia Suites Restaurant.
The omelette was delicious, my friend loved the vegan porridge (which also happened to be the prettiest bowl of porridge I had ever seen), and the gluten-free pancakes and crepes looked heavenly.
There’s even detox smoothies to get your goodness in for the day.
Lunch and dinner: While the buffet was good for convenience the food didn’t compare to the Milonges Greek restaurant.
The tzatziki dip was quite honestly the best dip I’ve ever tasted, the prawns and mussels were mouth-wateringly good and the sea bass was perfectly seasoned.
Dessert was honey, walnuts and cream – and it was a combo I didn’t know I needed, until now.
Everything is slower in Greece. There is no sense of urgency and the people are beyond friendly – it’s a stark contrast to the bustling London streets back home.
After exploring the island, my friend and I headed back to the resort in need of some relaxation. And it doesn’t get more relaxing than a full-body massage and facial.
We arrived at the spa early to take advantage of the heated pool and steam room. (I’m a sucker for a steam room and I’m pretty sure I sweated out every last drop of stress).
The full-body massage lasted 55 minutes with a complimentary 15-minute facial at the end. Every knot, sore muscle and ache was fixed by the end and, in all honesty, I struggled to stay awake during it (the sign of a great massage).
I headed back to my room and ran a bath which overlooked the ocean and felt refreshed for dinner.
Was it an action-packed holiday? No. Although it can be if you want it to be: there’s quad biking, jet skiing and excursions. But I needed rest and relaxation.
And I got it in spades. I spent five days, soaking up the rays, listening to the waves, eating incredible food, getting massages and taking a break on a little island in the middle of the Aegean sea.
Completely detached from the busy and stressful life back at home, I was able to recuperate and return to work no longer feeling like I was going to burn out.
If I had any sense, I would have a Mamma Mia moment and up and move to the island and spend my life on its pebble beaches – but for now, those five days in Rhodes were enough.
Getting there:
I stayed at the Ixian Grand & All Suites hotel, where room rates start at £150 per night and suites start at £230 per night.
The usual all-inclusive package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel’s main restaurant. One complimentary a la carte dinner per stay is included when staying at least five or more nights.
Whereas the all-inclusive package for all guests staying in the suites, also have included in their stay one complimentary a la carte dinner per stay when staying at least five or more nights and they can also enjoy a complimentary breakfast at Alazonia and lunch at Milonges.
Flights from Stanstead to Rhodes start at £192 direct with Ryanair.
See the Ixian Grand & All Suites website here.
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