Могло быть и лучше Could be better

In Greece, we rest not for the first time. Before that, they were in Crete, once on the east coast, the second on the west. Greece is delighted, almost love at first sight. This year we decided to see Rhodes, especially since many people praised it, they traveled more than once. For my part, I insisted on a vacation in Spain, but my husband stood his ground - Greece and that's it. Anyway. . .
So, the departure of the Windrose was postponed from 16.30 to 18.30, so already at the departure we realized that we didn’t have time for dinner . . but oh well . . happiness is not in food. Windrose as always . . (((In addition to the plane was delayed for another 30 minutes, that is, we arrived in Rhodes at about 9.30 pm We received our luggage without any problems, at the information desk a package with information. , but nice. We and 1 other couple (their hotel was not far from ours) were made happy with a transfer in a C-class Mercedes.
The hotel is 10 minutes drive from the airport. In the dark it was difficult to appreciate the landscape of Rhodes and the place where we were being taken. And then through the night I saw a tiny sign with an arrow The Ixian Grand, which, apparently, showed the direction of the hotel.

They settled us quickly, rumpled for 5-10, forced us to leave a deposit of 100 euros in case we drink drinks in the bar-restaurant (room), which are worth noting, the hotel is not cheap. Having received 2 keys to the room and 2 cards for beach towels, we took the elevator to room 322 (4th floor, because the 1st floor is zero). There was no one to help with the luggage. Apparently, the porters were busy, or they had a day off))). Through the travel agency booked De Luxe overlooking the garden. And then another surprise awaited us - we open the room, go out to the balcony, and there..... view of the pool and the sea !!!! ! The sound of the surf, the smell of the sea immediately relieve fatigue, negative emotions. . .
Room. Rating 4+. Spacious, 1 large bed. Fully corresponds to the photo of the hotel on its website. Bathrobes in the room (no slippers), all bath accessories were available. The bathroom was a little surprised - a shower cabin, but there was no 1 wing of the door . . that is, it was not provided. Which was strange... because. taking a shower, all the water poured on the floor ((((. Cleaned daily, not always of high quality. The bed was changed 3 times in 7 days. A tip of 1 euro did not radically change anything. But, by and large, there is nothing to complain about.
After a quick change of clothes, we decided to explore the territory of the hotel. We walked and wandered and got lost on the territory of the Suites with private pools. To be honest, the pool area of ​ ​ several square meters did not impress me much, and I did not even regret that I had booked a room in the main building. By the way, with the balcony open from the street, the sounds of the main air conditioner were heard, and it hummed 24 hours a day. But it doesn't matter. . . ))) We went outside from the side of the main entrance, so to speak, to see the territory from the outside. After passing metro 10, my nose heard the smell of horses, or rather, horse manure))))) No matter how it is. I could not understand what it was and where this smell came from (((((((((((((((.
In the morning the situation cleared up. It turns out that the area that adjoins the hotel (across the path, 5 meters wide) serves as a haven for several HORSES !!! ! That is, they are not stray, but tied, standing there, chewing something . . Just something is incomprehensible. In addition to burnt grass and stones, there is nothing there. It became funny to me)))))))))). Well, how is it !!!!!!!!! ! Hotel 5*!!! ! And Horse Dung didn't fit in my head.

Meals. "5" Meals we had breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is standard European, it has already been written about, nothing special, but no one was hungry. Although... stop! Apple strudel with cinnamon and powdered sugar is definitely. . . indescribably delicious. I highly recommend it. Drinks at breakfast are free. Coffee is okay, everything else... mm . . so-so. There are no fresh juices, the juice, like yupi, was terrible. By the way, fresh orange in the city is 2 euros. Just super. The abundance of fruits for breakfast, dinner, was also pleasing - watermelons, melons, apples, kiwi, oranges, grapefruits, arina nect, bananas. Dinner pleased with its assortment. Several types of meat (pork, veal, lamb, rabbit, chicken, duck), fish (fried salmon steaks, as well as sea and ocean fish in the range) daily, pasta, pasta with seafood, paella with clams, sushi (bad), drinks paid for dinner. Water 1 l - 3.5 euros, wine (small bottle - 285 ml) - 5 euros. A lot of sweets, fruits, hot soups, several types. there are comrades who occupy tables at 2 for 4 and even for 6.
Waking up early in the morning on the first day, we went out onto the balcony and noticed that at 7 am, people quickly go to the beach and take the best places. Oh, how it looks like OURS! Although, why throw a barrel on ours, everyone is running, both ours and foreigners. As if the sunbeds will jump somewhere and you will have to lie on the grass or on a rocky beach. It should be noted that these actions are due to the lack of sunbeds, because the people who wake up at 10 are forced to wind circles in search of free sunbeds, which by that time are no longer there. Okay, a sunbed is such a thing, but here's an umbrella... after 11-12 it is simply necessary, because. it bakes wildly. You burn yourself instantly also due to the constant wind, which even intensifies in the second half. The beach is a large pebble, without special slippers it is really uncomfortable. The sea... The sea in Greece is one of the main advantages. The Aegean Sea on the west coast, in my subjective opinion, is much more beautiful and even warmer than the Mediterranean on the east. It is white-turquoise-blue-blue. The beauty is incredible, especially when viewed from some kind of elevation (hill, mountain). Having visited the beaches of the eastern coast (Tsambika beach, Lindos beach, Kallithea and Filaraki beaches), I came to the conclusion that the landscape and the sea 1 in 1 resembles my native Crimea. Honestly. The sea, however, is cleaner and transparent, it is simply faded compared to the Aegean Sea)))). To make such long trips, we rented a Peugeot 107 car for 3 days for 105 euros at the hotel. It was myself the best price-quality. For 3 days we dashed off about 400 km, the car ate 15 liters of fuel at a price of 1.7 euros. We were swimming on the Shell. The contract is in English (essentially 1 sheet of A4), where full insurance is registered. Violating the rules of DD in Greece is expensive, a fine of 500 euros. For settlements, the restrictions are 50 km / h, and sometimes 30 km / h.
Territory "5-" and location "3-".
The territory of the hotel is actually well-groomed, green, order everywhere. But she's small. But the location... this is a separate "song". The hotel is located between Ixia and Ialyssos. But up to 1 and up to 2, either a long walk, 15-20 minutes (and this is in the heat), or go. A supermarket (quite cheap) is a 5 minute walk from the hotel. But the road leading to the nearest civilization runs along the street with 1 side movement, and moving away from the hotel 200-300 meters stinks of carrion, and bones, skulls are lying on the side of the road... Chih? Hard to say. but again. . . is it close to a 5* hotel??? ? Hmm. . The Greeks are snickering!!! ! By the way, if we were given the room that we booked, then our windows would either look out on that path above the main passage, where the smell of horses came from))) or on the main road. The spectacle, to put it mildly, is not very good ((((

You can write for a long time. We had a good rest, sunbathed, bathed. The main thing is to tune in to the positive and not pay special attention to such "little things". Otherwise, it's a pipe. But there is no more desire to go to Rhodes. Not because the hotel did not live up to expectations. But because 1 visit is enough. There are places where it pulls (even if not 2 times in a row, but after some time). Rhodes did not become such a place for us, as well as Egypt. But one day, it’s probably worth visiting.
If anyone has any questions, write in a personal, I will try to answer. I will definitely post a photo. Good luck to all and have a good rest.