Kalathos 851 02 Greece, Lindos, Greece | 30 22440 31601, 31602
Large rooms and villas, some with sea views and private pools
Six lagoon pools, kids' pool, hot tub, and three indoor pools
Spa with a hammam, salon, and gym
Four bars and three restaurants, including beach and poolside
Kids' club, playground, and arcade room
Tennis, volleyball, mini golf, and an oversized chessboard
Rental car desk on-site
Two conference rooms and an internet corner
Free Wi-Fi in public areas, outdoor parking, and breakfast
Beach within walking distance
Fee for in-room Wi-Fi, which is reportedly slow
Shingle beach
Lower-tier rooms have uninspired views
Some guests complain of wandering stray cats in the resort
A sprawling upscale complex on the Greek island of Rhodes, outside the town of Lindos, the 256-room Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort caters to European couples with its stylish Greek decor and lush gardens, serene shingle beach within walking distance, buffet dining, six outdoor pools, poolside cocktails at swim-up bars, and a relaxing spa with three indoor pools. Rooms and villas are large and traditional (some might say dated), and some have private pools. Sea views are available from higher-tier rooms, although lower-tier rooms can have uninspiring views. There are also plenty of amenities for families, including a kids' club, and many guests book all-inclusive packages through tour operators.
Scene
Classic Greek-inspired luxury decor and sprawling lagoon-pool complex that attract European couples
The Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas is a palatial Greek beach hotel, with a sprawling lagoon pool area, lush gardens throughout, and a beach in short walking distance. Hallways have marble floors and are lined with Greek paintings, sculptures, and arches. The bright lobby's arched windows overlook the gardens and geometric skylights dot the ceiling. Glass elevators also look out on the green landscape and ponds. The decor seems inspired by the ruins in the town of Rhodes, including a medieval suit of armor in the lobby. Some furnishings, however, feel a bit less grandiose and more dated, including the lobby's beige and blue sofas.
The expansive outdoor pool area is the center of life at the hotel, and the rattan umbrellas and beige loungers lining the pool deck host a rotating cast of European couples, friends, and some families, all looking to relax and soak up the sun, rather than party. The spa is also a big draw, with its several indoor pools. A paved pathway, flanked by lawns and flowers, leads to the shingle beach -- another major draw for relaxing guests -- where there are wooden walkways, white lounge chairs, rattan umbrellas, a changing room and a towel vendor stand.
Location
On the shores of Kalathos Bay, outside Lindos
The Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort is located a five-minute walk (along a private footpath) from the beach in Kalathos village, a beach town on the outskirts of Lindos. Lindos, on the southeastern side of the island of Rhodes, is a nine-minute drive away and is home to sights such as the acropolis of Lindos. There is a bus stop directly outside the hotel where you can catch a bus to Rhodes -- home to the Ancient Olympic Stadium and the Palace of the Grand Master of Knights. Rhodes is a little under an hour away from the hotel. The airport is 56 minutes by car. Kiotari beach, known for its windsurfing, is a 22-minute drive away.
Rooms
Traditional, if spacious, rooms and villas, with flat-screen TVs, and, in some, sea views and private pools
When compared to the more grandiose lobby, rooms and villas at the Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas are more traditionally decorated, with dark-wood furniture, floral bedspreads, wood floors, and flowers painted on the ceilings. The overall look is charming if not as luxurious as some may expect given the resort's advertised five-star rating. Bottled water and fruit are nice welcoming touches. Balconies or terraces offer sea, garden, or pool views; the higher the room category, the better the view. Villas have heated pools, furnished terraces, and bathrooms with bidets and whirlpool tubs. All rooms -- Doubles and Suites -- offer tea kettles, Wi-Fi (for a fee), bathrobes, slippers , minibars, and modern bathrooms. Villas have DVD players, digital safes, and whirlpool tubs. Presidential Villas have gardens, veranda hot tubs, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and dining areas. Most booking packages include free breakfast, and tour operators can provide all-inclusive packages.
Features
Full resort amenities, including six pools, a beach, three bars, three restaurants, and a relaxing spa
The Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas' crowning glory is its pool complex, which includes six lagoon pools, bridges, a grotto area, waterfalls, islands and lawns that line some pool edges. Indoors is a heated pool with a lovely skylight ceiling and a hot tub. There's also a private stretch of beach accessed via a private pathway. Three different restaurants offer casual and romantic dining at the resort: The elegant Asterias restaurant overlooks the beach, the Poseidon restaurant offers casual poolside dining, and the Symposium has a more family-focused atmosphere with its buffet and terraces. The Cavaliere Piano Bar offers live entertainment most nights, and there are two swim-up pool bars, as well as a beach bar with snacks.
The extensive spa has nine treatment rooms, two saunas, two hammams, three hydrobaths, a salon, and a solarium. A skylight and large windows provides natural light at the saltwater pool and the small heated pool. The gym has wooden floors, modern equipment and a water cooler. It's worth noting that Wi-Fi is only free in common areas.