Ialyssos Beach, PO Box 272, Ialyssos, Greece | (888) 635-3814
Family-friendly resort with pools and direct beach access
Apartment-style suites and standard guest rooms available
Two restaurants, plus indoor and outdoor bars
Kiddy pool, kids entertainment, and playgrounds
Bright gym with modern equipment; varied outdoor sports
Games area with air hockey and billiards
Bright Internet area with six PCs
Large supermarket with food and beach items
Two classically designed meeting rooms
Free breakfast, pool lounge chairs, and parking
Fees for Wi-Fi, beach/pool towels, safes, and beach sun beds and umbrellas
Windy, shingle beach
Some rooms have outdated furnishings, with tube TVs
The 305-room Sun Beach Resort Complex caters to families looking for lots of activities. In addition to being set beside Ialyssos Beach, the mid-range resort offers two large pools with adjacent kiddy pools, a kids club, and entertainment. There are also themed international dining options, snack bars poolside and at the beach, and elegant indoor bars. The fully stocked supermarket is a nice touch. Sports facilities abound, from the modern fitness center to tennis and mini-golf. Guest rooms and apartment-style suites are large with simple decor, and some have kitchenettes and terraces. However, there are fees for Wi-Fi, safes, beach towels, and sun beds and umbrellas at the beach. Free beach lounge chairs and pool towels are provided at the nearby Olympic Palace Resort Hotel.
Scene
Classically decorated beach hotel with poolside fun
With an unimposing cream exterior, the six-floor Sun Beach Resort Complex is a well-maintained hotel furnished in modern but uninteresting decor. The lobby has brown marble flooring and comfy leather sofas. There are no unique design details in the lobby -- aside from lovely arched doorways, recessed ceilings, and glass elevators. Decorations are mostly functional and more attention is paid to offering a wide variety of family-friendly services. The shingle beach is reached via a walkway lined with tropical landscaping. Just off the footpath is the recreation area with two pools and adjacent kiddy pools -- one has a water playground, and the other a dolphin fountain and clown shower. The main pool is furnished with umbrellas and rows of white cushioned lounge chairs that are positioned close together. Beach/pool towels cost extra, as do beach sun beds and umbrellas.
Location
Tucked conveniently between the airport and town of Rhodes
Off the northwestern shores of the Ialyssos Beach -- in an area called Trianda -- is the Sun Beach Resort Complex, which offers on-site car rental services and a nearby taxi station. The location is a convenient 15-minute drive to both the airport and Rhodes, a medieval town home to the Archaeological Museum and Grand Master of Knights Palace. The Rhodes Aquarium is a 15-minute drive away, while the water park is about a 25-minute drive. Several restaurants -- including La Bonita, Aspri Avli, and Alkionis Sports Bar & Grill, among others -- are all within a five- to 10-minute walk of the complex.
Rooms
Rooms with views, and apartment-style suites geared toward families
Several different rooms and apartment-style suites are available. All have simple decor in shades of beige and brown with colorful accents, tile floors, and basic wood furniture. Standard rooms have balconies with views of the landscape or resort grounds, mini-fridges, tube TVs, and shower/tub combos. Some suites offer kitchenettes, dining areas, espresso machines, and flat-screen TVs. Kids Suites (with sea or garden views) have cartoon TV programming, children’s furnishings, art supplies, and a Sony Playstation. Free Wi-Fi is available for some upgraded accommodations, including Deluxe Suite Garden View Apartments, but otherwise costs extra.
Features
Cocktails on the beach, kids activities, and sports
There are numerous bars and restaurants on-site. Classic green chairs in the Artmeis restaurant -- which includes a buffet -- pop against the white decor. The Dionysos a la carte restaurant and bar is also informal with patio dining by the pool. The beach bar’s terrace overlooks the sea. A snack bar, located poolside, is convenient for guests. The lounge bar has brown barstools that match the beige marble floors, and the Orfeas bar is a lively scene at night. For kids there’s a playhouse with a mini-stage and play kitchen. A brightly painted mini-clubhouse is open seven hours a day and offers a free book, game, and movie library. Two playgrounds are also on-site. The fully stocked supermarket with beach items and food is a convenient plus for travelers. Sports facilities include the modern fitness center, mini-golf, tennis courts, and aqua-gym classes. The hotel offers two classically designed meetings rooms that can accommodate up to 150 people.