'I went to 'world's best hotel' with balcony hot tubs and 24-hour room service'

14 August 2023 , 14:16

869     0

A view of the pool and Rhodes at the Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel and Suites (Image: TUI)

The best rated TUI hotel in the world has hot tubs on the balconies, 24 hour room service and one of the best views on Rhodes.

Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel and Suites is currently sitting on a near perfect 9.9 review score, which is why it's been crowned 'Best Hotel Globally' by one of the world's biggest travel companies.

While it is certainly not what anyone would describe as a budget option, the hotel is not as eye wateringly expensive as you might expect from a world beater, given that other global award winners such as Ozen Reserve Bolifushi in the Maldives charge from £1,387 a night. A room at the Lindos Blu could be yours from £413 a night this month, or around £220 in October.

I was lucky enough to visit the hotel on Rhodes two weeks after the wildfires were put out. While the blaze scorched hillsides and burned down buildings just a few miles away, the hotel was not directly impacted by the flames.

The hotel has a fresh water swimming pool (Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites)

When our group walked into the cool, palatial lobby out of the intense summer heat we were handed a cold towel to dab our foreheads with before being offered the chance to refresh in the hotel's spa ahead of dinner. One of the first things you notice about the hotel is how exceptionally nice it smells, perhaps partially due to the sage plants that grow on the hillside and the gentle sea breeze that blows through the windows.

Woman finds ‘secret’ door in room at Greek island hotel which enters 'paradise'

It is also manages to feel incredibly peaceful despite the 72 room hotel being alive and busy, possibly because of the absence of children.

Our hosts for the evening were the hotel's owners, brother and sister duo Konstantinos and Natasha Kallioudakis, who took the place over from their dad. It is very clear that they, like all of the hotel owners, restraunters and waiters, have hospitality in the blood.

The hotel sits atop a mountain overlooking the bay (Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites)

The choice of a great glistening bowl-glass of Aperol Spritz or shockingly purple G&T awaited us as, refreshed, we walked onto the terrace atop the magnificent hillside of Vlycha Bay. The views that treated us as we looked got to know the family are framed by stone arches and are quite incredible.

Lindos Blu has a number of different places to eat, but the award-winning gourmet eatery, Five Senses, is the jewel in its crown. We sat out on the terrace on a long table overlooking the sea for an evening of slow dining made from the island’s native ingredients.

The chef, who also creates 3d printed statues that hold bunches of sage in the centre of the table, announced each of the eight courses as they came out. For the vegetarians, a local interpretation of falaffel with a particularly crunchy outside or cream-of-rice stuffed vine leaves were the standouts in a crowded field.

A new feature of the hotel is the rooftop sundeck where bathers can phone the Luna Rossa bar downstairs to have their beverage of choice delivered. Once you're suitably sunned up, you can take a dip in the hotel's heated fresh water pool or wander down to the nearby Blue Flag awarded beach.

Guests can dine on the terrace overlooking the bay (Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites)

There are a host of additional facilities to explore, including a Finnish-style steam room, a traditional wooden sauna and the full-service Elixir Spa which uses all-natural ingredients and 2,000-year-old techniques, such as the Spartan tradition of massaging with green olive oil.

That is, if you're able to leave your room. Many of the larger rooms have massage-bubble baths that are positioned so you can unwind while looking out across the bay. Others have outdoor jacuzzies on the balconies.

The hotel also happens to be situated in Rhodes' most upmarket area, Lindos, where white washed houses run up the hill overlooked by the famous acropolis. Built from the 10th century BC, visitors can walk through winding cobbled streets selling replica football shirts to the bottom of the multi-layered temple. Once pilgrims had to wait in the middle layer for 40 days eating no meat until they were considered pure enough to pay their respect at the second highest level. The top was reserved for priests.

Today a cheap ticket lets you ascend all the way there, diet and spiritual leanings no matter. The view from beneath the columns' remains is of the twinkling water in the Bay of St Paul, where the apostle is said to have first landing, bringing Christianity to Rhodes.

Single parents can get £60 off Jet2holidays thanks to a new discount code

Nearly all of the hotel's guests have loved their stay, with 95% of Tripadvisor reviewers awarding it five-stars. One recent happy customer wrote: "This was hands down the best hotel we have ever stayed in. And my husband and I, and our friends love to travel and spoil ourselves. The food, the selects, the service, the facilities. Stunning.

Rooms can be secured for £220 a night in October (Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites)

"And the spa services were fantastic!! I got a facial from one of the most gentle men I have ever met, Aurel , while my husband got worked by this goddess Bianca. The best services we’ve had at any hotel we stayed at! Highly recommend staying here and getting the spa services."

Another added: "Another amazing stay at Lindos Blu, albeit this year under exceptional circumstances due to to the wild fires. As soon as we arrived we were greeted as long lost friends by the ever attentive team led by resident manager Nikos, who really is a absolute credit to this resort.

"The true sign to the strength of this resort is every staff member exhibits the same sky high standards in service and satisfaction levels. All new staff fit seamlessly into the team."

Milo Boyd