Rhodes to Fethiye: Two Coasts, One Incredible Escape

I used APH off-site parking at Manchester, and it was smooth and efficient, with a short wait for the shuttle. Check-in with EasyJet was quick and well-organised, and security was a breeze. The Aspire Lounge was busy but comfortable, with light snacks and drinks available.

Despite a short delay, the EasyJet flight was comfortable with great legroom, a friendly crew, and good-value meal options.

On arrival, Rhodes Airport was slow with long queues, but after a 30-minute transfer, we reached the beautiful Grecotel LUX Me Dama Dama in Kalithea.

We received a warm welcome with drinks and a late-night buffet, and check-in was seamless. My LUXME Family Bungalow was spacious and elegant, with luxury amenities, private terraces, and thoughtful touches, including a lovely gift of local olive oil and handmade soap.

Grecotel LUX Me Dama Dama, Kalithea: 5-star beachfront hotel with Blue Flag status. 17 room types & 46 bungalows, two buffet + 4 à la carte restaurants (bookable in advance), 150 wine labels, free pedalos & canoes. Excellent kids' club and a peaceful beach club serving lunch, snacks, crêpes & gelato.

Esperides Family Hotel, Kalithea: 546 rooms (half refurbished), interconnecting & family options, stocked minibars. Great family facilities with shaded play areas, free Balinese beds, pedalos & canoes.

Amada Colossos, Kalithea: Rebuilt 2017, 699 rooms, Travelife Gold certified. Soundproof sea-view rooms, family & adults-only zones, high-end à la carte dining, quality waterpark & 450-seat amphitheatre.

Gennadi Grand Resort, Gennadi: 5-star contemporary resort with 300 rooms. Spacious suites (some with private pools), QR code drink service, eight restaurants, award-winning spa & tranquil atmosphere.

Ended the day at Socrates Bar, a historic 1975 rock bar with stunning rooftop views.

Enjoyed a fantastic breakfast with both classic and unique options before one last tour of the beautiful beachfront hotel.

Rodos Princess, Kiotari: Busy, family-friendly beachfront hotel with 400+ rooms. One economy block across the road has access to the main facilities. Rooms are stylish with family options, free safes, minibars (restocked every 2 days), and infant welcome gifts: À la carte dining (drinks extra), splash park & slides for kids.

Mitsis Rodos Village, Kiotari: 412-room hillside hotel with incredible sea views. Recently renovated, featuring beach access via bridge or shuttle, free sunbeds, pizza bar, and daily-restocked minibars. Superior rooms have walk-in showers; spa not included in AI. À la carte

bookings open two months pre-season.

Olympic Palace, Ixia: Seafront hotel with chic garden areas, Bali beds, firepits & egg chairs. Compact pool but great for families with kids' club, escape room & games lounge. Excellent main restaurant & spacious sea-view balconies (worth the upgrade). Only €4 by bus or a short walk to Rhodes Town.

Ended at Rhonda Beach Club, a stylish boho venue with DJs, fireworks & a fantastic atmosphere!

An early start for the ferry from Rhodes to Fethiye - a smooth, scenic two-hour trip followed by a short transfer to Hotel Liberty Signa.

First stop: XO Cape Arnna, the viral Instagram hotspot, famed for its incredible attention to detail, vast buffet with dietary options, six à la carte restaurants (including vegan & gluten-free), and chic bars like the tranquil tea room and Mucho Gusto steakhouse. Families are spoilt with a huge play area, waterpark, and Lumis World - an indoor complex with Lego, VR, cookery, and gaming zones.

After lunch, we relaxed at Liberty Signa's pool and beachfront, perfectly designed for families.

The evening brought a stunning sunset cable car ride to Babadag Mountain, dinner at 1700 Grill & Wine Bar with panoramic views, and a cosy end to the night at the hotel's beach club with DJs, dancers, and a laid-back vibe.

Breakfast at Liberty Signa was exceptional, with endless options from eggs Benedict to baby foods and fresh fruit. After touring the resort's separate adult and family zones, we learned it has three top entertainment teams and a lively beach club with themed nights. Rooms feature sea views, and the patisserie offers handmade ice cream, desserts, and chocolates. The spa impressed with its vast indoor pool, 18 treatment rooms, Turkish baths, and private hire areas.

Next, we visited Liberty Fabay (opened 2021) - a modern sister hotel with five heated pools, adult and family areas, and an adults-only beach. It offers two main and five à la carte restaurants, spacious suites, and elegant touches throughout. Lunch was excellent, with a great mix of hot and light dishes.

We finished the day relaxing on Signa's adults-only terrace with a swim-up bar and jacuzzi before a sunset cruise around Fethiye, ending the trip on a perfect note.

Check-out day began with another excellent breakfast at the hotel, followed by a relaxed stroll through the beachfront and gardens before unwinding at the adults-only pool. Lunch was at the Okeanos Seafood Restaurant, an à la carte venue serving beautifully presented small plates, not just seafood but delicious meat options too. The food was outstanding, and sharing several dishes was the perfect way to sample more of the menu.

After lunch, we had a 45-minute transfer to Dalaman Airport, which, although known for being hectic, was surprisingly calm. Security involved three checkpoints, but ran smoothly. A note for travellers - airport prices are very high, so bringing snacks is advisable.

WHO WOULD THIS TRIP BE SUITED TO?

It would be suited to couples and families alike who like high standards of accommodation. Definitely older families, as all the hotels we visited had larger family rooms with either interconnecting or 2-bedroomed suites or partitions.

FAVOURITE HOTEL VISITED?

My favourite adult hotel is the Gennadi Grand. It was so peaceful and spaced out, no one felt on top of each other, and the private pool was a great touch.

My favourite family hotel would be the XO Cape Arnna, partly because of the extensive array of activities for kids! The food was exceptional, and the à la carte options were the best.

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT VISITED?

We didn't visit any external restaurants other than at Babadag mountain, which was lovely, but the Hotel XO Cape Arnna for lunch was WOW. The breakfast in Liberty Signa was my most memorable.

AIRLINE COMMENTS:

I was shocked by Easyjet flights; I much preferred them over Jet2 for comfort. The cabin crew were really friendly and helpful.

BEST EXPERIENCE FROM THE TRIP?

We had to download an app, and we had a bear named Jeff (Easyjeff), and we got notifications with challenges to get points, which our team, Manchester, were put on a leaderboard. Each day, one of the team members was a captain who had to upload any photos or challenges. It was a fun way to see the hotels and resorts.