Elissa Lifestyle Resort

We have recently returned from a week's stay at Elissa Lifestyle Beach Resort (Adults Only) Hotel in Rhodes. There is no doubt that this is a nice hotel. The food was very good, there was plenty of choice and the staff we encountered were very friendly and hardworking.

Unfortunately, our experience was overshadowed by the room category we chose.

We booked and paid extra for a Junior Suite with Shared Pool and Pool View. I want to be very clear that our complaint is not that the pool was shared – we fully understood that when booking.

The issue is the way this room is presented on the hotel's website.

The room layout clearly shows two sunbeds and a parasol immediately outside each suite. Naturally, we believed these were associated with our room. However, they are completely communal and can be used by anyone.

Throughout our holiday we regularly had complete strangers sitting and sunbathing literally a few feet from our bedroom patio doors. This meant we had virtually no privacy throughout our stay.

This was particularly disappointing because we were travelling with our disabled daughter. One of the reasons we paid extra for this room was so that she could relax in the room if she wished whilst we could sit immediately outside and still be close enough to assist her if needed. Unfortunately, this simply wasn't possible because the area outside our room was continually occupied by other guests.

Ironically, had we booked one of the less expensive standard rooms on the upper floors, we would actually have enjoyed considerably more privacy.

There are 17 Junior Suites with 34 sunbeds around this particular shared pool, which naturally gives the impression of two loungers per suite. In reality, guests staying in the Deluxe Rooms above and elsewhere in the hotel also use the same sunbeds, meaning the area immediately outside your room can be occupied by anyone.

The hotel's policy states that sunbeds should not be reserved, but unfortunately we did not witness this being enforced during our stay. Many beds were reserved from very early in the morning with towels and belongings, making it difficult to find available sunbeds later in the day. We raised this with Guest Relations, but saw no improvement.

We also raised our concerns regarding the room with Guest Relations and the Supervisor. The Manager unfortunately was never available although we repeatedly asked to speak with him/her. Whilst both the Guest Relations team and the Duty Supervisor were polite and repeatedly assured us that they "understood" and "appreciated" our concerns, no meaningful solution was ever implemented. The only suggestion offered was to designate the sunbeds (by some signage) outside our suite for our use. However, this was never put into practice. Even if it had been, we did not feel it was an appropriate solution, as it would have singled us out in front of other guests and had the potential to cause misunderstanding or confrontation.

We were also advised by the Duty Supervisor that she would discuss our concerns with the Hotel Manager on the last day, investigate the matter further, and return to us within a couple of hours. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Approximately five hours later, I noticed a missed call and returned it immediately. I also went to Reception in the hope of speaking to either the Supervisor or the Manager in person, only to be informed that they had both left for the day.

Consequently, we departed the resort feeling that, despite having raised our concerns promptly and being assured they would be investigated, no meaningful follow-up or resolution was ever provided. It is very disappointing after numerous requests to speak with the manager they declined.

One other point worth mentioning is the design of the public men's toilets. My husband commented that there were no urinals in the public facilities, only standard cubicles. As a result, the toilet seats and floors were frequently covered in urine. The housekeeping staff were constantly cleaning them, so this is certainly not a criticism of the cleaning team, but rather the design of the facilities themselves.

Another observation during our stay concerned the management of the parasols around the main pool. On windy days, the life guard instructed guests to lower their parasols and leave them closed. Whilst we appreciate that guest safety must always come first, this often left guests with no shade for extended periods, particularly during the hottest part of the day. Many guests were left sitting in direct sunlight with no practical way of protecting themselves from the heat, which was uncomfortable and, at times, difficult to understand given the high temperatures. As the hotel has been established for some time and the windy conditions in Rhodes are well known, particularly in the hotel's exposed location, it would seem sensible to explore a more permanent solution. Installing parasols with more secure bases or fixed ground fittings would help protect guests from prolonged exposure to the sun whilst still ensuring their safety.

We also found the evening entertainment rather disappointing. Apart from a DJ, who appeared to play the same selection of music each night, there was very little organised entertainment. Most guests spent the evenings playing cards or chatting amongst themselves. Fortunately, the hotel was showing the FIFA Club World Cup in the bar, and we met some lovely people, which certainly helped make the evenings more enjoyable.

Overall, Elissa is a lovely hotel with many positives, and we did enjoy aspects of our stay. However, I would strongly advise anyone considering a Junior Suite with Shared Pool and other upgrades (i.e., rooms with a sea view - the beds are even closer to the room) to fully understand that the sunbeds immediately outside your terrace are not for your exclusive use and that you should not expect any privacy in that area.

Had this been made clearer before booking, we would have chosen a different room category and saved us a lot of money.

Just back from 10 nights in the Ella Ellis’s complex . Never have I been to a Hotel were all the staff are so helpful and pleasant , such a joy. The food and drink was amazing , we managed to book the speciality restaurants and enjoyed our time there the Asian restaurant was our favourite .You need to Book these the first day you arrive as they soon get booked up . I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hotel if you want a chilled holiday .

Came for 7 nights. Hotel is lovely, very aesthetic. Lots of pools on offer but you couldn’t use them all, we stayed around the main one all week as some of them were outside of people’s rooms. Really there are about 4 you can go to

Check in was quick + easy, we were all inclusive I think that’s all they do now but premium drinks you have to pay for. Grey goose, certain beer, gins etc.

Cocktails around the main pool are nice, cocktails in the bar upstairs not so much. Bar 33 great cocktails there + a lot of what I normally drink weren’t on the menu ie sex on the beach, manhattan but they made them for me. They don’t do frozen ones though

I’m a fussy eater + the first 2-3 days food was great, lots of choice was really happy but then it went dire. Breakfast always the same stuff, lunch for me was the worst I ate out of the snackbar a few time.

The pool around the music is dire, sounds like your in Egypt 1 min, morroco the next. There were the odd few good ones but the playlist defiantly should be adjusted + just seemed to repeat same songs every day. I heard lots say how bad the music was. The Sunday minuty thing they put on, I thought it was going to be some form of entertainment (gosh it’s needed) but it’s just a wine tasting thing. I didn’t get the point of it. ..

Rooms nice, fridge replenished daily of drinks.

We are in our early 40s + I have to say come evenings we were bored. The dj upstairs that was on, on occasion music was ok (few tunes before playing weird stuff) . Bar 33 2 times was jazz + a some live music but it’s so out of date. I don’t know anyone my age of younger that listens to music like this.

The age range I would say is 20-40 then some older but the music played was like what my dad would listen to. The younger generation must have found it so dull I did. The entertainment in the evening needs a shake up + to be more current by day 3 we had to get out the hotel as we were bored + couldn’t spend another evening there. A few times in reception there was a harpist again don’t see the point no one in there unless walking through this would have been better as some evening entertainment or a saxophonist a live singer. You can hear the entertainment coming from the Eden Roc hotel

There is nothing outside the hotel to do, a few sports bars (dead everytime we went by, bar the football nights) , a Greek restaurant but not much going on or where you can go for a walk. We went into old town 2 times.

We went over to Helena 3 times, so much more livelier some decent music, frozen cocktails, pancakes we used the food hub. You’re not meant to but we got away with it.. it’s definitely much better evening ambience over there + more lively.

People tend to keep themselves to themselves as well there.

The hotel asthetics id give 8/10 Food 6/10 Drinks 6/10 Entertainment 2/10

I wouldn’t go back there, nor would I come to Rhodes again either.