Mitsis Rodos Maris Resort & Spa

The best features of the resort are the stunning sea views and the variety of dining options on-site. The hotel’s grounds -- featuring the occasional caricature artist with an easel -- are characterized by charming stone pathways, Mediterranean architecture, trees, hedges, pops of colorful hibiscus and bougainvillea, and outdoor seating to take in the stunning sea views. The family-friendly nature of the hotel, though, as some guests complain, can create a rather noisy and boisterous atmosphere.

The resort is on the outskirts of Lardos, a quiet beach town on the southeast side of the island of Rhodes. The area is slightly removed from Rhodes town (a car ride of one hour and 11 minutes), where there is the Palace of the Grand Master of Knights and the Medieval Clock Tower. Lindos, popular for its shopping, is 24 minutes away. Kiotari beach -- where guests can take boat rides, kayak, or snorkel -- is a short walk from the hotel, which is situated on a rather unattractive street with strip malls. The airport, if traveling by car, takes over an hour.

Decor in rooms is classic and a touch dated with pops of colorful floral window coverings, bedspreads, and upholstered headboards. Some rooms have old style TVs, twin beds pushed together, and furnishings that are a bit outdated. Rooms include air-conditioning, mini-fridges, safes for a fee, and (in some) balconies with beautiful sea views. Bathrooms are standard with shower/tub combos, modern fixtures, and large mirrors. Guest recommend asking for a room with views of the sea.

A lovely spa with blue lighting has several treatment rooms, a solarium, and sauna. For families, there are a kids' club, a playground, and a pool with a winding yellow slide and a smaller serpent slide. The indoor pool is modern with a small fountain. The main pool has a smaller upper tier pool with a waterfall, a white bridge, and yellow umbrellas and blue lounge chairs on the deck. On the beach, kids can get harnessed in and play on a trapeze or visit the clubhouse.

The main restaurant -- which has a dress code -- offers a large buffet and a charming terrace furnished with wicker chairs and checkered green tablecloths. The lobby bar is spacious and bright with marble flooring, sunburst ceiling fixtures over the bar top and brown wicker chairs with a nearby baby grand piano. The gelateria -- bright with white indoor and outdoor seating -- is decorated with a small children’s stage painted with a mural backdrop. It’s an informal atmosphere at the small pool bar with its wooden bar stools. The Internet cafe is small with wooden chairs and a massage chair available for a fee. There are also a Chinese restaurant with hanging red lanterns and a Greek restaurant with wispy white curtains on the terrace.