Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel

A stay at the Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel feels like accepting an exclusive invitation to a Greek family home that is as rich in history as the cobblestone streets in the ancient city of Rhodes. New guests are welcomed with a refreshing drink in a lobby, which resembles a private study, with arched stone doorways, intricate iron lighting fixtures, and hand-carved wooden accents. The owners collaborated with a local architect to maintain original features of the Crusaders-built hotel, while also adding a bit of modernity (air-conditioning, heat, free Wi-Fi in common areas). The hotel displays collectibles from Greece, Persia, Asia, Turkey, and Morocco. There’s a small library -- several shelves with Charles Dickens books and other classics -- in the salon, which has wood-beamed ceilings, medieval-inspired chandeliers, large windows, stained glass accents, a chess table, and benches covered in velvet cloth. The grounds are elegant and serene, with white stone stairways, seating nooks, and lush green plants.

The hotel is located on a quiet cobblestone street in northern Rhodes, the medieval town named a UNESCO heritage site in 1988. The city dates back to 408 BC. From the hotel it is a quick drive to the Grand Master's Palace (six minutes), Acropolis of Rhodes, and Ancient Olympic Stadium (both a few minutes). The airport by cab takes 24 minutes. Driving to Mandraki Harbour takes five minutes, and a trip to Kolona Harbour takes seven minutes. A luxury cruise to Turkey and other locales can be arranged through the hotel. Restaurants, bars, and tourist sites are all in walking distance.

Each suite -- the Knights Chamber, Ottoman Suite, Crusader Suite, Rodos Suite, Grand Masters Suite, and the Pasha Suite -- is architecturally unique with distinctive interior design. Rooms have accents from the Crusaders’ period, marble floors, ceilings with timber beams, stained glass accents, wooden lattice, hand-blown lighting fixtures, and nice extras: safes, beach towels, slippers, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and bottled water. Some rooms have views of the courtyard. The Pasha Suite has a private Hammam. The Ottoman Suite has a second level with a daybed and an intricate wooden carved railing. Bathrooms have rain showerheads, marble accents, wood-beamed ceilings, and modern fixtures.

A lovely courtyard -- including lanterns, tropical plants, and flowers -- has a small hot tub on a raised wooden platform, along with carved wooden door frames and white cushioned-lounge chairs. Stylish white chairs and tables are also placed in the sun and under a beige canopy tent near a small fountain. The hotel entrance is a small iron gate in an ancient stone wall that leads out to a narrow, medieval Rhodes street. The hotel bar, on the ground floor, is designed with dark wood-beamed ceilings, stone archways, and arched wooden doors that lead to a small patio. This small hotel is committed to being eco-friendly by using natural materials, solar energy, and recycled paper, along with other sustainable measures.