I was recently invited to Mark Warner’s 5* Levante Beach Resort in Rhodes – it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it – we transferred as a group having attended a travel conference in Bodrum, Turkey, while another group of delegates were able to sample Mark Warner’s Lakitira Beach Resort in Kos.
Levante Beach Resort was custom built for Mark Warner and is located on the longest beach in Rhodes, with miles of golden sand. The contemporary style of the property being low rise and spread out, means that even at full capacity the resort does not feel overcrowded. With four outdoor pools, including an adults only one, as well as the beach front means you will always find somewhere to sunbathe in peace and quite.
The staff, headed by resort manager Sue Thomas, are dedicated to ensuring you have a great holiday, are extremely friendly and are always around checking guests are OK. There are English nannies and sports staff, but all the other staff are local. Here are 5 reasons why I think you should visit Levante Beach Resort:
Child Care: Perfect for those wanting to participate in sports activities without the kids, or if you want to indulge in a bit of ‘me time’ at the Spa, or if you are a single parent; everyone was raving about the facilities for children. The child-care centre is air conditioned, spotlessly clean and with loads of toys and books, a very welcoming environment. Qualified British nannies supervise children’s clubs which are organised into age categories. Babies and toddlers up to 2 years are chargeable, but all the other children’s clubs are free for a half-day session up to age 6 years and from 6 years it is free all day. In the school holidays there is the Indy Club from ages 14 to 17 years too. There are also free evening activities, such as film nights and hair braiding. It is highly recommended that you pre-book childcare to avoid disappointment.
Pools: A large pool area with plenty of sunbeds and parasols is situated next to the main part of the hotel with the children’s pool nearby. There is also an indoor pool. The adults only pool is half way between the hotel and the beach, it is surrounded by lush shrubs and grass and is a haven of peace and solitude. If you prefer a livelier pool check out the one nearer the beach with the pool bar, where you can also avail yourself of a cocktail! This is the perfect place to sit pre-dinner as the sun goes down and the sky, sea and pool blend into an infinite blue.
Accommodation: Rooms are large, spacious, air conditioned and contemporary in style. Bathroom includes bath and shower as well as a range of bath products. Towels and pool towels are provided and changed as necessary. All rooms either have a private balcony or terrace area. My room looked out onto the main pool area which is close to the main building. Although I wasn’t disturbed at all, if your prefer peace and quite then a room further away from the hotel may be better. Room allocation is at time of booking with Mark Warner and although room requests can’t be guaranteed, they will be accommodated wherever possible. We also viewed accommodation with a private pool.
Activities: Whatever your fitness levels you can participate in activities including sailing, wind surfing, water skiing, kayaking, tennis and cycling most of which are included in the cost of your stay. As a group we spent a morning by the beach and after a brief safety talk we were kitted up for our first experience of paddle boarding, which was much easier than it looks and great fun. Some of our group also had a sailing lesson and water skied, but I decided to join a fitness class instead. Later on the same day we cycled to the nearest town and enjoyed a beer at a beachside café before returning back to the resort. There are organised mountain biking trips for all abilities and levels of fitness, long flat sea front roads or explore the surrounding hills for a more challenging ride. We also enjoyed a fun group tennis session, but there are intensive courses or private lessons available too.
Explore: Why not explore a little further afield? We were lucky to take part in an organised trip by boat to nearby Lindos. The day started cool and cloudy and as we neared our destination it appeared that we were heading straight into a rock face, but suddenly we turned a corner and navigated into a magical grotto. From here we continued to Lindos Town, where there are plenty of shops to buy souvenirs or walk up to the castle and take in the view. On the way back we stopped at a bay and swam from the boat to a wonderful beach with soft sand and warm turquoise water!
Mark Warner’s Levante Beach Resort is certainly five star but there are more than 5 reasons why you should go. Perfect for family holidays, whether you are a single parent family or taking extended family with you, children of all ages are well catered for. The safety procedures in place for the sports activities give you peace of mind, instructors are highly qualified and all equipment is properly looked after. The restaurants offer fantastic choice in the buffet style meals with locally sourced ingredients and all diets are catered for. There is also the Greek Taverna near the pool serving more traditional food and the pan-asian restaurant, Annora which is open for lunch and dinner at an extra cost. And if you really want be in touch with the outside world, or you want to tweet your #MWmoment there is free Wi-Fi!
For more information or to book your next Mark Warner holiday call us on 01932 866565 or email
