Sol Cosmopolitan Rhodes

Our stay at the hotel was absolutely wonderful! We loved the delicious food, our fantastic room with a beautiful sea view, and the entertainment provided every day. The entire staff was incredibly friendly, welcoming and helpful. A special mention goes to the bartender, Mikes, who made the best mojito I have ever had in my life! 🍹😊 Our holiday in Rhodes, combined with our stay at this hotel, was truly unforgettable. I would definitely recommend this hotel to everyone — honestly, there is nothing we could complain about! And that delicious baklava… I’m sitting at home now and still dreaming about it! 😍 Thank you for making our holiday so special. We would happily come back! ❤️

Unfortunately, we had one of the worst hotel experiences at Sol Cosmopolitan Rhodes. What was supposed to be a relaxing holiday turned into a stay where we genuinely felt we had to avoid the hotel as much as possible during the day. The sunbed situation was ridiculous — by 6am, almost every sunbed was already taken, meaning you had to get up incredibly early just to have a chance of getting one. The pool was also extremely overcrowded, making it difficult to relax or enjoy the facilities. The food was another major disappointment. On several occasions, food was uncooked and, in our opinion, completely inedible. We ended up eating out instead because we simply didn’t feel comfortable relying on the hotel food. We spent much of our holiday away from the hotel, only really returning to sleep, which meant the hotel became more of a base than somewhere we actually wanted to spend time. The drinks included in the all-inclusive package were also very disappointing. They tasted like syrup, and many normal drinks that you would expect to be included weren’t available as part of the all-inclusive package. Cleanliness was a major concern too. We had ants in our room, found hairs in the bed and generally felt that the hotel was not properly clean. When we asked for the bedding to be changed, the maid did not seem willing to do so. On top of this, the safe was an additional €2 per day, which felt disappointing when we had already paid for an all-inclusive holiday. What made everything worse was the attitude of some of the staff. When we raised our concerns, we felt that they were largely unbothered and didn’t seem interested in resolving the issues. Overall, we were extremely disappointed with our stay. We spent more time trying to avoid the hotel, eating out and finding things to do elsewhere than actually enjoying the all-inclusive facilities we had paid for. Sadly, we would not recommend Sol Cosmopolitan Rhodes and would definitely not return

We recently stayed at the Sol Cosmopolitan in Rhodes as a family group of seven, two adults, two grandparents and our three children aged 12, 10 and 4. Overall, we did have a lovely family holiday and, most importantly, the children really enjoyed themselves. However, having stayed at many 4-star, 4-star-plus and 5-star hotels, we personally felt that the Sol Cosmopolitan was closer to a 3-star standard than a 4-star hotel. For the price we paid, our expectations were considerably higher. Arrival and check-in: On arrival, the hotel looked very pleasant from the outside and the main entrance was welcoming. We arrived at around 11pm and the check-in process was quick and straightforward. We did, however, have to pay the €70 per room holiday/tourist tax, meaning an additional €140 for our two rooms on arrival. Obviously, this wasn't a hotel charge and was the applicable holiday tax, but it's worth being aware of as an additional cost when budgeting for your stay. We were given our two room key cards and told that the restaurant was still open for drinks and something to eat, which was appreciated after arriving late. We had a quick drink and some bread and fruit before returning to reception, as we hadn't been given a map or any clear instructions about where our rooms were located. Reception staff then kindly showed us to our rooms. Our family room: The family room was a good size, but unfortunately it was very dated and some of the finer details really let it down. The coving on the ceiling had been patched up with what appeared to be tissue paper, and the mini fridge/freezer was missing the freezer flap, meaning the water we put inside froze solid. The bathroom was particularly small for a family room. The bath/shower screen was missing the rubber seal along the bottom, so unless the additional shower curtain was pulled completely across, water would flood onto the bathroom floor. Our room was on the ground floor overlooking the pool and was situated directly alongside the sunbeds. While the pool view was pleasant, there was very little privacy, particularly with people using the sunbeds immediately outside. We also noticed that the tiles immediately outside our room door were wet throughout our entire stay, which was something we found unusual. There were positives. The beds were very comfortable, although the pillows were quite lumpy. The shower had excellent water pressure and the bathroom had a full-sized hairdryer, which was a nice touch. The cleaning staff were fantastic and did a very good job keeping the room clean and making the beds each day. One morning, however, a member of staff knocked and entered the room before we had a chance to answer, which was a little uncomfortable. Food and drinks: The food was okay overall, with a good selection of different options available. There was generally something for everyone, and our children particularly enjoyed the choices available at the pool bar. However, as the week went on, we found the food became quite repetitive. The freshly made pizza was definitely a highlight, it was delicious and very popular with our children. Unfortunately, the way the food was laid out at the pool bar made getting the pizza quite frustrating. The pizza station was right at the very end of the food queue, and on several occasions I found myself queuing around 30 people deep, only to then have to walk single-file along the queue with an empty plate. You would pass the salad, chips and fried food stations before eventually reaching the pizza. It would have been much better if the pizza station had been positioned separately or if there had been a more efficient system for accessing it, rather than having to que past all the food to get the single item you want. Breakfast had a similar issue. The pain au chocolat were positioned directly next to the pancake station, meaning anyone wanting a pastry had to queue behind people serving themselves pancakes. On one morning, I witnessed one child take around 14 pancakes while I was waiting behind simply to take two small pain au chocolat to have with my coffee. The issue wasn't really the availability of food, there was plenty to choose from, but the way the some of the food stations were organised. There was also self-service ice cream available at the pool bar, which was a nice option for the children. Rather than individual small pots, it was a scoop-yourself system. Unfortunately, this sometimes meant waiting behind groups of unsupervised children helping themselves to copious amounts of ice cream, which could become quite frustrating, not to mention the cross-contamination! The drinks were also self-service. On several occasions, we found that the soda/concentrate syrup had run out, meaning certain drinks simply weren't available until they were replenished. The cocktails were okay, although the strength seemed to vary considerably. Some were very weak while others were noticeably stronger, so there wasn't much consistency. For the children, the mocktail selection was quite limited. I believe there were around four options on the menu, with two or three being made largely from fizzy drinks. As one of our children don't drink fizzy drinks, this meant there were very few mocktail options for them. The coffee was another slight disappointment. Unless you were prepared to pay extra for the more expensive coffees, the main coffee machine offered quite small cappuccinos and similar drinks. Down at the pool bar, the coffee option was essentially black coffee with a jug of milk to add yourself. It's also worth noting that the all-inclusive bar finishes at 11pm. After this time, drinks have to be paid for separately. The standard all-inclusive spirits were local/unbranded alcohol, while branded spirits were available at an additional cost. Pools and splash area: There are three main pools along with a separate children's pirate splash area, so there is a good choice for families. The 2 larger main pools near the pool bar were around 120cm deep, which was a great depth for our children and meant they could enjoy the pools without them being too deep. There was also a shallow baby pool attached to one of the main pools, separated from the deeper pool by a large metal barrier. The children's pirate splash park is located across the hotel away from the main pools and pool bar. Our 4-year-old really enjoyed it and it was a nice area specifically aimed at younger children. That said, the splash park and surrounding area are definitely starting to look tired. The equipment is very faded and worn and the whole area could really benefit from refurbishment and a good lick of paint. The sunbed situation: One of the biggest negatives for us was the ongoing sunbed war. As a group of seven, finding enough sunbeds together (we only ever chose 4 for the adults) was particularly difficult. Sunbeds were extremely difficult to get unless you were prepared to get up ridiculously early. Some guests were reserving the front-row sunbeds around the main pool the evening before, leaving their towels out overnight. This didn't appear to be regulated or challenged by hotel staff, meaning sunbeds could effectively be claimed for hours before anyone was actually using them. From what we experienced, if you weren't up at around 4am putting towels on sunbeds, you could find yourself without one until much later in the afternoon, sometimes around 4pm or when the pool was getting ready to be closed down for the evening. This was particularly frustrating as a family with children and grandparents when we naturally wanted to spend time together around the pool. We appreciate that sunbed availability can be an issue at many holiday resorts, but this felt particularly extreme. It was frustrating to see rows of sunbeds reserved from the previous evening or very early morning while guests who were actually ready to use the pool struggled to find somewhere to sit. The hotel really needs to address this and properly enforce a sunbed reservation policy. Even a simple rule that towels cannot be left unattended for extended periods, with staff removing them, would make a huge difference. Entertainment: The entertainment area is located over by the children's pirate splash park, away from the main bar and main pool area. It consists of a relatively small stage with rows and rows of tightly packed plastic chairs. We didn't actually sit and watch the evening entertainment or take part in the bingo, so I wouldn't want to comment unfairly on the quality of the shows. However, we could hear the entertainment from around the hotel and saw the entertainment staff going around selling bingo tickets. The evening entertainment during our stay included karaoke and a three-piece singing group, as well as bingo. The singing sounded enjoyable from what we heard. Bingo cost €10 to participate in. Personally, had bingo been included as part of the all-inclusive package, I would have been much more inclined to take part. Having to pay an additional €10 for an activity at an all-inclusive resort was something I found disappointing. During the day, the entertainment team ran activities such as pool aerobics. One particular male member of the entertainment team was especially enthusiastic and really brought some energy to the activity! We did find that the atmosphere around the pool was much better on the days when music was playing. There were some days when there was no poolside music at all, and the atmosphere felt noticeably flat and quiet. A little more consistency with the daytime music and entertainment would definitely help create a livelier holiday atmosphere. Staff: Throughout the hotel, everyone we encountered was very friendly, polite and helpful. From reception and the restaurant to the pool areas and housekeeping team, we found the staff welcoming and approachable. Beach and location: The hotel is situated across a busy road from the beach. Thankfully, there is a tunnel underneath the main road which provides a much safer and easier way to get to the beach without having to cross the road directly, which was particularly useful with children and grandparents. There are designated sunbeds belonging to the hotel available on the beach. The beach itself is very, very pebbly, so I would definitely recommend bringing beach shoes, especially if you have children. The sea was beautiful and the water was lovely and clear, although it could be quite rough at times. I think this was largely due to the wind, as we had some particularly windy days during our stay. Just along the beach there is also a jet ski hire company, which isn't connected to the hotel, but it provided some extra daytime entertainment for the family. Airport transfer: The hotel is theoretically only around a 15–20 minute transfer from the airport. However, our experience was very different. We ended up being the last drop-off on our transfer and the journey took over an hour. Obviously, this isn't something the hotel can necessarily control, but it's worth bearing in mind when travelling with young children or older family members. Overall: Our children genuinely enjoyed their stay and we did have a lovely family holiday. There were certainly positives, the staff were friendly, the children enjoyed the pools, the food had plenty of choice and there were some lovely moments as a family. However, having stayed at many 4-star, 4-star-plus and 5-star hotels, I personally feel the Sol Cosmopolitan is closer to a 3-star standard than a 4-star hotel. This was particularly noticeable in the condition of some of the facilities, the dated family room, the sunbed situation and the general attention to detail. For us, the biggest issue was value for money. We paid a significant amount for our holiday and, based on the price and the hotel's 4-star rating, our expectations were considerably higher than what we experienced. The additional €140 we paid on arrival was the applicable holiday/tourist tax rather than a hotel charge, but it is worth factoring this into the overall holiday budget. Would we return? Unfortunately, no. That isn't to say we didn't enjoy our holiday, we did, and our children had a great time. But having experienced the hotel, we wouldn't choose to return, as we feel there are other resorts offering a higher standard for the price we paid. Overall: a pleasant family holiday with some lovely staff and plenty for the children to enjoy, but for us, the Sol Cosmopolitan didn't quite live up to its 4-star rating or the price tag.

We have just returned from an awesome 10 night stay at this lovely hotel. As a family, we have been lucky to have many holidays, many in 5 star hotels. I do think the food in this hotel was some of the nicest we have had (including going long haul). We did eat out a couple of nights, but that was only because we like visit the surrounding areas and sample the cuisine on offer. The hotel is spotlessly clean and has excellent facilities. Our room was basic (which I tend to expect in Greece) but very clean and comfortable beds. Massively important - the aircon in the room was brilliant and kept us all cool. This was very much needed seen as there was a heat wave whilst we were there. The hotel is in the perfect spot for Old Rhodes Town, this is a must in my opinion. We used to love a walk to the beach but did not look to spend too much time there as the sea is very choppy,. The staff at this hotel are exceptional, we must highlight some. Irane (not sure I’ve spent that correctly) was fantastic cleaning our room to such a high standard each day, she was super friendly with the biggest smile! Nikos - he just makes the best omelettes and always likes a conversation as he works! Max in the bar knows your order straight away and is lovely. Constantine the manager has to be one of the most present managers we’ve come across at a hotel, even mucking in clearing tables and serving behind the bar! Finally, probably, in our opinion, one of the hotels biggest assets, is Leslie from the animation team, the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the hotel is amazing and like nothing we have come across in all of our travels. His aqua gym has to be the best I’ve ever done. The whole animation team are fantastic, but Leslie is a different level! We would highly recommend this hotel to families, I’m sure we will return in the future.

We have just returned from a week away in Rhodes. This hotel was lovely, modern & super clean where ever you go! The staff work so hard making sure everywhere is clean constantly. Everyone was polite, helpful & generally very kind. The food was excellent! We’ve done many all inclusive hotels & this one was by far the best. The area is lovely, not a great deal to do but a 5 min taxi takes you into Rhodes old town which is lovely for sites & shopping. The beach is literally across the road with private sun loungers. There are trips available , easy to book via the hotel or Manos next door. We did a boat trip to Marmaris (Turkey) which is an hour with a whole day to shop & look around. My only negative was the sun loungers - my partner got up at 5am everyday, still with many beds already taken! I would 100% recommend this hotel to normal families like us that want a nice hotel with no fuss but ticks the boxes for a fab holiday!!