THE IXIAN GRAND & ALL SUITES RHODES REVIEW: A RELAXED ADULTS-ONLY ESCAPE ON THE AEGEAN
THE IXIAN GRAND & ALL SUITES RHODES REVIEW
The Ixian Grand & All Suites Rhodes Review: A Relaxed Adults-Only Escape On The Aegean
The best luxury hotels don’t demand your attention. They quietly earn it. It doesn’t arrive with chandeliers the size of cathedrals or staff who insist on calling you “sir” every thirty seconds. Instead, it quietly hands you a cold drink, points you towards the Aegean Sea and somehow persuades your shoulders to drop about three inches within the first hour. That’s exactly what The Ixian Grand & All Suites delivers on the island of Rhodes.
Just six kilometres from Rhodes International Airport and only ten minutes from the UNESCO-listed streets of Rhodes Old Town, this adults-only five-star resort feels wonderfully removed from the real world. Close enough for convenience, far enough to forget what day it is. Which, let’s be honest, is the entire point of a proper Greek holiday.
First Impressions
Despite having 348 rooms and suites, The Ixian Grand never feels overwhelming. Palm trees sway over manicured gardens, jasmine perfumes the warm evening air and the soundtrack is little more than cicadas, distant waves and the occasional clink of glasses. It is elegant without ever becoming intimidating. The hotel sits directly on a Blue Flag beach where the Aegean shifts through impossible shades of turquoise and cobalt. The shoreline is pebbled rather than sandy, a characteristic of Rhodes’ west coast, but the reward is exceptionally clear water that practically dares you not to spend half your holiday swimming.
Rather than chasing Instagram theatrics, The Ixian Grand focuses on creating an atmosphere that’s genuinely easy to live in. The interiors are contemporary, comfortable and quietly elegant, allowing the sea views and landscaped gardens to remain the stars of the show. It’s a hotel designed for switching off rather than showing off. There are two main swimming pools, one freshwater and one seawater, alongside a quieter more secluded pool beside the spa for anyone whose definition of relaxation doesn’t include inflatable unicorns or poolside competitions. Thankfully, that’s everyone here.
The Suite
I stayed in one of the hotel’s exclusive All Suites, occupying the upper floor with something that should probably be compulsory in Mediterranean architecture: a private rooftop pool. Each morning began with uninterrupted views across the glittering Aegean before the world’s shortest commute, thirty seconds upstairs, delivered me into warm water overlooking the sea. Frankly, every hotel should work like this.
Inside, the suite balances comfort with understated luxury. A huge king-size bed, generous lounge area, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and an expansive bathroom with rainfall shower and deep soaking bath make it somewhere you genuinely want to spend time rather than simply sleep. The minibar is replenished daily, while the balcony quickly becomes the obvious place for a chilled glass of Assyrtiko as the sun slips below the horizon. Privacy, comfort and just enough indulgence to remind you why you booked the holiday in the first place. By the third day I realised I hadn’t heard a single raised voice. No booming daytime entertainment, no relentless pool games and no soundtrack beyond the wind through the palms and the sea rolling onto the shore. In an age where luxury often means louder and bigger, that silence felt surprisingly indulgent.
Food Worth Staying In For
All-inclusive dining can sometimes feel like a marathon of beige buffets. Not here. Six restaurants might sound ambitious for a resort of this size. Happily, each feels distinct and none gives the impression of simply existing to make up the numbers.
Suite guests enjoy breakfast and dinner at Alazonia, an elegant à la carte restaurant overlooking the sea. Breakfast is exactly how breakfast should be on holiday: Eggs Benedict, Eggs Royale, perfectly cooked omelettes, flaky Greek pastries, thick local yoghurt drizzled with honey and enough excellent coffee to make early mornings almost enjoyable. Dinner changes nightly, keeping things fresh throughout longer stays.
For authentic Greek cooking, Milonges Greek Restaurant is essential. Reservations disappear quickly, and with good reason. Dinner begins with an abundant spread of meze, creamy tzatziki, spicy feta, stuffed vine leaves and roasted vegetables before moving on to beautifully slow-cooked lamb kleftiko, rich beef stifado or fresh local fish. Impossibly flaky filo pastries and syrup-soaked desserts appear despite everyone insisting they’re already full.
The biggest surprise, however, is Muza Htista Nikkei. Japanese-Peruvian cuisine probably isn’t what most people expect to find at a Greek beach resort, yet it works brilliantly. Fresh ceviche, delicate sushi, tuna tataki, beautifully prepared seafood and expertly grilled ribeye create one of the resort’s most memorable meals.
Meanwhile, Vis à Vis quietly demonstrates how good buffet dining can be when somebody genuinely cares. Fresh Mediterranean cooking, live stations, generous salads, grilled seafood and rotating international dishes mean boredom never really gets a chance. Throughout the day, Nostimo Snack Bar keeps everyone supplied with wraps, pizzas, fresh fruit and lighter bites between swims. Yes, the cocktails are included too.
Beyond The Sun Lounger
Although you could happily spend an entire week alternating between pool, beach and restaurant, Rhodes deserves exploration.
Rhodes Old Town is only ten minutes away and remains one of Europe’s most fascinating medieval cities. Behind its formidable stone walls lies a maze of cobbled streets, hidden courtyards, artisan workshops and centuries of layered history. The late afternoon, when the heat begins to soften and the honey-coloured stone glows in the evening light, is the perfect time to wander.
Further south, Lindos delivers exactly the sort of dazzling whitewashed Greek village you’ve imagined since childhood, crowned by its dramatic ancient acropolis overlooking brilliant blue seas.
Nearby, Kalithea Springs combines beautifully restored Italian architecture with some of the clearest swimming spots on the island.
And if you really want to eat like the locals, seek out Stagna Kozas, a family-run seafood taverna overlooking the Aegean where the day’s catch is presented before being grilled almost impossibly simply. Sometimes the oldest restaurants really are the best.
The Spa
Returning from Rhodes’ summer heat to the hotel’s Aegeo Spa feels like pressing pause. Massages inspired by Greek wellness traditions, using olive oil and aromatic herbs, sit alongside an indoor heated pool, steam room and peaceful relaxation spaces. After time here, the only pressing decision left is whether to return to the rooftop pool or order another cocktail. Neither is particularly stressful.
The Verdict
The Ixian Grand & All Suites doesn’t try to reinvent the luxury beach resort. Instead, it focuses on getting the important things right. The setting is glorious. The suites are genuinely luxurious, the food consistently exceeds expectations and the service finds that elusive balance between polished professionalism and genuine warmth.
More importantly, it understands something many luxury resorts forget. Luxury isn’t always about having more. Sometimes it’s waking to the shimmer of the Aegean, climbing thirty steps to your own rooftop pool, feeling jasmine drift through the warm evening air and realising you haven’t looked at your phone for hours. The Ixian Grand makes that surprisingly easy.
The Ixian Grand & All Suites at a Glance
Location: Ixia, Rhodes, Greece
Best for: Couples, honeymooners and adults seeking a peaceful luxury escape
Distance from Rhodes Airport: Around 15 minutes
Distance to Rhodes Old Town: Around 10 minutes
Board basis: All Inclusive
Highlights:
Adults-only resort
Private pool suites
Six restaurants and multiple bars
Blue Flag beach
Aegeo Spa
Easy access to Rhodes Old Town and Lindos
