Cava D'oro Hotel Reviews

My wife and I found this bijou hotel in the Old Town to be as we anticipated as before booking it had been well researched and in fact exceeded our expectations. With regard to cleanliness, it could not be faulted; nevertheless I feel it necessary to draw attention the way the management treated its clients, in particular ones arriving through Thomas Cook
On arrival we were taken up the road to the 'annex' as there were no smoking rooms available in the hotel. The accommodation offered there was totally unacceptable and in any case we had particular booked for the Cava Doro.

I made a call to TC's local office and got the impression that they were not aware the Cava D'Oro had an annex and it appears while I was still holding the line the hotel received a phone call and we were provided with a second floor room at the front and assured them we would not smoke in it.

My subsequent research established that the annex is in fact the 'Hotel Atha'

Our next encounter with the management was using the raised area of the courtyard being told that the area which contains two tables, four chairs and an umbrella was private and for the sole use of room 20.

After two days the management told us we could in fact smoke on the balcony as this was considered to be 'outside' the hotel. If had been disclosed from day one life would have been easier.

The next encounter involved the switching out of the lights in the courtyard at 2045 hours leaving six guests in quite conversation in the dark, all who happened to be Thomas Cook clients. The explanation was that this was because guests have complained about the noise and all those that had allegedly complained were Thomas Cook clients.

We met several clients who were expecting to be accommodated in the 'Cava Doro' and ended up either in the 'Atha' or even in a second annex in an alleyway behind the 'Atha'. We were shown one of the rooms in this second annex by a guest and to say it was bleak is an understatement; the only natural light was via a small fanlight over the door!

Although the accommodation was excellent in the 'Cava D'Oro' it is quite apparent that 'the Boss' has an attitude problem and appears to be able to cope with guest staying for one or two nights but is not able to understand the expectations and needs of guests and who are not transients and are staying for one or two weeks and use the hotel as their holiday centre

Despite this Old Town Rhodes is an experience not to be missed, any bar or restuarant will provide good food and service and there are plenty of them.

Having seen the Cava D'Oro's website my husband and I were looking forward to spending our 3rd trip to Rhodes in an atmospheric small hotel in the Old Town. In particular the site mentions a 'family run' hotel, and we were expecting the kind of enthusiastic welcome we have always received in Greece and Rhodes in particular. Oh dear.

The hotel is indeed beautiful, and much care has been taking in designing the rooms. It is clean and well located. The only problem is the owner / manager who clearly never made it to charm school. Virtually no conversation, even at breakfast the first day having arrived at 2am (you have to let yourself in. She was unmoved by any problems (we had no air con for 4 days)and ran the place a bit like a 1940s holiday camp - lights out in the courtyard at 11.30, told off like naughty children if you spill a drop of coffee or sit in the wrong chair. Several people had the same experience and all complained to Thomas Cook.

Be aware that even if you've booked the Cava D'Oro it is often overbooked and you are sent down the street to 'The Annexe' which the same people own. It is not particularly pleasant with some steep steps to the top rooms. People sent there complained to Thomas Cook, who hadn't even been told about 'The Annexe'!

Despite our host, Rhodes was as great as ever. Don't eat in the Old Town - complete rip off - head up past the harbour to some of the restaurants in the New Town near Mandilara St (Thomas and Charlotte's for fish soup, Il Rodi for Italian), and for the greatest barman ever, go to Bar Peacock on Mandilara and ask for George.