Doreta Beach Hotel

This was my first time in Rhodes and I was a bit worried as I had heard it was really quiet. I needn't have been worried however; as this was the best holiday I’ve ever been on!
The hotel was great; very big with lots to do, the food was good and the bar staff were very friendly and entertaining. The pool was great, very big with a waterfall and mini jacuzzi, and 2 big bridges which were beautiful at night when all lit up.
The hotel is right on the beach, although the beach is a little rocky but that is the case in Rhodes.
The entertainment team were very good (and very handsome too!) And all the kids were always up doing something.
There was a mini olympics day where the children competed in lots of games, which they really enjoyed, and there was also an olympic day for the adults to.
The only small complaint is the amount of wasps around the hotel but if you didn't leave your drink lying around for too long they were okay. Also, the bar stopped serving free drinks at 11pm which wasn't to good as the evening show went on till 11.30-11.45.
The hotel is right in the path of the airport but it honestly wasn't that big a problem. The rooms were good, clean & spacious.
All in all a great holiday!

I have just returned from 2 weeks at the Doreta Beach and felt that I must add a review to reassure anyone reading some of the negative comments who are due to depart to this hotel.
We went with an open mind but after reading some reviews were more than a little nervous. However, we had no need to worry.
The hotel was clean and the staff friendly and willing to help with any queries.
The accommodation was adequate but with little storage space and our maisonette had a spiral staircase which had large gaps which meant we had to watch our 2yr old like a hawk, but this did not stop us enjoying ourselves, and we were always aware that the safety standards in these countries are not the same as in Britain.
On a positive note the room was cleaned everyday and fresh towels provided. We saw the pool and surrounding areas cleaned every evening and you could smell the chlorine so we knew it was done properly, it is rather deep but well marked.
The food in the Hotel restaurant and snack bar was warm and tasty; you had to be a really fussy eater to not be able to find anything to cater for your taste. We ate at the beginning, middle and near the end of the opening times (not all in 1 night!!) and there was always plenty of choice and always hot. Microwaves were provided for anyone who needed to warm up food.
We did not find the entertainment up to much we watched it on a few nights and the kids like the mini disco (same every night but anyone who's been to a family hotel will already know this, and know the words and actions) there was still plenty to enjoy, we went with our extended family group and the men and teenagers enjoyed playing pool.
It was cool and pleasant by the pool bar but it is a popular area and most seats were taken by 9pm. We didn’t really have too much problem with mosquitoes although some of our party got bitten but I myself used repellent and was ok.
The drinks are not as strong as you would expect in the uk but when you can drink through most of the day you would be unable to walk and have very little memory of your holiday if they were!!
We really enjoyed our holiday at the Doreta Beach and there were 12 of us to please. I would not hesitate to recommend it for anyone thinking of taking their family to Rhodes. The Island has some beautiful sights including the bay at Lindos and Old Rhodes Town.
Do not be put off by some of the other reports we found them to be inaccurate, some people are just born to moan, you can find fault in anything if you look but if you go determined to have a good time I can assure you that you will, we all did.

Obviously everyone looks for different things in a holiday however I am surprised at the low rating given on previous comments and therefore felt compelled to add my own having had a superb time during my week at the resort and booking to return again this August for a further two weeks.
Clearly in May there were a few teething problems with the Animation Team as it was the beginning of the season and they themselves were finding their feet with routines, however despite a wide variety of shows and possible difficulties in communication due to the team being different nationalities they gave 100% effort. I am sure that now the shows have been much more rehearsed they will be improved when I return. It is important to remember this is not Butlins style entertainment and you are not going to get perfectly polished shows with dancers and lighting. There were nights when the Animation Team did not perform and these were filled with Karaoke and also a Greek Night which (unfortunately I was not there at this point) friends informed me was very good. If the shows however are not to everyone's taste there is a large area indoors where you can sit and enjoy your evening or the pool bar which also stays open late with music playing and the beautifully lit pool or the sea to look out onto. The Animation team also run a short kids disco every evening which the children enjoy, learning dance routines which they continue to sing and dance for a few weeks after they get home and are a big hit.
The hotel itself has a very relaxing and safe environment and although it is clearly not the Ritz, by continental standards I found the rooms and the cleanliness to be standard.
The pool is a decent size and shape which both the children and adults enjoy along with a fairly large baby pool and it is literally ten steps to the beach where, although rocky and not really a sunbathers paradise, you can enjoy taking a pedalo out or going on a banana boat.
On the all inclusive basis there are a number of drinks included which they give variety to by making cocktails which were very popular. The food was very varied and breakfast obviously catered for a number of nationalities with meats and cheeses, cereals, toast, fruit, freshly made omelettes using the ingredients of your choice and most of the contents of a full English that you would expect which whilst they are a bit different to what we are used to are nonetheless very tasty.
The snack bar offers various snacks throughout the day extending breakfast for those which may have missed the restaurant and then having pasta, pizza, chips and other items through out the day. In comparison to a nearby all inclusive hotel which a friend has just returned from giving only pitta breads on one day. Dinner again was a variety of dishes offering meats, fish, vegetarian, pasta and kids meals with fish fingers, chicken nuggets, beans etc. Although I tended to stick with the vegetarian options I enjoyed the food immensely.
I initially booked to go to this hotel in May as I received details of an offer on YouTravel.com and therefore did not have high expectations and accepted that four star in Rhodes would not be the same as four star hotels in Britain and therefore I was not disappointed however in many areas it far exceeded my expectations with the variety and quality of food, the variety of entertainment, enjoyable environment and the friendly people hence booking for a further two weeks at full price in peak season.
The room was as I expected and as I did not intend to spend a considerable amount of time in my room this was not a concern and was glad to find that the balconies were high as this had been a previous worry going with my seven year old. The radio in the room did not work and the tv only had news 24 in English and therefore I would advise taking some kind of music player to listen to whilst getting ready for the evening.
It is a good idea to hire a car for a couple of days as there are a number of places to visit such as Lindos bay which is a must, Falaraki for a variety of shops, boat excursions and night life and the water park which is excellent for all ages.
Overall I enjoyed my holiday very much and spent the majority within the resort and am looking forward to returning.

I read several reviews of this hotel prior to departure, but we only booked our holiday the day before we left so we had to kind of go with what was available at the time. We were a little aprehensive due to the number of awful reviews that we read but when we arrived our worries were quickly burried.
Due to our flight being five hours delayed we arrived in the early evening, we checked in without queues and although the receptionists weren't going to receive any 'happy face'' awards, they were efficient enough. One receptionist also said that due to our late check in, we would be offered a last minute room, however if we were unhappy with it, we could move in the morning (I admit, this did worry me, why would they be offering a replacement room already?) However when we reached the room, we had little to worry about. Although I do agree that this hotel is not a 4* by UK/USA standards, it's certainly a 4* Greece Style, I have stayed in many smaller Greek hotels and this was the Ritz in comparison.
Our first visit to the buffet was satisfactory, as were the many others that followed. If it's Las Vegas style buffets, or Carribean All Inclusive Buffets your looking for then I suggest to stick with those destinations. While the food wasn't overly exciting, we managed to eat a hearty breakfast and two good meals each day (and my husband is the fussiest eater in town!!!) The waiters were very polite and the restaurant was always clean and tidy. The same can not be said for the snack bar outside.....adults avoid, its catered towards children, and its a little reminiscent of the school dining hall after service.
The pool was great, clean and tidy, as was the poolside bar (where the cocktails are scrummy, especial the ''Sexy Greek'' and ''Sunset'') One thing I would say though is that due to the depth of the pool, and the lack of depth markers, children who can not swim should be accompanied by an adult at all times. There is a childs paddling pool though for toddlers and non-swimmers alike.
My husband and I never had any difficulty in finding a sun bed by the beach, on the lawned area, the sand was soft and the sea refreshing (the strong winds blowing in off the sea did make the water a little rough, and again should be avoided by non swimmers and lilo lollers (as I discovered to my great embarrassment, although I am a very strong swimmer, the currents and high waves can make a lazy swim feel like you've swam the channel and back) I would also advise you to purchase a pair of ''sea shoes'' from the supermarket opposite the hotel (5 euros will buy you a pair of rubber soled slip ons) essential for entering and exiting the sea, the rocks are kind of uncomfortable and will ensure that you look like a floundering elephant trying to ballet dance ever time you want to cool off. I found that wearing these little gem of a shoe, saved all sorts of dignity and before the end of the holiday, people will be asking where you've had them from.
Any way, if its cheap, cheerful and relaxing, Doreta Beach is the place for you. If it's out and out luxury that you require, avoid like the plague!!!

HI, dont lisern to previous repot, must be a big moaner! THIS HOTEL IS FANTASTIC! this is a 4 star not 3???
I am well travelled. we got moved to this hotel from the horrid princes sun. how any one can complain about the dorretta? the hotel is imacculate in all aspects.
All staff are excellent so polite and hard working. our sea view room was large for 2 adults and 2 children, cleaned daily with fresh sheets and towels. the food was great, how they make any money is beyond me, expensive sea food, quality selection of meats drinks etc never cold all of high standerd, fitting for a 5 star. bar staff brillaint, massive range of cocktails and other drinks tasting very more'ish. the pools are great for the kids. the entertainment is not the best, great for kid but after a couple of drinks i did laugh.
I had hire car for two weeks, did the whole island and to be honest this hotel is the best part of the island. rhodes is very expensive, the airport duty free is a rip-off its cheaper to buy from little corner shops, bewhere of greeks bearing gifts, the whole island is geerd-up to get our euros. but felt safe and happy at this hotel. lots of english and set up for the english. they are in the middle of a heat wave, hot but lovely cool breeze from private clean beach. beutiful gardens, tennis courts, pedlos etc all free. plenty of sun beds.
The only thing you'll find bad is some of the people who stay there! no respect for others. but we made lots of nice friends there, in short a excellent family holiday, first time ive missed being back on holiday.
There is so much to say about how many things that are so good there i would be here all day, my advice just go there and relax and enjoy.
So to all the staff at the dorrtetta beach hotel....thank you, you made our holiday xxx

Hi all. I read the reviews from this site before we went. (we got back Sunday 8/7/07). We were a little anxious until we got there.
The hotel is fantastic! We enjoyed every second of the 2 weeks all inclusive stay. The hotel staff were excellent - polite, friendly and a great sense of humour.
We were a party of 2 adults and 2 children (7 and 11 yrs old) and our room was perfectly adequate. Free air conditioning in the room which was very effective. We even had to turn it off at night because we were waking up cold, and this was during a 2 week heat wave! The rooms were cleaned every day.
The restaurant is great. The breakfasts were lovely for us Brits there were omelette, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, beans, sausages, toast, a separate crepe bar, all the cereals, bacon (yes it was streaky but I have not been anywhere in the world where bacon is like ours). The lunch and evening meals were great too. Always approx 6 different main courses to choose from. Veal, lamb, pork, fish, chicken, spaghetti, lovely salad bar and a good choice of sweets.
The beer is a lager beer, I saw the metal barrels so don't think that `'ocal brew' means its horrible because its not, it was lovely. The pool side snack bar always had chips, spaghetti, pizza, lamb. Fantastic for hungry kids.
The entertainment was good too. currently there are 6 'animation team' members who do a good job.
If you want to eat out at any time there a few tavernas very close by and personally I would recommend 'Mikes' (a very lovely Greek chap) and Buffalo Bills (also a great friendly chap).
There are about 5 or 6 super markets very near with gifts, cigs, tobacco. spirits, clothes, snorkels etc etc etc.
2 or 3 car hire places opposite the hotel, plenty of petrol stations. We saw at least 18 stations between the hotel and Lindos, with the nearest one being 1 km away.
The pool is fresh water and is clean (and warm) and yes you have to get up early to put your towel on a sunbed (that happens almost everywhere!) If you get down between 7.30 and 8 o'clock you will get one easily.
Seriously, if you are going there soon relax and don't worry, it is absolutely great.
We are definitely going back there next year.

We have been to Doreta 6 times since 1999 and have loved it.
This holiday is great if you are on a budget and have got kids. My son is 16 now and still asks when we are going back!
The hotel is very family orientated and can get really busy during peak times.
The only down fall that I find with it, is that there are some many unsupervised children, especially in the evenings running around the hotel whilst their parents are in the bar drinking instead of knowing where their children are! (A disaster waiting to happen).
And not to mention the sunbeds. It absolutely baffles me how people get up between 4 & 5 a.m. to get a sunbed. I did this only once and I placed the towels on 3 sunbeds under a parasol and when we went to them at 9 am some cheeky person had thrown our towels on the floor. Regardless to say I never got up at that time again, as there are a lot of sad people. We did actually see one or two carry sunbeds to their rooms - SAD!
We still managed to find sunbeds, as teenagers could put at least 10 on the football pitch, so you do really have to look for them at times.
We still have fun regardless of this because it is what you make of the holiday as a family.
The rooms are basic and are adequate for the length of time that you spend in them and are cleaned 5 times a week. We have never seen roaches in our room or in the hotel.
There are some flies which are about 1.5 inches long (black & white) that are related to the cricket family and are harmless. They appear only in July and August and live in the trees and only active during the day and they don't really bother you.
The staff are friendly and are willing to help and yes there are one or two impolite members of staff, but you think how many impolite tourists approach them - generally speaking!
The food is good but can get a bit repetitive after the first week.
The entertainment I have found is ok but was better when Rob and the gang used to do it, as people who have been before 2005 will know who I am on about.
The hotel rating is rated at 3* (Thomson) in my personal opinion that would be about right, I wouldn't put it any higher than that, so don't be expecting a 4-5* hotel, as some reviews state that it was a 4* rating every tour operator has their own rating standards.
Buses stop directly outside the hotel and through past experience are not very reliable and you could be sat there waiting a long time or you could just time it right.
There are a stretch of bars and shops outside of the hotel but not really anything else, so it means travelling to see the sights - which is not a bad thing, as we have found something new each time that we have gone sightseeing.
We will definitely go back again within the next 2 - 3 years because we do like the place and the people so much.
All-in-all everybody has their own opinion but I have been as truthful as I can about this hotel putting positive points as well as negative.

1 reader found this review helpful

We had such a fantastic time here, we have been back twice. We took our 3 children age 11 10 and 7.
Everything was clean, the food fabulous, although I have noticed on either sites people commenting on the food.
I can honestly say that it was never boring, we were there for 2 weeks, always a great selection, always pasta, chips, fish and meat, lots of salad fruit rice vegetarian options, and the sweets are great to, and a smaller section just for kids, i.e. Fish fingers beans chicken chips etc, although as my kids love Greek food, they didn’t go near the kids section.
The entertainment was 'Butlins' style but this really suited the kids, as if the kids are bored then it can ruin your holiday!! There was always entertainment on during the day for adults and kids, such as football volleyball water aerobics, games etc etch.
There is also some watersports on the beach front which you have to pay for like pedalos banana boats windsurfing etc.
The other good thing about the hotel is that it is only 10 mins from the airport, we made a mistake one year of booking a hotel with a 3 hour transfer time, and that was a nightmare with the kids.
Overall if you are looking for a holiday where you can relax and the kids can be amused all day then this is the holiday for you. I would definitely go back.

We are still traumatised by this awful hotel, on arrival we were given keys to our accommodation which we understood to be a maisonette as stated on the internet and as confirmed when booking over the telephone,
However, the room, not a maisonette, we were allocated was extremely disappointing and we were disgusted to find the following faults:- Very unclean eg. cobwebs, dirty floors, moth eaten curtains, evidence of damp on the furniture, drain in bathroom cracked and dirty, too many beds for the four of us, overcrowding due to small living space, the room was like that of a prison cell, very very basic and unclean.
We reported this immediately, our rep said if we paid 380 euros we could move to the Sun Palace in Falaraki (looking back wish we had because some friends we met at the Doreta actually moved to this hotel because they felt the same as we did) only couldn't afford to move having already paid £1551.00 for a weeks holiday already.
The entertainment was a total embarrassment it consisted of four reps "acting the goat". The food was very repetitive and cold, this was a complete disaster. I warn you.

All of the reviews you read about how bad this place is are absolutely true, with a capital T!
We travelled with a 7 month old baby and we told that this hotel caters for children.
Yes this hotel is full of Brits and their kids but is not suitable for under 5's.
The first rooms we were given was dirty, had no towels and the air conditioning was operated by a remote control that reception would not give us.
I was told by the night porter to complain in the morning. In the morning I did complain and was told that they didn't like my attitude!
The pools were dirty and some people had ear infections.
We were given another room, directly above the entertainment, so very noisy.
The mosquitoes here are very bad. This is due to an old cesspit that hasn't been removed and seems to be the breeding ground for them.
Food is 2 star not 4 star, it’s repetitive and you have to be early to get it hot.
My advice, don’t go here there are plenty of very good quality hotels in Rhodes; don’t be mislead into thinking that this is a good representation of Greece, because it’s not!