Sun Palace Hotel

As a family of four, we spent a fortnight at the Sun Palace in the school Summer holidays (ages 38, 34, 10 & 6).
Our accommodation was fine. The 'family' rooms are in a seventies looking complex slightly detached from the main hotel. This is excellent as if you want to put tired kids to bed at a reasonable time, noise from the entertainment is not a problem. The family rooms are like a standard hotel room, except that the kids' bedroom is in a division between the main bedroom and the patio doors. We found this to be perfect. The kids room in itself is very spacious and airy. The balcony was a good size. Furnishings etc were fine - not exactly 5* (perhaps not even 4*) but adequate - plenty of storage space. The air conditioning was excellent, and could be left on all day if so required. The room was cleaned and towels changed every day. The bed linen was changed at least every other day. We were on the first floor and didn't see a cockroach or an ant (anywhere on the complex) for the whole fortnight.
The pool was fabulously clean - no grime around the edges or floating plasters. However, it was never overcrowded, as for most of the day the surrounding sun beds were unoccupied, although reserved! I didn't feel that the size of the pool and surrounding area was adequate for the number of guests. Being a family that prefers the beach, we just had to cross the main road in front of the hotel and wander 100 yards down a back road to access a really quiet stretch of the Faliraki beach (which in itself stretched for miles). We spent most days on the beach with at least a 50 yard stretch all to ourselves - and that was in the middle of August.
The food: if you enjoy a varied cuisine then I'm sure you'll appreciate the food here. We found it to be on a par with a 4+* All Inclusive from last year. There's a really varied menu every lunch time and evening. It is neither repetitive nor cold (contrary to other reviews). There didn't seem to be a dedicated 'Kids' Menu' as such, yet there was always a pasta dish, always chips, always a cauldron of tomato ketchup etc. (The snack bar near the pool bar provided constant fish fingers, chips, spag bol etc). My children enjoyed the normal menu and certainly had their money's worth!
The drinks were a bit bizarre to be honest. I understand that during the day time, around the pool, plastic glasses should be used. This is fine except that drinks are not available from any other place during the day, and if you want a lager then you want a lager! The beer is served in white plastic cups which are around 1/4 of a pint. It was a bit like being in a kid's birthday party. The same went for the shorts. I wouldn't, however, agree with other reviews in that the drinks were watered down - the local gin, Bacardi etc may taste different from at home, but I'm certain that they were straight from the bottle. And I'm a drinker!
Entertainment - not something I consider when booking a holiday, but I'll comment anyway. On the couple of days that we did spend by the pool (after an invasion of jelly-fish on the beach and having to go down at 8 am to 'book' a sun-bed) I was dreading the 'all day' entertainment. However I found that they announced what they were doing once, and then were 'out of your face'. If you like water polo, darts etc then perfect I would say. In the evening it all kicked off about 8 pm with a kid's disco, then bingo (which you paid to enter, but could win around 100 euros an evening - we actually started to get enthusiastic about this!). They normally followed this with a show which, for their limited resources, could be quite entertaining.
The hotel: the main reception area seemed suitably 4*, but how much time do you spend in the main reception area? The outside area, which is where you will inevitably enjoy the majority of your all inclusive facilities, is furnished solely with white (or green) plastic furniture. On several occasions we came out from dinner only to find no seating outside at all (we just went back to our room armed with G&Ts). Towards the end of the holiday we used to time our evening meal so that we could sit outside to eat (around 10 tables available), and then stay there for the remainder of the evening.
We loved Rhodes - we hired a car and visited some really gorgeous beaches and Rhodes Old Town. We also visited Faliraki town - not sure what all the fuss is about - it's just a main street with loads of bars, which is very clean, as is the beach at the end of it. It is only a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Nothing in Faliraki town for kids, obviously, (except for hair braiders etc).
I wouldn't go there again unless they extended their facilities, they could do with another pool at least. We had a fabulous holiday though.

Stayed at the sun palace for a week from Sat 23rd Sept. with my partner and our 14 year old son. I booked this holiday independently with OTBEACH.com via the Internet. It was booked solely on the comments of people who have stayed here. I would now like to add our comments and please don’t think that 3 days of rain have influenced me in any way.
The hotel public areas/rooms seem to be newly painted and the photos do not do it justice. Didn’t think the tired décor comments applied in these areas or the room we were allocated. Not sure whether it has been done since previous posts but I thought it was ok.
Internet access is available if required my son spent the first two days on MSN to his mates in the UK. It cost 4.50 per hours or 7.50 for hour and half and 3 hours 14 euros. Not cheap.!! Reception are all very helpful but 30 euros to rent a safe (in reception) with no refund is far too expensive. A courtesy room was provided on check out day for no charge so a family get an hour each.
You have to book a time on the day you are leaving at the desk. The swimming pool is very big but only 2 steps one into the deep end the other shallow end and it is not clear which is the deep end so care needs to be taken. Not heated so brace yourself… there is also a small toddler pool
Didn’t like the poolside loo only one out of two ladies available and this was blocked for the full week we were there and smelly …ughh!! Pool area clean and plenty of sunbeds available with loads of shade but the bar did have the “watered drinks” mentioned by others available except on the rainy days when inside bar only was used and also for the evening entertainment.
The restaurant help yourself buffet meals were fine if you like veal pork and chicken with dubious sauces every day. Nothing for children in there really except chips and jelly the snacks outside mealtimes were fish fingers pizza pieces, frankfurters etc leftovers from breakfast these would have been better available at main meal times I thought. The desserts were good. Brilliant breakfasts so we tended to eat well then. The salads seemed popular as did the 2 theme nights while we were there it was Mexican and Greek - same food but with nice checked tablecloths!!
Generally food was not great but you could always find something to eat so we didn’t starve!!
The cocktails were a good bet to drink the soft drinks also far better in the restaurant and inside bar.
The room we had was 444 this was a family room in a separate block away from the main hotel. Down side was the rock hard mattresses!! Separate room for the children with connecting door. Lovely size and nice and quiet. But take a torch as the room key is attached to a card which has to be slotted into a switch by the door for the electric and of course you need to lock the door which plunges you in darkness while you lock it before putting it back in its “socket” I would recommend asking for a family room like this if the noise factor would be a problem as all the others overlook the entertainment areas. Second floor so not one cockroach anywhere.
The Animation Team worked really hard and 2 shows they put on while we were there contained dancing and sketches which were excellent. He just needs to turn that microphone down!! Bingo on at 5 every night after the poolside games if you want that. Pool aerobics killer pool, darts, table tennis were the usual activities available for 6 days. Up till 4.30. We booked a trip with Sofies travel opposite the hotel this is far cheaper than with reps and the guy who runs it meets you in the morning to ensure you catch the correct bus from right outside the hotel. We went to Symi and this was 20 euros each for all day excellent value and a good day.
Ferry goes from Rhodes town. If going to Rhodes 5.10 euro for 3 of us or Lindos use the local bus service bus which stops outside the hotel by Maria’s and 4 sisters little supermarkets. In these supermarkets - these people are so helpful and go out of their way to help you. It is 20 euros by taxi to airport from sun palace.
Night flights ensure you are not hanging around outside in the baking sun as previous people mentioned and of course booking it independently means no driving all over the island to get there.
In Faliraki itself quite a lot of places closed down and it has definitely lost its bad reputation. The sun Palace is far enough away from bar street not to bother you and I would definitely return there someday. Hope this helps.

I am one of 28 people that have just got back from the Sun Palace Hotel. We were there for 2 weeks and had a wicked time!
The food was good, the drinks are not watered down and the animation team were fab! The accommodation was good too and clean! The hotel and staff were all very nice and friendly. We were groups of family and friends and children reengaging from 5 to 15.
Adults from the age of 17 to 45 and all of us had a wonderful time! We would all recommend Sun Palace Hotel to anyone Rhodes Old town is a place to visit and the water park! Always something to do at the Sun Palace Hotel! Brilliant.

I had a wonderful holiday, the room was basic for Greece, clean sheets and clean towels daily, the room maid was very nice as were all the staff,
The animation team made our holiday and Sarah is a very talented young lady who gave me and my daughter a lot of laughter, my daughter looked forward to the mini club, just to see Sarah who always had a smile on her face and would help with anything.
The food was good, but would be better if children had a kiddies corner where they could get nuggets and burgers and stuff as my daughter wouldn’t touch some of the stuff on offer, but I had a go, which was very nice.
Met loads of lovely families and just wish the bar had stayed open a little longer at night,
I would go back to sun palace but only to see the staff and the animation team, love you guys.

We have just come back from the Sun Palace Hotel and can quite honestly say it’s the best holiday we have ever had. The pool is the biggest and cleanest I have seen, there are plenty of sunbeds and our 2 children Emily and Luke aged 10 and 12 were kept amused all day by the animation team. We had a family room and it was superb, a large bedroom for me and the wife and a separate one for the kids the air con was also the best I have seen.
There is food and drink available all day and entertainment every night, on top of this the main street of Falaraki is only 10 mins away which is quite an experience.
Thanks to everyone at the Sun Palace for a great holiday

I have just come back from a 2 week stay at the Sun Palace. I have rated the hotel a 5 because although we had a lovely holiday I felt there were a number of things which you would expect from a 4 star hotel that were sadly lacking.
For example, we expected to find beach and pool towels provided for guests, unfortunately they weren't, so make sure you bring your own. The room quality was a bit drab, the shower wasn't very powerful and we had sheets and blankets on the beds...very 1970's!
The pool area was nice and you could always find a sun bed. The staff were all very friendly and helpful the waiters, bar staff and the animation team. The nightly entertainment was of a good standard and the daytime activities were good (albeit a bit samey) aqua aerobics, darts, pool, French boules etc.
The animation team always tried to include you in their activities but were never pushy which was lovely. There were no children with us on the trip but I found a lot of the kids who were on holiday at the Sun Palace really enjoyed the 'Kids Club' it kept them well entertained.
The food was good but after a week or so gets a little repetitive, in my opinion none of the drinks were watered down...ever! I wouldn't necessarily recommend the Sun Palace however if you're looking for a cheerful holiday but are not so bothered about those little touches that I feel make a holiday then it's great.

I just got back from the sun palace hotel and I thought it was amazing. The pool is huge and it doesn’t seem to busy.
The animation team were fantastic, Jean- Carlos the main entertainer was the best, he was brilliant and Sarah was. The beach is only a ten minute walk from the hotel and there are many shops around the hotel.
The main part of Faliraki is about 15 mins away so if you have kids there’s nothing to worry about. I really miss the place and the animation team I would go back there tomorrow.

Basically this is a good hotel, the pool is really big and there was loads for my 8 year old sister to do during the day so I could get a bit of peace. However, the one thing we thought could have been better was the food. my sister is an incredibly fussy eater and there wasn't really much she could eat, you'd think with it being a family oriented hotel they'd do chicken nuggets or some other junk that kids love, but there was very little choice.
Also I'd say Do Not Come Here If You’re Vegetarian, I lived on chips all week (suffice to say, not good for my figure!!) my dad however, who isn't fussy and eats meat thought it was great and thoroughly enjoyed himself!
I’ll have to disagree with whoever said that the drinks are watered down, all I can think is that they must be used to drinking much more back home! I’ve also read on here of peoples experiences with loads of cockroaches, while we were there we did have one (not an experience I’d like to repeat) but I’d hardly say the place was infested, cockroaches are normal for that part of the world. But if you really hate them, then try and get a room on the first floor because you won’t get any there.
Faliraki itself is not as full of drunken yobs and chavs as its portrayed, the hotel is about two minutes walk away from the nearest bar but we never had any trouble with noise or rowdy people.
If you do stay here, the shop across the road Alex's is good, the lady who runs it is really friendly and can help you find whatever you need. The entertainment was not as good as we thought it would be (they had bingo every night up until 9) however I must say it was quite funny to hear them play "the dambusters" at the children’s disco to an audience that was predominantly German!
The reason why they give you a survey about your holiday BEFORE the airport is because the airport is horrendous, it was cramped and hot, so make sure you bring a lot of water, especially on your journey home.

The hotel is situated about 10 - 15 minutes walk away from the town, beach, nightlife etc. This was nice as you could enjoy the resort but were well away from any noise when you wanted to sleep. There is a supermarket about 5 minutes walk away. The hotel had a lovely pool, there are only about 20 rooms, thus the pool is never too crowded and you always get a lounger. The people who run the hotel are friendly and will even drive you into the resort if you patronize their pool bar before you venture out.
This is a 2 star hotel. Beware, 2 star means 2 star! They only supply little hand towels, no bath towels. We had one loo roll and had to fight tooth and nail for any more. The room only got cleaned once while we were there. When we arrived the room was a bit dirty, surfaces needed cleaning etc. Nothing major, but we felt we needed to give it a once over before cooking anything. There was a fridge, a hob with 2 rings and 1 pan. Little else, you should bring your own cutlery.
On the whole we had a good time at the hotel and would recommend it. The Ritz it aint, but we got it cheap and you get what you pay for!

I have just returned from 2 weeks holiday in Sun Palace and I don't understand how can you have a good opinion over this hotel? We were in the main building in the twin room, maybe it makes the difference in which part you are sleeping.
We are from Netherlands so maybe we have different standards, but this hotel is far from A class not only for the West European standards also for Greece. They are not in official Greek guide for A class hotels what they claim to be. I agree that animation team is fantastic and staff is friendly but the rest is disaster. Bread is always dry and old and food is too salty.
Rooms are very very old, dirty, cockroaches in the rooms and it stinks everywhere. Under the beds it was not cleaned for months I believe. I suggest this hotel to people who like to drink and be entertained and don't care about hygiene but if you like a clean nice hotel this is not a place for you. Sorry for my writing mistakes.