Afandou, Hotel Sivila

Although a simple 3-star Greek hotel, we had a lovely time at the Sivila Hotel in Afandou, Rhodes during August 2010. We booked for one week and were pleasantly surprised with our hotel as we had not paid a great deal in comparison to other holidays that were on offer at the same time. The staff were very friendly, the food was excellent, the grounds were peaceful, the little Church was a pretty touch to the hotel and the pool was clean and well maintained. Although accommodation was basic, we had no complaints because we got what we paid for. Too many guests complain when they pay the bare minimum and expect 5-star. For a cheap simple holiday, we would definitely recommend the Sivila Hotel.

My fiance and I have just returned from a week at the Sivila Apartments, Afandou, and had an amazing holiday. We'd read these reviews before going so were a little anxious about what we'd find but our accommodation was perfect - our room was so clean and comfortable, our balcony overlooked the pool and, in the distance, the sea, and all the kitchen equipment provided was in good working order.

The staff at Sivila were mostly helpful - the service was always quick be it a food order, air conditioning query or, on one occasion, when we locked our key in the room, we were helped straight away. The Greek night that the apartments organized was great fun - whoopa!! - and the frequent doto-train into the centre of Afandou made up for the lack of facilities (tavernas, shops etc) in the immediate surrounding area.

Our sheets and towels were changed twice during the week and the toilet and kitchen bins emptied every day. Although the apartments, on-site shop and bar are not modern, they are really clean, and every day somebody cleaned the pool patio area and sweeped the surface of the water with a net so we have no complaints at all.

Afandou beach is an expanse of sand/ shingle that stretches for a couple of miles and the space was wonderful. It was never crowded and always easy to secure sun loungers and parasol for just 7 euros a day, and the sea was a stunning clear blue - and warm too! Just along the road from the apartments is a mini-market which is cheaper than the on-site shop and a great stop-off on the way home for an ice cream since there is no where on the section of the beach near the apartments offering refreshments - take a picnic!

Afandou town was unimpressive compared to the beauty of Lindos and Symi which we visited on Olympic excursions, but still had everything we needed - we were recommended a lovely taverna so I want to pass on the tip - its called Eleni and the staff there are wonderful, food delicious and prices amazingly good value - for a starter, main course, bottle of rose and yoghurt desert the bill came to just 23 euros! (Much cheaper than the Sivila restaurant which cost more than double but the cocktails were worth it!).

All in all, although the apartments were basic (you don't expect anything more when you're paying for 2 star) and the air conditioning and food expensive, they were clean, comfortable and had all we needed. They were a perfect quiet base for exploring the rest of the Island and we made some great friends - what better recommendation is there than the fact that we'd be more than happy to stay at Sivila again! The only one negative factor from the week was the moaning and complaining British public - if the apartments aren't good enough for you, why spend all week without leaving them to explore the beautiful Rhodes Island on your doorstep?!! Book 5 star next time, and pay the prices!!

This was the second holiday we've booked through Olympic and the rep was great again - we'll definitely be booking next year's break with them and are already holiday shopping - We're missing the sun!!

We are a family of four (2 adults and 2 teenage girls). We spent two weeks at the Hotel Silvila in Afandou.

I'd read some reviews about this hotel before going away and seriously considered canceling.

We decided to give the place the benefit of the doubt. For a 2* hotel it wasn't as bad as we expected. The self catering facilities are very basic (no kettle, toaster or cooking utensils and only 2 electric rings set into the sink unit) we had a fridge.

The main problem we had with staying at this hotel was the location, it is a 25 min walk from Afandou center and we had to budget 12 euros for each return journey by taxi (the train is 2 euros each) my husband is disabled so walking was out of the question.

The pool most days was kept clean, we did have a problem for a few days, the water went very cloudy and dirty but this was sorted out.

We did encounter a few visitors in our bathroom (cockroaches) but it's a hot foreign country and these things will happen.

Locally there are plenty of nice places to eat (I recommend the four seasons, neon and mike's bar in Afandou)

Use the local bus service or taxis (much cheaper than the reps tours) timetables and prices are displayed on the town square.

If the hotel owner spent a little money on upgrading the hotel this could easily become a 3* hotel.

We wouldn't go back to the Sivila mainly because of the location but if you want a cheep no frills holiday give it a try.

The Hotel Sivila needs a complete makeover because at the moment it is going to attract, what are in my opinion, public health issues.

This was our fourth time in Rhodes, and first and last time in the Hotel Sivila in Afandou. It is the worst holiday we have ever had!

The pool was not kept clean. The snack bar by the pool is expensive. Staff in the hotel were impolite (apart from the night porter who is a gentleman). The manageress had her young children running around the hotel at all hours. The bar prices are TWICE as much as the rest of the village. The hotel bar closed early every night (thankfully)! The manageress was less than helpful when a problem was pointed out. The Olympic Rep preferred to keep the manageress happy, rather than the guests. The rooms have NO kettle, and they are designed to dissuade you from cooking. Electricity supply ceases intermittently, thus rendering the fridge useless, and the hotel is too far from the village!!