Boutique gem villa rental with expansive views in Lindos, Rhodes
June 2019. 2 adults + our daughter. Rented the Lindos Shore Summer House - in Lindos - considered the “most beautiful village” on the island of Rhodes, Greece. By car 45 minutes south of Rhodes town/the Rhodes airport.
If Rhodes is your destination - do not miss this true gem. We travel extensively and I have done travel consulting for decades. This is equal to the most over the top boutique designed villa rental we have experienced. In the most complimentary of terms - the owner is a true genius “overachiever” designing every aspect of this villa beyond expectation.
MAGIC RATING: Yes. Over the top design inside and out with sweeping views in each direction. Up looking directly to the Acropolis of Lindos. Down looking directly to the Lindos Pallas beach.
GENERAL: We rented the largest unit of this 4 unit structure. Lindos Shore Summer House. Quiet. Gorgeous locale. Two minutes to the action of shops/restaurants or the beach directly below. Only 3 years old but maintained impeccably so appears brand new. If this is too big for you, the website is good to see the other 3 options at the same overall site of Lindos Shore Homes. I toured all of them which are equally beautifully done in their own ways.
THE PEOPLE: The owner is Filippos who lives in nearby Pefkos and in addition to these units owns a restaurant Nostalgia in that town. His personality and service are exceptional. Immediate, kind, personable. He himself is a gem! The facilities are maintained by his cousin also Filippos who met us as we arrived and drove our bags to the home - and again met us at checkout to drive our bags back to the car in his little vehicle down the pedestrian lanes of Lindos. There is daily maid service if you wish it is included with the lovely Stella.
LOCALE: Quiet location at the exact other end of town from the main town/arrival circle - but only 2 minutes from the start of the action. If you look at photos with the orientation of the Acropolis at the top and Pallas Beach at the bottom - Lindos Shore Summer House is actually easy to spot. Left side of the photo. Acropolis to the top. Beach to the bottom. Go to the far left of the white buildings under the Acropolis. A long low one story building is immediately to the villa’s left - this is the Lindos Primary School (very quiet). The 4 unit Lindos Shore Homes grouping is immediately to its right at the same level. This is a 2 story building. Immediately above is the luxury hotel Melenos Lindos (quiet and no privacy issues).
BEDROOMS: 2. One upstairs (its bathroom is downstairs) with its own dedicated mini fridge in the wall as an unusual touch. One downstairs with ensuite bathroom. Nice TV in each. Monogrammed Lindos Shore bedding. Paneled beamed white ceilings. Hand scraped painted walls. Instead of a normal clothing closet rod, the downstairs bedroom had a lacquered tree branch. That bedroom came with a loaner iPad with a charger set into the room safe (wow).
BATHROOMS: 2. Both downstairs. Clarins bath products provided. Not 1 - but 3 - types of shower heads in each shower. Monogrammed Lindos Shore towels. Hall bathroom gorgeous with stone walls - a designer barn door - and river rock shower floor and wall. Ensuite downstairs bathroom with faux scraped wood shower floor and wall.
OUTDOOR SPACE: 2 areas. Both with the traditional white and black stone inlaid Rhodes floor in the custom pattern of the Lindos Shore logo. Each separately so smartly designed with retractable roof for sun or shade preferences. It was brilliant that one day when the wind picked up that the upstairs retractable roof by sensor automatically closed as the wind was too high. Upstairs dedicated to the villa dining area. Patterned wood with turquoise large dining table. Chairs, chaises, cushioned bench. Magic view directly up to the Acropolis which is so very close and view down to the Pallas beach. Downstairs outdoor space is a large courtyard with a jacuzzi, outdoor bathing suit drying rack, stylized lite sign for Lindos Shore Summer House and Fedora hat collection and overhanging pendant lights covered with burlap. Stairs light automatically each night from the courtyard to the upstairs dining. The upstairs dining structure roof has baby white lights imbedded.
KITCHEN: Beautifully equipped with lovely dishes etc. Dishwasher, washer, dryer. Over the top welcome package of wine, beer, cheeses, meat, fruits, sweets, sodas, water, bread.
LIGHTING: This is the first time I have written specifically of this category in a review. It deserves a category of its own as another tribute to the design flair of the owner. All automatic. Lighting is magic and he has done it. Unusual, designer, overheads, pin lights, stairs that fancifully light up step by step as you walk up to bedroom #2, spot lights, a bird case, burlap over lights. It is amazing.
BEACH: Lindos’ Pallas beach just below a short 5 minute walk down stairs immediately to the left of the villa. Monogrammed Lindos Shore beach towels in the villa to take down. Uniquely and thoughtfully its own dedicated oversize beach bag to carry things down to the beach. Pallas is one of those packed with reserved chairs in rows beaches. This is not our style so we only went down to swim then came back to the villa. If proximity to a beach like this is your style this is a perfect locale.
PARKING: We rented a car at Rhodes airport because of the cost of a driver to/from Lindos. We were met at the main square by the owner’s cousin - in the circle where Mavrikos Restaurant is located. He led us the 1/4 mile to the adjoining free safe unlimited public parking lot. He also was wonderful. That transport was great and convenient. Lindos village is pedestrian only so no one can drive themselves by car to their accommodation. Downtown sees little scooters, mini trucks for deliveries, donkeys only.
GROCERY STORE: ABC is the closest grocery store to the rental and the “largest” grocery store that we found in this beautiful little pedestrian village of Lindos. They apparently deliver (brochure on that in the villa) but we always just brought our daily selections back ourselves. Walk from the villa the normal route to town past the Broccolino restaurant (2 minutes away). Continue and when you see a lane to the left with sign to the “Village Cafe”, take that left. The ABC store is there shortly. It is 3 stories high (top floor - personal items, middle floor - groceries, bottom floor - wine and Greek goods). No store in town we could find is a full grocery store or sold fresh meats to make a full dinner. The closest true grocery store was close but required a car - take the main road Lindos north and the grocery was 5 minutes down on the left.
BEST DINING: 1) On our rooftop dining area at the villa with that view night or day.
2) Tambakio on the jewel like tiny St. Paul’s Bay. An easy 15 minute walk through town from the villa. We went for lunch. One of the best 2 “beach chic” dining experiences of my life. (the other was in Corsica). Best tables are the front corner ones to the Bay: #3 on the top layer. #15 water level with toes in the sand. 3) Pallas Beach Tavern. Immediately in front of the house down at the beach on the right. At night they move all the beach chairs away and you are toes in the sand to candlelight looking back up to the Acropolis - and to the little lights of this very villa rental just above! The pistachio encrusted salmon by the way was memorable. 4) Go for a drink in “history” in the outdoor bar area looking to the amazing front door. The Captain’s House. Ornately carved front facade now a bar. It is in fact the oldest house in Lindos and was by its name a Captain’s home. 5) Many other rooftop dining options in Lindos.