Elena House

Hotel Description

So here’s the thing about Elena House – it’s tucked away in Gennadi, which honestly feels like the Greek island experience you actually want, not the one crammed with cruise ship crowds. I mean, Gennadi’s down on the southern tip of Rhodes, and it’s got this laid-back fishing village vibe that hasn’t been completely touristified yet. You’ll find Elena House right in the heart of things, but “heart of things” here means you can walk to the tavernas where locals actually eat and hit that gorgeous stretch of beach without fighting for a spot.

The place itself has this understated charm – it’s a proper 4-star setup but without any of that stuffy hotel nonsense. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward (the staff actually remembered my name the next day, which was nice), and honestly, the 9.4 rating makes sense once you settle in. The rooms have this clean, modern Greek aesthetic – think whitewashed walls and pops of blue, but done tastefully, not like a tourist postcard threw up everywhere. What really got me was the attention to small details… quality linens that don’t feel like sandpaper, decent water pressure in the shower, and – this matters more than you’d think – proper blackout capabilities for those afternoon naps after too much sun and ouzo.

The location is what really sets Elena House apart though. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Gennadi Beach, which stretches for miles and stays relatively uncrowded even in peak summer. The water’s this incredible turquoise, and since you’re on the southeastern coast, it’s usually calmer than the windier northern beaches. Plus, you’ve got Prasonisi about 15 minutes south – where the Aegean and Mediterranean actually meet – which is pretty spectacular if you’re into that sort of thing. For food, skip the obvious tourist traps and walk over to Mavrikios (the locals will point you in the right direction) – family-run place that’s been serving proper Greek food for decades. The hotel staff will give you the real recommendations too, not just wherever they get kickbacks from.

Parking’s easy, which anyone who’s driven around Greek islands will appreciate, and the whole area stays pretty quiet at night – you’ll hear the waves more than traffic. I stayed in late September, which turned out to be perfect timing… warm enough for swimming but without the July-August madness. The only minor downside? If you’re looking for nightlife beyond a few drinks at the local tavernas, you’ll need to drive up to Lindos or Rhodes town, but honestly, that’s kind of the point of staying in Gennadi. It’s where you go to actually relax and experience Greece at a more human pace, and Elena House gets that balance just right.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $239. Villa with Private Pool with 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 5

Reviews

• Claire from United Kingdom – 12 September 2024 (9/10)

  The villa was really comfortable
  The pool although on the roadside was actually really good for cooling down on those those days we stayed in the villa to sunbathe
  Elena and her Mum couldn’t have been more accommodating
  
  What could be improved: The spiral staircase was troublesome for me as I’m currently recovering from spinal surgery so that was a little off putting

• Greta from Lithuania – 15 August 2024 (10/10)

  Everything was fantastic, host greeted us on arrival, Elena was super nice and showed everything around. The facility was very clean and comfortable. Kitchen area is full of everyday tools.
  
  What could be improved: The only thing that occur is that the accomodation is based on main street, so sometimes it could get noisy because of cars. Also TV in living room could be newer, with netflix and youtube options.

• Kent from Denmark – 6 July 2022 (10/10)

  All is good

• Viktorija from Lithuania – 2 January 2025 (8/10)

  The house is simple and cute. It has all the necessary amities. The outside view and the pool is very Instagramish. The host was very friendly and helpful and nice. It was a pleasant surprise that she left some snacks, food and drinks in the fridge.
  Very easy communication with the host she always replies on spot.
  
  What could be improved: We basically chose this house because it had a pool, but we didn’t get in the pool not even once because it was freezing cold.
  For the half of the price of this house, we could’ve got the house without a pool closer to Rhodes city.
  Location is very far from “ civilisation”, but it depends what are your preferences, best to have a car if you are planing to stay here.
  Although it seems that the house is far from everything it is located next to the road and all day all night when the cars were passing buses were passing it was very loud, there is a road sign which says 30 but the cars are going 70+.
  We were sleeping under the duvet covers it was cold for us, maybe in summer it is perfect, but the house didn’t warm up through the day itself in October.

• Jill from United Kingdom – 21 June 2022 (10/10)

  Lovely villa
  
  What could be improved: Location to the road, too noisy

• Christina from United Kingdom – 28 August 2023 (6/10)

  Very clean
  High quality fixtures and fittings
  Comfortable beds
  Good linen & towels
  Elena was responsive and hospitable
  Quiet and unspoiled area – good beach and restaurants
  
  What could be improved: Several issues with the power in.the house necessitating visits from.electricians and pool men
  The second bedroom is a curtained-off area on the landing.
  A hire car is essential – the village is a 20 min walk away.
  The pool is at the front of the property next to a busy road, although this did not stop us enjoying it.

• Corinne from France – 21 October 2024 (9/10)

  Logement bien agencé et très agréable avec une terrasse donnant sur la piscine. Disponibilité et gentillesse de Eleni qui nous a bien aidé pour que notre séjour se passe au mieux. Je recommande à 100% et reviendrai avec plaisir
  
  What could be improved: Emplacement assez loin de l'aéroport (1h en voiture) véhicule indispensable

• Federico from Italy – 13 September 2024 (9/10)

  La piscina è il must della casa. Poter fare il bagno a qualsiasi ora è meraviglioso.
  La proprietaria, Elena, è stata molto disponibile durante il soggiorno. Al nostro arrivo in tarda serata ci ha fatto trovare a casa Acqua e Birra fresche, della frutta, un dolce locale e del gelato. Questo ci ha fatto davvero tanto piacere.
  Nella cucina c’è tutto il necessario, forse cambierei le padelle che non sono antiaderenti.
  Ottima anche la presenza del Barbecue con diavolina e carbonella a disposizione.
  Condizionatori presenti in tutte le stanze, moderni e bel funzionanti.
  
  What could be improved: Purtroppo la seconda stanza non è una vera e propria stanza, in quanto sullo stesso piano dell’altra stanza ma chiusa solo da due tende. Perfetta per una famiglia, ma non per due coppie che hanno bisogno ognuna della propria intimità.
  La lavatrice non funziona benissimo in quanto lascia i panni completamente zuppi.
  Nella doccia sarebbe comodo un gancio per appendere il soffione.

• Eva from Austria – 16 June 2024 (10/10)

  Alles

• Sergej from Germany – 25 September 2023 (10/10)

  Sehr gepflegtes Haus, ausgezeichnete Gastgeberin, 5 Minuten bis zum Strand, was braucht man mehr?

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