Rafaela’s House 2

Hotel Description

So I stumbled across Rafaela’s House 2 during one of those endless scrolling sessions looking for somewhere decent to stay near Rhodes, and honestly? Best accidental find ever. It’s tucked away on the Eparxiaki Rodou-Koskinou road in Koskinou village – you know, that charming little spot that most tourists zoom past on their way to Faliraki but locals actually love. The place sits just far enough from the main drag that you’re not dealing with tour bus noise at 7 AM, but close enough that you can walk to those traditional tavernas where they still paint the chairs blue every spring.

What really got me about Rafaela’s is how it feels like someone’s actual home rather than a sterile hotel box. I mean, there are fresh herbs growing in little pots by the entrance, and the lobby – well, calling it a lobby makes it sound fancy when it’s more like walking into your Greek aunt’s living room. The woman at reception (might’ve been Rafaela herself, actually) knew exactly which bakery opens earliest for proper tiropita and warned me that the construction down the hill starts around 8:30, so sleep in or get up early. That kind of local intel you just don’t get from chain places. The rooms themselves are surprisingly spacious – I had this corner unit with windows that actually opened wide, not those tiny hotel slits. You can hear the village coming to life in the morning: motorbikes puttering to work, someone’s rooster who apparently doesn’t understand weekends, the satisfying thwack of rugs being beaten clean. There’s something about the way the afternoon light hits the whitewashed walls that makes everything feel… I don’t know, more Greek somehow? The WiFi works better than my apartment back home, which was a pleasant shock, and the shower pressure is honestly excellent – you know how hit-or-miss that can be in these traditional-style places.

The thing is, Koskinou village itself is sort of having a moment right now. It’s got that authentic Greek island vibe without the Instagram crowds, at least not yet. You’re maybe a ten-minute drive from Rhodes town when you want the castle and the tourist stuff, but you can also walk to this little family-run place that makes the best lamb I’ve had outside of Crete. Parking isn’t a nightmare like it is closer to the old town, and there’s actually a decent minimarket that stays open past 6 PM – crucial when you realize you forgot sunscreen and everything else closes for siesta. The 9.5 rating this place has? Yeah, that tracks. It’s not trying to be the Ritz, but it nails everything that actually matters when you’re exploring the island. Clean, comfortable, run by people who genuinely seem to care whether you have a good time, and positioned perfectly for both beach days and village wandering. Sometimes the simple things done really well beat all the fancy amenities you’ll never use anyway.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $283. Three-Bedroom House with 2 single beds, 2 × 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 5

Reviews

• Orrin from United Kingdom – 16 September 2024 (10/10)

  Great facilities in Rafael's house 2 would recommend. Host was very friendly and went above and beyond.

• Μανωλης from Greece – 18 August 2023 (9/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities