Our family’s holiday to Rhodes was a much-anticipated getaway filled with sun, sea, and unforgettable experiences. We chose the Atlantica Aegean Blue Hotel as it promised vegan-friendly options in its all-inclusive package, which was in the Kolymbia resort area of Rhodes which looked perfect being a quieter location next to a picturesque mountain.
In this travel diary of our Rhodes family holiday, I’ll share a quick roundup and highlights of each day, from our arrival to our exciting excursions and everything in between. There will be links to my full blog posts which have much more detail and plenty of holiday photos!
Join me as I recount our adventures in Rhodes in a family holiday travel diary day by day, where we savoured some delicious vegan cuisine, and discovered the breathtaking beauty of this Greek island.
Day 1: Travelling from Cornwall to Rhodes
Our Rhodes family holiday began with a flight from Exeter, just 1.5 hours from home. We left the house at 9:30 am, arriving at the airport around 11 am. As we were aware of the limited vegan options at the small airport, we packed meal deals from the supermarket, just in case.
Our flight was scheduled for around 2 pm and lasted approximately 4 hours. Although we arrived in the UK at 6 pm, it was 8 pm in Rhodes, two hours ahead. After navigating through luggage collection and transfers to our hotel, it was quite late by the time we checked in.
We’d spent a full day travelling and we were all pretty tired! We quickly unpacked before settling in for the night, exhausted but excited for the adventures to come.
For more details and plenty of photos of our hotel resort, check out my dedicated TUI review and my first impressions in my extensive Atlantica Aegean Blue Hotel review.
Day 2: Relaxation and Dining
On our second day, which was really our first actual holiday day in Rhodes, we started with a leisurely morning by the main pool after enjoying a hearty buffet breakfast. We were a bit disappointed there weren’t many cooked vegan options for breakfast, or a range of plant-based milks available at the buffet counter for cereals. You can read more about that in my honest Atlantica Aegean Blue hotel review.
For lunch, we opted for something light from the snack bar, taking advantage of the sunny weather and relaxed atmosphere – the snack bar had several vegan options including vegan Buddha Bowls, fresh fruit pots, vegan burgers, fries and more.
In the evening, we indulged in a delightful Greek buffet dinner that showcased local flavours and dishes, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local cuisine right at the resort with options for vegans such as stuffed peppers filled with rice and vegetables.
It was a perfect day of relaxation and enjoyment, soaking up the sun and flavours of our hotel in Rhodes and resting before two days of excursions that we had to wake up early for! Not so ideal to book them when we all really needed a lie-in after a late arrival and limited sleep the night before, but the trips we wanted to take part in were not available any other days, so we decided to go for it, get up early and catch up on sleep later in the holiday!
Day 3: Chalki Island and Butterfly Valley Day Trip
Our third day, or rather 2nd full holiday day in Rhodes, was an exciting adventure as we embarked on a day trip to Chalki Island and Butterfly Valley. The scenic boat ride offered breathtaking views of the coastline and clear blue waters. Chalki Island’s charming atmosphere and picturesque houses made it a memorable visit. We enjoyed exploring the island and swimming in its beautiful sea at Potamos Beach.
Before our time on Chalki, we had a short one-hour stop at Butterfly Valley, known for its stunning natural beauty. Even though it was out of season and there were no butterflies, we appreciated the pitstop and enjoyed exploring the waterfalls and wooden pathways up the mountain.
For a detailed account of our day and our travel photos, read my Chalki Island and Butterfly Valley TUI trip review and my insights on visiting Butterfly Valley out of season.
Day 4: Hippo Submarine Cruise – A Glass Bottom Boat Trip from Lindos
Day four was one of the highlights of our Rhodes family holiday: the Hippo Submarine glass-bottom boat trip from Lindos! We boarded the unique vessel and set sail from St Paul’s Bay, taking in stunning views of the Acropolis of Lindos which we passed twice. The underwater views through the glass bottom were fun for our children, and they eagerly watched for marine life.
We enjoyed a swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Navarone Bay, where our son made his first plunge into the sea at depth, creating great memories for our family. I still can’t believe the amazing colour of the water! The friendly crew enhanced our experience, ensuring everyone felt welcome.
If you’re curious about this adventure, check out my full review and photos of the Hippo Submarine boat trip.
Day 5: Waterpark Fun and Beach Time
On the fifth day of our family holiday in Rhodes, we knew we wanted no alarms for excursions at 6.30 am so we planned a chilled hotel day. We enjoyed a fun-filled morning at the waterpark at Atlantica Aegean Blue. The slides and lazy river were a hit, and we spent a couple of hours splashing around. After the waterpark, we took a refreshing swim in the sea right off the hotel, where the water was incredibly clear and warmer than the pools!
We also explored the nearby beach to the left of the hotel, which we swam to from the sea as there is no actual sand behind the Atlantica Aegean Blue, but there are beaches on either side. In the afternoon, we had the luxury of having a “private pool” experience, as there is a swimming pool behind some hedges which was always really quiet, and we managed to get it to ourselves!
To wrap up the day, we took a walk up Theotokos Hills, also known as Kolymbia Flag Hill, to enjoy spectacular views across Kolimbia Beach, Kolymbia Harbour and Tsambika Mountain. For photos and tips on this scenic walk, as well as a disappointment with an issue in Rhodes, visit my Sunset Walk at Kolymbia Flag Hill review.
Day 6: More Waterpark Adventures
Day six was another waterpark day! We couldn’t get enough of the slides and lazy river, and it got quite busy the day before, so we got there at opening time at 10 am and managed to enjoy all the water flumes we wanted to before the crowds arrived!
We went back to the “private pool” as my kids kept calling it, and enjoyed a peaceful time sunbathing, swimming and floating around in our inflatable doughnut ring in the pool. The relaxed atmosphere allowed us to unwind and enjoy some quality family time.
In the evening, we treated ourselves to a meal at La Trattoria, an Italian a la carte restaurant at the hotel that offered a lovely dining experience. The combination of delicious food and the warm atmosphere made it a perfect way to end the day.
We appreciated having a mix of relaxation and excitement throughout our holiday and after lots of sea swimming, waterparks, sea and pools for a couple of days, it was time for an adventure on our last full day…
Day 7: Hike Up Tsambika Mountain
On our final full day, we hiked up Tsambika Mountain, to the highest point that was closest to the sea approximately 200-240 metres high. The trek was challenging but rewarding, with stunning views over the coastline and the surrounding areas. Before heading back, we enjoyed a leisurely walk along Kolimbia Beach.
As we spent our last evening packing and reflecting on our trip, we realised how much we had enjoyed our time away, but we were also looking forward to returning home as the room layout for sleeping and the bathroom, as well as the dining at the hotel was becoming a slight inconvenience. We were ready for home-cooked meals and privacy without the hustle and bustle of a resort.
We’re already considering a winter sun getaway next year, preferably in a self-catering villa in Rhodes for more privacy, greater choice over dining, and the comfort of private bedrooms and bathrooms! Again, I share these insights in more depth in my full hotel review which is linked on day 1 and day 2 above.
For lots of photos and full details on the hike, check out my post on hiking Tsambika Mountain.
Day 8: Farewell to Rhodes
On our last day, we made the most of the morning by swimming first thing at our hotel, and then returning to the room to shower and check out at 12 pm. Our transfer to the airport was scheduled for 5 pm, so we hung around the hotel until it was time to leave, mainly lying on loungers near the sea and reading or doing work emails on our phones!
Unfortunately, me and my husband have to work on holiday every day during the week, but we still always have plenty of free time too, we mainly work in the mornings and evenings or use our phones to keep up to date on emails.
We arrived back home around midnight, which was 2 am in Rhodes time. Then travelled home, so it was a very late one, especially for the children! Now it’s time to catch up on work, do the mountain of laundry we seem to have accumulated in just one week, and start planning our next adventure!
We really enjoyed our Kolymbia holiday in Rhodes at the Atlantica Aegean Blue. Check out the Rhodes category for all my blog posts about this holiday and more!
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