found this which sounds a bit better..

http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/28204-Ixia-Ixian_Grand_Hotel-Holiday-Review.html

cheers

It seems to me, from reading all the reviews on Trip advisor, Vakantiereiswijzer, and Routard.com, the comments on the rooms stem from high expectations, raised by the hotel's website, (and the magic words 5 star). First Choice only rate it as 4*, and certainly haven't priced it as a 5 star - remember, 5 stars in Greece is not the same as 5 stars in the UK.
All the reports paise the public areas and facilities, which is what I'm going there for, not to spend 2 weeks in my room
I have decided I'm not going to worry any more about this, I'm just going to make the best of the place, however it is, and enjoy myself on one of Greec's most beautiful islands.

thats fair enugh depending how much you have spent..... ??

Cheers

£1700 for 3 of us, includes a free child place.

when are you travelling?

We got back from the Ixian Grand last week. We did stay in one of their suites but we were part of a wedding group who all stayed in the standard rooms. I have been to greece about 10 times and I would say that the standard rooms where between average/above. They are very clean.

The food was fine - Breakfasts were complained about by some but to be honest they are catering for a lot of nationalities so you can't please everyone.

Yes, there is only one bar man alot of the time and there can be quite a queue for drinks - This was at the main bar in the reception area - the pool bar was always quite good for service.

The only problem we encountered was that the suite we booked was supposed to have its own pool but we got there to find them being built. They were due to be finished by the end of this week though and the building noise only affects those in the suites. We spoke to the manager, who was a lovely man and they are arranging suitable compensation for this so I can't complain too much. We are going back in October due to an arrangment with the manager so it isn't that bad.

Just remember, people are more likely to post comments when they have had a bad experience (and some people are never happy!!)

If I can be of anymore assistance or answer any more questions, just ask.

I am away this weekend but will be able to answer any questions by Tuesday hopefully.

All I would say is don't worry - I am sure that you will have a lovely holiday.

Oh yes - A word of warning, the head waiter in the main resteraunt is lovely but DON'T TOUCH HIS TOASTER MACHINE!!!!

Assurance is good .. I have booked a Family room,,, upgraded from the standard room to a family room 2 + 2 room, do you know if these room has been refurb'ed?? Did you stay in one of these..??

I know what you mean about other people having bad experiences"¦

Thanks for the advice "¦

Also if you have any photos of the hotel rooms etc that will be good,

Cheers and you must like it as your going back!!

i go on the 1st July... flying from Man

Sorry, we don't have any pictures of the standard rooms. We have plenty of pics of our room but that is one of the Ixian Suites. We have a few photos that were took in the hotel grounds but they really are as they are shown on the website. There was 23 of us staying at the hotel and there was not one complaint about the standard of the rooms. I am sure that you will be fine. I don't think any of the group upgraded and they just had the most standard rooms poss. Some overlooked the pool, others overlooked the road behind and there was not a single problem reported.

Let's put it this way. My sister has just gone to Spain, and if the reports were anything to go by I would have cancelled if I was her. She has got there and she has said that it is one of the nicest hotels she has stayed at :-)

We had the same thing last year with one bad report on the hotel we were going to, and when we got there we could not believe it was the same hotel that we were in.
We will be back on the 21st June so it will be interesting to compare notes.

Happy holidays

we have been to a couple of places that if we went of the reviews no one would go and had fantastic holidays.. on most reports you need to read between the lines and use them as a guide, managers and staff change so performance and product change

wizard

Is this a sign.

I have received a letter from First Choice this morning informing us that the Ixian grand has been over booked for the week that we are going, (14/6), and they want to move us to the Atlantica Princess Hotel. Got to make our mind up what we do. Any thoughts any one?

I read the bad review on tripadvisor about the state of the rooms at the Ixian grand. I called the manager at the hotal and she confirmed that the photos of the rooms on the hotel website were set up for a photo shoot and rooms will not look the way they do on the website until winter 06. If you have booked a standard room with First Choice you will be staying in the room that is displayed in the brochure. The only new things about the rooms are the carpet has been replaced with tiles. Really not happy myself after hearing this as I thought I would be staying in a newly decorated room. In addition to the problem with the room refurbishment there is no sauna, although alternative arrangements have been made 2 use a sauna at another hotel, the manager confirmed this. I have complained 2 First Choice but they are unwilling 2 do anything because they have recieved no formal complaint.

I have visited Greece, and Rhodes in particular several times, and all I can say is...what a poor hotel. The Ixian Grand looks impressive, the website makes you think you have picked up a real holiday bargain, and at promotes itself as a 5* Hotel. It isn't.

The Ixian Grand does a good job of looking like a 5* Hotel, with its soft furnishings, wide open spaces and beautiful pools, but on arrival, you begin to see through the cosmetics and realise it is in fact a 3* Hotel at a push.

The holiday was booked as a party of 5 (2 double rooms, 1 single) We were greeted by reception to be told that the hotel had double booked one of the rooms, and that the single room would not be available until the next day at the earliest,and to recompense one of the double rooms would be upgraded to a suite with 2 bedrooms. This was not the case. It was a 1 bedroom suite with a half wall and a sofa bed. the next day, we were advised that the single room would not be available until half way through our week long stay, and that the only solution that could be offered was a room in a different Hotel. This meant that for the first few days, the party was split.

The remaining double room was located in the Garden Wing, and upon arrival, we could here that there was some kind of animal trapped in the bathroom ceiling. Going to reception to complain, we were told that it was a brid and someone would be along to see in the morning. The next morning, we went down to speak to the manager to be told that he would not be there until evening. Turns out it was a bit bigger than a bird, and was in fact 3 kittens!! Upon returning to the room, there appeared to still be some animals trapped in the ceiling, and we visited reception again. Again, the kittens were removed. The animals kept returning to the cailing, and we actually ended up going onto the roof (Very easily, as the stairs continue upwards beyond the top level) and taking a kitten down to reception. The manager was still not available (as seemed to be the situation every time you needed to complain) and so we ended up keeping hold of a kitten for about an hour in reception until he arrived. To block the hole the animals were getting in with, the manager authorised the use of a tablecloth. Very Poor, and totally unproffessional. To add to this, the air conditioning started to leak, and flooded the room.

The hotel generally is poor, with a small selection of food with little variety. The bar is very busy, with 1 member of staff serving. The service overall is below standard, and glasses are removed from the pool area rarely. The pool bar was hardly ever open, and the Beach Bar does not yet exist.

The location of the hotel is also poor, set right on the outskirts of the resort, next to a sewerage outlet - I wouldn't swim in the sea, put it that way. The smell of Sewerage is really noticable on the night. As a regular visitor to Greece, and Rhodes in particular, this was the worst holiday I have ever been on.

A la Carte meal was fine...The soup was cold (But wasn't meant to be!) and the desserts were very poor - the same as the room next door.

This hotel does a good job of looking good, but if you are looking for a 4 or 5* Holiday, do not visit the Ixian Grand.

I think being moved to this hotel could well be a blessing. Any feedback on the Atlantica Prncess would be much appreciated, especially about how 'family' it is? In that we don't really want a kid crazy hotel. Thanks

Sorry that was moved FROM the ixian

Wife works in a school so the idea of a holiday for her is no kids, but after the bad press for the Ixian Grand, I wonder whether to take the alternative. Hope to get hold of First Choice in the morning and see if there are any other options.

after speaking to First Choice we were offered the Atlantica Princess, or the Blue Bay at Ialyssos as all inclusive alternatives. Blue bay looks a bit big, so have gone for the Atlantica Princess. Could not get any compensation out of them as they had given us an equivalent hotel in the same resort.
Could not prize any information out of them as to what is happening at the Ixian Grand. We will try to look in there when we go.

I still think that the Ixian is a nice enough hotel and I have certainly stayed in a lot worse.

I know when we were speaking to the Manager he did mention there had been a problem in September and they were over booked one of the weeks then so I do genuienly believe what first choice are saying. If you look on the website, there is supposed to be another 24 or so luxury suites ready at the start of this season (and a conference hall)- They aren't even built yet due to contractors letting them down or something - I would guess this has something to do with the over bookings!!

I just hope that people who are staying there aren't worrying unduly because it really isn't that bad. The pools, reception areas etc are exactly like they are on the website. It is a lovely hotel but I think they have a few minor problems to iron out.