Our family holiday to Rhodes, Greece with Jet2holidays

Disclosure: We were invited on this break for the purpose of this review however all opinions are my own.

During the Easter break, we escaped the dreary April showers for a family holiday in Rhodes, Greece. We had booked with Jet2holidays and was really looking forward to showing our boys why we loved the Greek islands so much. Read on to find out where we stayed, what we got up to and all about our experience with Jet2holidays.

Let’s fly away with Jet2 

We last flew with Jet2 in 2019 and had a brilliant experience so we had high hopes for a great, repeat experience. Prior to our family holiday, I checked in online using the Jet2 app. The Jet2 app is a fantastic resource as it has all the details of your booking including flight details and allows you to check in online. You can also use the app to download your boarding passes and it even gives you updates about your return pick up in resort! 

At the airport we were all very excited to be getting our Jet2 flights to Rhodes from our local airport, Birmingham. On arrival, we were greeted by Sarah, a Jet2 customer helper who was very friendly and happy to help. Sarah checked our passports and our boarding passes and then directed us to the baggage drop where we scanned in our boarding pass which gave us our luggage labels. Another Jet2 customer helper was on hand who swiftly put the labels on our suitcases and directed us to the drop off point. With our Jet2 holiday, we were entitled to a very generous 22kg of luggage per person as well as 10kg hand luggage. We only had two suitcases so our baggage drop off was really easy. 

After a brief experience through security and an hour in departures, it was time to board our plane. The boys were very excited and had already planned who was sitting by the window! We had row 6 seats so boarded from the front of the plane and were welcomed onboard by the friendly flight attendants. We settled into our seats which have generous leg room and got ready for our flight. 

Our flight to Rhodes was just over 4 hours long which was just long enough to enjoy the experience, have a drink and some food and watch the world go by from the window. Before we knew it, we were landing in Rhodes and lining up for passport control in Greece. The boys were very excited to receive a stamp in their new passports. 

Rhodes is the furthest east of the Greek islands in the Mediterranean with Turkey to the north and Crete to the south west. Rhodes is a stunning island and it’s popular tourist resorts include Ixia, Pefkos, Lindos and Faliraki.

As soon as we got our luggage from the baggage carousel, we were greeted by a Jet2 customer helper who directed us to another Jet2 customer helper outside the terminal building. It was reassuring to see lots of friendly faces with the distinctive red Jet2 clothing on who directed us to our transfer buses. On the bus, a further Jet2 customer helper welcomed us to the island and gave us all a resort information pack which contained all the details we needed whilst we were in Rhodes. Whilst we were on the bus heading towards our hotel, I received a text from the resort Jet2 customer helper Allyson. She welcomed us to the island and invited us to the welcome meeting the following morning. We definitely felt welcomed and valued as Jet2holidays customers which was a nice touch. 

Staying at Avra Beach Resort with Jet2 Holidays 

After a 20-minute transfer, we arrived at our hotel. The Avra Beach Hotel can be booked through Jet2holidays and we were there for 4 nights on an all-inclusive basis. At the reception, we were given wristbands to wear throughout our stay which is usual if you’re accustomed to staying on this basis. As part of the all-inclusive stay, we had access to a variety of food and drinks (hot, cold, and local alcohol) from 07:00 until 23:59 each day. 

Comfortable accommodation 

Our Superior Family Room was part of the more modern area of the hotel on the first floor. Our room was clean and modern with a partition across the room where the boys’ single beds were with access to the balcony. The bathroom was open plan with a sink and storage, with a walk-in shower and toilet. Whilst our room was a good size we felt there wasn’t enough clothing storage for a family of four staying longer than a week. Luckily we were only there for 4 nights so it wasn’t an issue but families staying longer may have struggled. 

Throughout our stay, our room was the perfect place to rest. The beds were comfy, there were power outlets by the side of the bed and there was a TV should you wish to watch it. Our room also included air conditioning which we didn’t need to use, fresh towels, a mini fridge, and a hairdryer. Top tip – always check there is a hairdryer in the room before jumping in the shower and washing your hair before dinner. I had to request a hairdryer from Reception!  Our beds were always made by the lovely maid service in the morning as we always came back from breakfast to neat and tidy beds. 

Hotel facilities 

During the day, there were plenty of spots for sunbathing, relaxing by the pool, or enjoying the resort entertainment. There was plenty to do with volleyball nets, football goals, table tennis set up. The hotel has one main pool, which sadly isn’t heated so was far too cold for me to enjoy. My boys however don’t seem to feel the cold so enjoyed a splash in the pool every day during our stay. It will be wonderful to enjoy a hot Greek Summer but sadly the Spring temperatures were a little on the cooler side. Typically, the temperature throughout the day was between 13-18 degrees and it was quite windy so take a jumper for those cooler days! 

The hotel had a beachfront snack bar which had snacks available throughout the day as well as a hot drinks machine for tea or coffee. There was a beachfront bar too which served an array of soft and alcoholic drinks. There was a brilliant cocktail menu to enjoy, I can vouch for the Pina Colada which was my top choice throughout our stay! My eldest son enjoyed the alcohol-free punch which was a mocktail for children. 

The food on offer was enjoyed by us all. Breakfast was buffet style in the main restaurant with a huge choice to enjoy. There were continental foods as well as hot breakfast items, much to my husband’s delight! Our youngest son enjoyed the fresh fruit and pancakes.

At lunchtime, you can either eat in the main restaurant or at the Greek Italian Outdoor restaurant on the beachfront. This is where we chose to enjoy our lunch during our stay as the chefs made to order the most delicious Gyros wraps as well as chicken souvlaki and salads. The boys loved the freshly made pizza and chips whilst we enjoyed the Gyros, greek cheese salads, and local wine. Dinner was served in the main restaurant and was always very busy.

Each night there is a theme that includes Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian Fusion to name just a few. The fresh salads were all really delicious and we all enjoyed our meals every single night. Some of us even went up for second helpings, my eldest loves staying all-inclusive! 

The Animation team at the Avra Beach Resort were all really friendly. The lads encouraged my boys to join in the daily sports games including Football, Darts, and Beach Boccia. My children didn’t have a chance to join in with the children’s clubs during our break but it’s good to know clubs are on offer should you wish to enjoy an hour of peace or two! 

Explore Rhodes Town 

On our first day in Rhodes, we took a taxi into Rhodes Town. It’s a town full of history with a port welcoming cruise ships and sailing yachts. Rhodes Town is split into two areas; the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town sits within the medieval walls and is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Town. It’s home to the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and is so fascinating to walk through. As you walk the cobbled streets, there are vendors selling leather goods, jewellery, and shoes as well as lots of cafes, bars and restaurants. Top tip – only eat and drink somewhere there is a price on the menu!  The New Town is home to modern shops, bars, and restaurants. They even have a Starbucks and a McDonalds! 

We enjoyed a walk around Mandraki Harbour which was once the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios and he was said to stand at the entrance of the harbour. Unfortunately, the statue was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC but is still held in grand honour by the Greek people today! 

Exploring Rhodes Town was one of our favourite things to do, so much so that we visited twice and explored different parts of the town each day. We were able to catch a private bus from our Rhodes hotel for 3€ return each which we thought was brilliant value. 

Leaving late, ask for a late checkout 

On our last day in the resort, our flights weren’t until much later in the evening. We were able to extend our stay by paying a small fee to keep our room until 6pm. This gave us plenty of time for a shower after a day by the pool and helped us enjoy the last day of our holiday. We didn’t have to arrange this until our last day but always check with Reception how far in advance you can have a late checkout.

I had been notified via the Jet2 app that our return transfer wasn’t until 9pm so we were able to plan our day accordingly. We checked out of the hotel, stored our luggage, and went to enjoy our last evening meal at the hotel restaurant. We were then able to enjoy the evening in the bar making the most of the all-inclusive drinks before catching our flights home. 

Leaving Rhodes 

We were all quite sad to leave Rhodes so soon. We all really enjoyed the hotel facilities from the delicious Greek food to watching the in-resort Animation team dancing on the bridge. The hotel had a calm and relaxed vibe and we all really enjoyed our stay. Our transfer back to Rhodes Airport was smooth and stressless which is what you want after an enjoyable holiday. The Jet2 staff at the airport were very helpful and again, there were lots of staff on hand to offer advice or support. Our flight home was peaceful and I was glad that both boys had their own seats so we could all relax and enjoy the flight home under the stars. 

Our experience of being on holiday with Jet2 Holidays was enjoyable. they have thought of everything. There are helpful Jet2 customer helpers everywhere and they’re all visible. Even during baggage collection when we landed back in Birmingham. They don’t shy away from engaging with customers and our whole experience from when we booked our holiday to check-in, on our flights, and even when we landed was stress-free and comfortable. We would absolutely book our future family holidays on Jet2holidays as we know what to expect. They worry about the detail for you so when you’re on holiday with children, the whole family can relax and enjoy the experience. Isn’t that what holidays are for? 

Find out more about Jet2 and Jet2 Holidays on their website for city breaks and family holidays.