I am watching a dragonfly elegantly moving over the turquoise pool, my daughter is in front of me happily playing in the water, my teen is climbing the water slides…I feel happy and relaxed
There’s nothing better than a luxury family resort for parents who are worn down or simply want to make the best of their family beach vacation together. We reviewed Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama. A luxury all-in beach resort filled with extensive family amenities, amazing family accommodations, a kids club, swimming pools with slides and special luxury treats for parents.
Read also: The best family Hotels in Rhodes
Luxury Resort in Rhodes: Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama
Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama combines four elements to deliver a one-of-a-kind family vacation in Greece:
- Located on one of Greece’s best islands
- Spread out on the largest sun-drenched beach of Rhodes
- Excellent Family Accommodations
- A Grecotel guest experience in service and dining
Where is Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama?
Rhodes Island is one of Greece’s larger islands, located in the Eastern Aegean Sea, at a short distance from the Turkish coast. It is one of the most popular and luxurious destinations in Greece.
Rhodes offers something for every taste. At the same time cosmopolitan and traditional, timeless and modern – Rhodes is ideal for family holidays. The island is the largest of the Dodecanese island group and famous for its impressive hills, rich green valleys and long golden beaches.
Rhodes has been important since ancient times and offers numerous cultural and archaeological sites. The city of Rhodes was created because of the many nations that used Rhodes as a geographical and cosmopolitan crossroad. Rhodes has an excellent climate for beach holidays with long hot summers. The sea is warm enough for swimming from June to October.
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Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama
Grecotel Luxe Me Dama Dama is located on the Blue Flag awarded beach of Kallithea, the most spectacular widest sandy beach on Rhodes island. It is near Rhodes Town and the airport is 16 km away. However, you will find it very hard to leave the resort and venture out.
It is very well possible to spend your entire vacation inside the resort having fun at the wide beach or sipping cocktails at the pool whilst your kids venture the water slides.
The resort is a complex of bungalows, two hotel buildings and gardens, swimming pools, food corners, and a stunning beach overlooking the Aegean Sea. Have a look at the aerial photo below.
I made the below side-view photo of the resort from one of the hotel buildings.
The resorts green, blue and white summery exterior is in fine contrast with its interior. The elegant indoor design of the main hotel reflects both contemporary design and old-world lavish décor. Lots of red and gold, plush sofa’s and warm fabrics in the large lobby and salon as well as wood and whites.
In landscaped gardens are bungalows of different sizes.
The many large grass areas are very suitable for young kids and babies. During our stay, I noticed many families with babies sitting on the grass. There are changing areas near the pools and plenty of shade under the palm – and olive trees. The east side of the resort had a quieter grass area for endless hours of reading under the trees. Here is also a massage/yoga station.
The Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama rooms
There are in total of 17 different accommodation styles at Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama to choose from with a wide range of family accommodations.*
Given the number of rooms, it never felt crowded at the resort during our stay. Compared to the high-rise hotels next to our resort, Grecotel Lux Me felt like a private oasis of white and green against a rocky background.
Our Sea View Family Guestroom
We stayed at the LUX ME Family Guest room; a spacious room of 40m2 that sleeps up to 5 persons with a breathtaking sea view. The room had 2 separate bedrooms each with its own very large balcony.
Our room had an en-suite bathroom with two washbasins and another separate bathroom with a bathtub and WC. The bathroom featured Grecotel body care products, robes, slippers and lots of other extras. There was plenty of cupboard space.
My king-size bed slept excellently. Our room was minimalist in design featuring a clean, white canvas and organic wood and metal elements. Faux-leather details and many pillows gave the room a luxurious touch.
The welcome drinks and snacks, fruits, and fresh flowers made us feel welcome and at home. The room had a bar filled with premium brands of alcohol such as Greek mastiha liqueur, vodka, and whiskey and a coffee/tea corner.
Best rooms for families
During a tour of the hotel, I had the chance to visit and photograph several other rooms and bungalow types. All rooms and bungalows are renovated, some partially. I saw beautiful fabrics and funky paintings, as well as large family rooms and white designer bungalows, each with its own floor plan and decor.
I also liked the family rooms with mountain-view at the back of the main hotel because they had separate bedrooms and bathrooms. I loved the large garden bungalows with spacious bathrooms and cool colors. Fresh flowers and art objects were in most rooms. Have a look at some of these in the photos that I took, and find more details on the website about all family accommodation types.
The Luxury Made Easy Concept
Lux Me Grecotel Dama Dama offers the so-called LUX ME concept or; Luxury Made Easy. This means that guests get a luxury all-inclusive program with the comforts of a family hotel.
Included in the Lux Me program are dining in à la carte restaurants (one that is open 24/7), luxury amenities, a maid service, evening turn-down service (in selected room types), soft drinks, beer, Greek and international wines, a brasserie & pâtisserie, crêperie & gelateria, a wine cellar with wine tasting and many more.
There is also a 24h WhatsApp concierge that I mostly used to make reservations for the spa and restaurants.
Kids and luxury holidays are usually not a happy combination, but this is not the case at LUX ME Grecotel Dama Dama. This program allows families to feel free and comfortable with their kids AND to indulge in luxury at the same time.
The Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama Beach
We were very impressed with the enormous beach of the resort. The beach consists of sand and gravel. The sea is clean and the water gets deep quickly. However, it is very calm and young kids can play safely in the water. At some parts, I would recommend water shoes for little kids. The deep blue water is great for snorkeling. We saw much colorful fish in between the rocks, so don’t forget your diving mask!
The beach is Blue Flag qualified meaning it has a clean sea, lifeguards, an endless list of water sports, bathrooms, and showers. There are many loungers on the beach and there is enough space for everyone. Changing cabins, showers, beach towels and umbrellas are free of charge and included in your stay.
The large pier at the resort worked as a magnet on my kids and guaranteed hours of fun at the beach.
I loved the beach for reading and sunbathing. For that ultimate summer feeling, have an afternoon drink at the beach bar with its tall palm trees and harbour club style. It plays great music in the afternoon.
We celebrated my daughter’s birthday on the beach with cocktails and mocktails!
Not only drinks at the beach bar. An ice cream bar with more than 25 flavors of ice cream. Our favorite was mint/chocolate. A must-try!
On top of that, the waffles and crepes kept my kids happy from morning to sunset. Yes, we did stop counting the ice creams!
Next to the beach bar is Taverna restaurant used for breakfast and snacks throughout during the day and casual buffet lunch. At night, this cute place under the palm trees transforms itself into a romantic Greek taverna on the beach for mezze and wine.
Read more about Taverna in this post under Restaurants.
The Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama Pools
The resort features four large freshwater swimming pools.
The beautifully designed pool in the middle of the resort plays a prominent role. This state-of-the-art freshwater pool of 1.400m² in between the bungalows gives a sense of ultimate luxury. With its gazebos, different water levels, and infinite view over the sea, I loved this pool the most.
During the day it guaranteed a relaxed pool experience and it is used for aqua fitness. At night, the pool turns into a fountain and magic stage used for musical performances and romantic drinks under the moonlight.
The pool service can bring you fresh fruits, water and other refreshments, no need to get up.
Although my kids are good swimmers, the little still needs supervision. There are lifeguards at all the pools, the slides and the beach. Although I never let my kids out of my sight alone in the water, it was helpful to have an extra pair of eyes on them.
Besides this large luxury pool, there is a second large shallower kids pool at the west side of the resort with water slides and a water polo area.
There is also a fenced, separate baby pool next to the playground with sunbeds and umbrellas for parents.
Need some alone time? The indoor heated pool at the Elixir Spa will guarantee some kids’ free quietness. Besides a large pool, a sauna and a small steam room, there is a fitness room with state-of-the-art cardio fitness equipment and a beauty salon.
Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama restaurants
If the beachfront location and pools weren’t enough, the resort’s restaurants are worth the journey. Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama offers numerous on-site dining options. A family could switch between Italian, sushi, steak, and seafood for a different type of dinner every night without ever leaving the resort.
The Olive Restaurant
Olive Restaurant could be the signature Grecotel Lux Me restaurant and pays homage to Mediterranean cuisine. It also uses a hot stone steak grill.
With its romantic corners and beautiful views over the resort’s water features and sea, the sophisticated but minimalist Olive restaurant was relaxing but a culinary experience at the same time. The evening photos of this post don’t do the food justice.
Olive restaurant includes a stylish cocktail corner where our lovely hostess Lydia welcomed us for the evening with a gin-tonic for me and a virgin drink for my girls.
On our table were more treats: local olives, olive, tapenade and premium organic olive oil from the Grecotel farms combined with fresh Greek bread, thyme butter, cheeses, chutney and Italian cold cuts. Our night could not have started off better. Meanwhile, musical notes from the bar came our way and accompanied our meal.
We had the Olive Oil Experience menu. This menu started with sweet pumpkin soup and a choice of appetizers such as mozarella con pomodori, a summer salad, tartar di salmone and ravioli con fungi porcini.
The main course menu had hot stone choices (veal fillet, rib eye or pork fillet) and pasta with sea food or ragu, or shrimp with quinoa. My daughters choose the linguine all’aglio ed olio con gamberi e bottarga and I had the hot stone ribeye.
We choose fresh fruits and cheesecake for dessert. The hotel sommelier recommended several Greek wines to accompany the meal, not only making this meal a feast but also teaching me more about wines. We had a unique gastronomy experience in a laid-back atmosphere!
M. Butterfly Asian restaurant
Possibly my personal favorite and the venue of my daughter’s birthday evening. Madame Butterfly is an authentic Asian treat overlooking the resort’s premises offering an a la carte menu including the very best Asian delicacies.
Asian cocktails, fine wines recommended by sommelier Anastassia, aromatic overdrive, and great food. We had a nice start with a sushi combo. We further choose an appetizers’ combo with tempura shrimp, spring rolls and yakitori.
The appetizer menu also had salads, noodles and a Thai tom yum soup. Our main course was a salmon tataki, a chicken curry and a crispy Bejiing duck. For dessert, we choose a coconut panna cotta and a delicious banana katsu.
M. Butterfly’s has an open kitchen and is a relaxed place for a relaxed summer evening. Thank you, Anastassia, for recommending some excellent crispy wines to accompany my heavenly Asian delights.
Taverna
Taverna is a Greek Restaurant tavernaki-style on the beach. During the day, it operates as a buffet restaurant. It serves yummy and kids friendly dishes such as homemade pizza, pasta, Greek souvlaki, roasted chicken, burgers and gyros.
A salad and fruit – bar complements the beach buffet.
In between the buffets, Taverna serves snacks such as pita wraps, whole grain baguettes, tuna-sandwich, lots of fresh fruits and biscuits. Going hungry is impossible in Grecotel Lux Me.
At night Taverna is for ouzo, warm bread, mezze and authentic Greek dishes under the stars. Sometimes the most basic dishes or ingredients can showcase a kitchen’s skill when they transform something so simple.
This is the case in Taverna. Authentic Greek food served as mezze on a large tray. An authentic Greek salad is made on your table.
Tzatziki, beans and homemade meat pies, and cheese pies were a few of our starters.
Our main course mezze included meatballs, mousakas, prawns saganaki and calamari.
We could not resist dessert; homemade walnut pie and orange-pie with vanilla ice cream.
Although we loved all the restaurants, Taverna’s simple but true tastes and authentic Greek service made us feel most at home.
Helios Restaurant
Minimal Helios Buffet restaurant at the central building serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is, therefore, the main restaurant of the resort.
At Helios you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner (with themed nights) on the covered patios next to the water or inside. The buffet has different dishes each day.
Having said this before in other reviews on Grecotel resorts, the Grecotel buffets offer superlatives including a traditional Greek corner, healthy and vegetarian options and an extensive international buffet with Mediterranean overtones.
The daily menu features starters, pasta dishes, main courses, sides and a mouthwatering and over the tops array of desserts.
The Helios breakfast buffet serves custom omelets, sweets, fresh juices, and custom pancakes.
There is also a good section of cold cuts, cheeses, salads, and the choice in cereal is outstanding.
The champagne bar and the detox drinks and waters next to each other brought the dilemma to my morning feast.
Don’t miss the amazing Grab & Go Bakery, where you’ll pick your favourite pastry platter, home-made pie, sweet dessert or warm bread.
I liked the choice in low-carb and low-fat products.
At lunch, things pick up even more. Helios serves authentic Greek and Mediterranean food like octopus salad, stifado, mousakas and several fish dishes but also outstanding Neapolitan handmade pizza and pasta dishes for the kids as well as lots of fresh salads.
Captivating open kitchen’s roaring pans and handmade on-site delicacies are just a few of the many treats at Helios.
I don’t like sweets, but I absolutely love anything savory or cheesy. Are you into ham, prosciutto, or smoked salmon? Cold cuts are cut on the spot. I liked the salad bars a lot. With so many ingredients to choose from, it was easy to create my own salad.
At dinner time, everything mentioned above is repeated and multiplied. Seafood pasta, boiled, fried, and grilled fresh fish, handmade pizza, traditional Greek dishes such as moussaka, vegetarian options, a large salad bar and lots of premium meat dishes are part of dinner choices. Desserts – again – in abundance.
If you were not able to make a reservation in one of the a la carte restaurants, dinner at Helios can be just as romantic. Pick a table outside next to the pool, ask for a bottle of wine and enjoy a casual meal under the stars.
Cretan corner
At Helios is a traditional corner with Cretan products during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This reflects the heritage of the Grecotel family with my personal favourite mouthwatering culinary delicacies from Crete such as olives, dako and fava.
Tasty Corner
Tasty Corner is a kid’s dedicated space in Helios restaurant that covers free dining for kids and a children’s menu and buffet. There is a baby buffet with blenders, bottle warmers and an ice cream store for kiddos.
My little one love the meatballs, French fries and pasta with tomato sauce.
Sweets and more at Creperie
In the Creperie, kids can find snacks, morning to sunset. No need to say NO this holiday. Kids can find an unlimited supply of sugar in the shape of warm crepes, ice creams, fruit sorbets and more. And not just for kids; parents can order a Greek-style iced coffee, have an espresso or detox tea.
Lounge & Lobby Bar
Special mention for the classy lounge lobby bar with its red velvet couches because it is here that we enjoyed beautiful moments of saxophone music and quality family time and post-dinner drinks. A cozy venue for refreshments, specialty coffees, high teas, and cocktails throughout the day and in the evening with a dazzling cosmopolitan bar and view over the pool.
Activities for Families
As we are used to by now at Grecotel resorts, there was just so much to do in LUX ME Grecotel Dama Dama. Where to start?
Live music acts and entertainment shows, DJ shows, dancing, movies, morning gym and aqua gym classes, aerobics, beach games for kids and families, musical nights with traditional Greek dancing and lots of sports.
Tennis, 5×5 mini soccer, basketball, archery, table tennis, water sports, a fitness club, mountain biking and lots more. Note that there is an 18-hole golf course (extra charge) nearby.
While we were at Grecotel Lux Me, we saw street dancers perform during the day and we joined in the aqua class (great fun!) Evening entertainment included folklore shows, live music by opera singers and a professional dance group.
We had lots of fun dancing together at the family disco on the beach encouraged by the entertainment team.
We made the reservations for events and dinner via an online guest portal enabling us also to check the kid’s programme, order room service etc.
Kids Club and perks
The spacious Grecoland mini club at LUX ME Grecotel is located near the pool and Helios restaurant. During the hottest hours of the day, they played games here or read a book.
The multilingual staff was sweet and caring and encouraged the children to explore their talents. My daughter loved drawing and crafting here. I noticed fresh fruits, snacks and biscuits for the kids in Grecoland.
For older children are games on the beach and in the pools. The animation team passed by each afternoon inviting the older kids to join in, their enthusiasm was contagious, and we joined them in dancing in the pool.
About the Grecotel children’s programme:
GrecoKids (3-6 yrs)
GrecoKids is all about having fun in combination with the Greek culture, its history, and its natural environment. Six days a week, GrecoKids can enjoy arts & crafts, water activities, team games, theme events, environmental days, treasure hunts & gardening fun – all at Grecoland.
GrecoJuniors (7-12 yrs)
From the new Discovery Adventures to parties & discos, there is something to occupy them from morning to night. Grecoland organizes sports, team games, water activities, creative crafts and whilst playing they are learning about their planet.
GrecoTeens (13 + yrs)
From morning to night, there is plenty to keep teens occupied. From beach volleyball, watersports, tournaments, hip hop dancing, Greek dancing, internet surfing, parties, and dances. (Mid. June – mid. September
Grecotel also offers summer camps (depends on the resort). There is an Arsenal Soccer Academy, a program with adventure activities (with the wonderful name Discovery Adventures).
(Source: www.grecotel.com)
Travel light
No need to carry anything on your holiday to LUX ME Grecotel, Grecobaby takes care of everything that you need when travelling with babies & tots.
Cots, high chairs; trainer steps; potties; buggies; changing mats; training seats; bottle warmers; baby bathtubs; bouncy chairs; listening devices (some items incur a nominal charge).
Requests for GrecoBaby equipment should be made directly to the hotel prior to arrival. Some equipment is limited in availability.
Quality Family Time
The challenge at all-inclusive resorts is that they can get a little repetitive. Same beach, same pool, same buffet every day. Not at Grecotel Lux Me! The resort offers enough opportunities for sharing activities and time together while also enjoying private time alone.
Together we enjoyed the pools and dinners and the girls also spent time alone in the kids club. They also had lunch with the entertainment team when I went around the hotel to see the family rooms.
When my kids were happily playing or being entertained by the Kids Club, I had time to go to the spa and read a book at the pool. And if you still want to leave the resort, venture out to Rhodes town or any of the other amazing attractions that the island has to offer.
Celebrate good times, come on! We celebrated my daughter’s 10th birthday with a custom-made cake, champagne, flowers, and lunch on the beach. Thank you, Grecotel Lux Me for an unforgettable birthday party!
Activities beyond Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, there is a lot to see and do in Rhodes with kids. The resort provided us with a bus timetable for bus connections to all the important places in Rhodes. The busses stop outside the hotel and leave very often. A must-visit is the old town of Rhodes with its famous port, medieval castles and fortifications.
Read also: 6 of the best islands in Greece for families
Rhodes town is only 12 km away from LUX ME Grecotel. Children will fantasize about knights and princesses walking around the old city walls. My kids loved the castles and old buildings. The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes was very informative. It is the former medieval hospital of the Knights with exhibits from the first signs of life on the island 2500 B.C with statues, decorated gravestones, and vessels of all kind covering all the glorious times of the Rhode’s history in a perfectly preserved building of the period of the Knights.
Near Grecotel Lux Me is also the famous city of Lindos. One of the three leading state – cities of ancient Greek times and built around a steep rock with an acropolis and the temple of Athena. The little white Aegean-style houses with picturesque lanes next to the impressive ruins of Ancient Greece are a great excursion to make.
The Ancient city of Kamiros is established in Minoan times. This amphicentric location in the pine forest offers an impressive view of the sea. Here you can teach your kids more about city planning in Ancient Greece, a typical ancient Rhodes’ villa, the temples and the arcs with the shops, the drainage, and the water supply network with huge water tanks. Haven’t had enough of castles? The castles of Kritinia and Monolithos are more examples of the war architecture style of the period of the knights.
Another must-do in Rhodes with kids is the famous Valley of the butterflies. Your kids will love the peaceful walk through the shaded, green valley with its small river and beautiful waterfalls. You are permanently surrounded by butterflies camouflaging themselves against the tree trunks as you walk up towards the monastery at the top, or rest for a while on one of the wooden benches along the way.
You could consider exploring the island by boat. There are several boat excursions available. Many of them have a starting point on the beach near the resort (not part of the resort’s program, starting from 25 Euro for a day excursion per person).
Our review of Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama
We had a luxurious relaxing beach vacation that started with breakfast al fresco overlooking the sea and ended with a Greek feast under the stars. I recharged my batteries at the beach and spent fun moments with my children in the pools. We searched for shells and snorkeled for fish. My kids played on the pier, they tried a banana ride with the Kids Club, and had endless hours of fun on the water slides. We enjoyed panoramic views from our family room or made long walks on the beach.
Families do not always feel comfortable in luxurious 5-star hotels. But Grecotel Lux Me has found the perfect balance between a luxury stay and a family-friendly relaxed setting: fine dining, impeccable service and Greek hospitality together with a relaxed attitude towards kids. Both parents and kids can relax and have fun in this Grecotel resort at a historic top location.
The children loved the action on the water slides, the shallow pool and unlimited chocolate from the Chocolaterie. Parents liked the al fresco dining, reading a book in the sun on the beach and the service in the restaurants. Definitely try the wine tastings and visit Rhodes old town.
How to get to Grecotel Lux Me
Rhodes has an international airport with direct flights from most European cities giving families a choice of airlines and nonstop flights. In Greece, it is connected with the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki. There are also connections to and from other Greek islands such as Mykonos, Santorini and Crete (Heráklion city). Flights are operated by Olympic Airways and Aegean Airlines.
The port of Rhodes has daily connections to the port of Athens, and the island is also connected directly to all the other islands of the Dodecanese and Crete. We arrived by plane in Rhodes and had pre-booked a taxi via the hotel from the airport to the hotel. The standard rate for that trip is 45 Euro.
You can also book a Diagoras Airport Private Hotel Transfer and take the worry out of your arrival or departure. This pre-booked transfer luxury service goes to or from almost any hotel on the island.
Click here for more information and booking your luxury transfer.
Information and booking Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama
If you want to read other recommended tried and tested Grecotel LUX ME resorts, have a look at my post: Luxury Made Easy at Daphnila Bay Dassia in Corfu island.
For families who like water parks, then also check out my review of the Grecotel Olympia Riviera resort in the Peloponnese on the mainland of Greece. The beach resort hosts a brand new Olympia Aqua Park, the largest in a resort in Greece. During our holiday at the Grecotel Olympia Riviera, my family also enjoyed a Spa & Wellness experience at the Elixir Thalasso Spa Center. For quiet holidays with babies, take a look at the newly opened Grecotel Casa Marron in the same district.
If the Greek islands are your family’s favourites, I recommend Grecotel Lux Me Daphnila Bay Dassia resort in cosmopolitan Corfu. If you decide to go there, do not miss a trip to Grecotel’s own Danilia Village. This historic Corfiot village is the film set location of the famous TV series The Durrels!
A big Thank You to the wonderful staff at the hotel who made us feel so special, welcome and at home. Your hospitality and warmth made our stay very memorable. Thank you, Grecotel Hotels & Resorts for inviting us to your beautiful resort in sunny Rhodos!
About Grecotel
The Greek Grecotel resorts originate from the island of Crete operates over 32 hotels in 12 destinations around the islands and the mainland of Greece (seven on Crete, two on Kos, one on Rhodes, one on Mykonos, and others spread across the mainland including Athens and the Peloponnese).
Grecotel is part of the N. Daskalantonakis Group of Companies, which includes among others city and resort affiliated hotels, the Agreco traditional farm and line of products from Crete and the Danilia traditional village and museum in Corfu. The company has been awarded more than 2000 international awards by guests and prestigious international tourism organizations. (Source: www.grecotel.com)
*Check here for more specifics on the family accommodation
Disclaimer: I was a guest at Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama with my family. As always, the opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
Photo credits for the featured photo above this post: ©Grecotel Hotels and Resorts
