more than 20,000 tourist and locals were forced to flee homes and seaside hotels as wildfires burned for days.Thunderstorms and heavy rain also interrupted train services in mainland Greece especially in the centre and north of the country.Reporting by Stelios Misinas Writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alison Williams Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Flash flooding and widespread disruption on Greek islands while Australians experience unusually wet start to summer Greece was hit hard by Storm Bora last weekend gale-force winds and intense thunderstorms affecting the islands of Rhodes and Lemnos in particular The storm formed on Friday 29 November and rapidly intensified by Saturday with wind speeds reaching up to 80mph (129km/h) which caused flash flooding and widespread disruption Three people were killed and power outages overturned vehicles and collapsed bridges were reported Authorities declared a state of emergency in places with more heavy rain expected in Rhodes and other eastern Greek islands in the coming days Storm Bora was triggered by a low-pressure system over the Ionian Sea December is typically Greek’s wettest month which also formed in the Ionian and hit the region a month earlier Australia has had an unusually wet start to its summer Severe thunderstorms have swept across the eastern regions bringing heavy rainfall – more than 100mm in some areas – and large hailstones Flash flooding submerged parts of Brisbane after 40mm of rain fell in an hour on Sunday Queensland had more than 200mm in less than 24 hours This trough caused a phenomenon called cooler air aloft increasing atmospheric instability and promoting thunderstorm formation According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology the country is expected to experience a warmer-than-average summer with above-average rainfall across eastern and north-western regions in December This is caused by warmer sea surface temperatures this provides ideal conditions for frequent thunderstorms in the weeks ahead Over the past few days in South America, severe thunderstorms have affected Brazil Triggered by a cyclone along the coast of Uruguay the storms brought heavy rain and winds above 50mph The southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul was hit particularly hard with powerful winds causing widespread power cuts that affected about 3 million people at least 50 people have been injured and significant damage to homes and infrastructure has been reported This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications InstagramXThreadsSnapchatTikTokYouTubeLAD Entertainment Home> Lifestyle> Travel Featured Image Credit: LADbible / Sarah WoodwardTopics: Holiday, Money, Travel, Europe currently working as SEO Lead across all brands including LADbible He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles A mum has revealed her surprise after spending £129 on a Wowcher mystery holiday and ending up at one of Europe's most stunning locations affectionately known as the 'Island in the Sun' Starting at £99 the mysterious holiday packages can be bought by anyone who wants to take a gamble on potentially securing the deal of a lifetime Handing over the cash when you don't know the location is a risk but it's one that many have taken and landed firmly on their feet Some of the most luxurious destinations include the Maldives Absolutely head over heels if you land them There is also the likes of Rome, Madrid, and Ibiza on the cards with a whole load of destinations potentially up for grabs when you take the £99 per person plunge For Sarah Woodward and daughter Lacie Barwell, they took the plunge earlier this year and took out one voucher each, paying the more premium £129 per person to be able to take the holiday in the summer months "My daughter asked me if I’d go away with her for a few days," Sarah "We were looking at holidays for a few weeks but couldn’t decide where to go so we thought we’d take a chance on a Wowcher mystery holiday." Sarah said they redeemed the voucher and originally won a multi city break to Athens and Istanbul "We couldn’t believe it," she said "But when we were called they didn’t have any flights to take us there." All was not lost for the mum and daughter though Sarah said: "We would have been happy with that but the advisor who called said - 'no how does four nights in Rhodes sound?'." The pair flew out to Rhodes from East Midlands Airport on a 4pm flight before getting a taxi to their hotel in Faliraki "We threw our bags in the room and went straight to Faliraki Bar Street to watch the Euros final between England and Spain comfy and the staff and other guests were all so friendly," she said "We were five minutes from Faliraki town and around 20 minutes from Rhodes town there was a bus right outside the hotel." On the official rules behind paying for a mystery holiday, Wowcher's official 'fine print' on the £99 holiday deals reads: "Once customers have been advised of their holiday destination they will not be entitled to a refund on the basis they do not wish to travel to the destination drawn." If you're not happy with the holiday you've been given there are things you can do to fix the situation A Wowcher spokesperson told LADbible Group earlier this year: "Once a customer purchases our Mystery Holiday they are randomly allocated a destination and there is the chance to change this destination at redemption "You can speak with the travel provider to determine preferences For example if you are awarded Barcelona but you do not like the hotel or flight times often the provider can try and find you something more suitable "If they can’t find something more suitable within that destination "These alternatives depend on availability and what the travel providers can find you within budgets They may also offer more desirable options at a higher cost but this is only ever optional to the customer." A decision by the competent Directorate of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance determined the locations of the shoreline and public beach areas which are permitted to be granted for simple use exclusively through bidding electronic auctions to be carried out by the Ministry's Land Services and every necessary detail are regulated by a relevant decision of the Ministers of National Economy For beaches that have been classified as busy the relevant Municipalities are obliged to hire the necessary number of lifeguards there is an obligation on the relevant Municipalities to install a special access platform for people with disabilities following the completion of the bidding auction The Land Services reserve the right to proceed with further concessions of parts of the seashore and beach The relevant decision with all the beaches, areas, types of use, and areas can be seen here Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Three Greek beaches among the world’s 50 best – Triumph for the Ionian The “Typhoon” that saves the Greek coasts from garbage EOT at the “Arabian Travel Market” | Interest from Gulf countries, India, and Australia CERT to manage Vasilitsa Ski Resort – Investment of over 20 million euros Is American tourism in Europe “slowing down”? What do professionals see for 2025 and 2026 This is Athens & Partners | The 7 partners renew their collaboration - the joint actions FedHATTA: Dynamic presence of Greek travel agencies at the international Dubai exhibition ATM 2025 Ryanair announces new offer for Prime members on June flights Thomas Ellerbeck | “Rhodes can become a model of sustainable tourism internationally” The Times | The perfect time to experience the authentic side of Santorini Chania: The Alternative Tourism Festival returns to the Venetian Port Angela Gerekou: "Tourism is a force for good and Greece can play a leading role" New flights to Greece in 2025 from 4 airlines Crete welcomes Reveil 12 – Festival of Sounds and Ecology Greek tourism - 3rd quarter | 97% of arrivals in Athens and Thessaloniki Modernization aid for the marinas of Symi and Messolonghi HOTREC Assembly: Focus on challenges and reforms in European tourism AEGEAN 2025: Passenger growth and fleet expansion with an eye on the international market FedHATTA Cooperation with Shaanxi Province, China Greek academic in finalists of European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 Thessaloniki museums join forces to promote the city GNTO introduces “Sustainable Greece” to British Agents Strategic meeting for cruises in Santorini A message of friendship and cooperation at the friendly Greek-Turkish football match in Chios Municipality of Xiromero | Diving tourism: Request for sinking of a decommissioned warship The first La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia Double racing event in Megalopolis on May 11: Festival Enduro and Theater Run 2025 Explora Journeys: Start of the summer season with the luxurious EXPLORA I from Piraeus Strong start in 2025 for Aegean and SKY Express Xanthi Tastes: A Gastronomy Festival with a Cultural Flavor Rhodes: These are the five-star hotels with the highest revenue – Which ones “fill up” first Greek Tourism/Webhotelier: The Winners and Losers in Online Bookings for 2025 GNTO | Promotion of Santorini in target markets Unprecedented blackout in Spain, Portugal, France Greece can play a leading role in the global sports tourism scene Rhodes | Event for the protection of biodiversity Attica, the …Caribbean of the Germans Agios Nikolaos | Cruise season kicks off with arrival of luxury Silver Spirit Operational Plan: “Cretan Food Culture 2026-2030” Destination Management and Promotion Organization in Thessaloniki Kefalonia: The authentic character of the island through the “Travel Reimagined” project Hoteliers vs. Booking.com: The European uprising has begun Tourism | Greece 4th choice for Europeans' holidays in 2025 - what the ETC survey shows New high-standard heated swimming pool in Chania, aimed at sports tourism Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent Greek-American Dean Spanos brings the NFL to Greece – Opportunities for promotion in the USA Lesvos: The season begins with birdwatching tourists MSC Cruises: Strengthens its presence in Greece with 6 cruise ships New Luxury Arrival in Crete | JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa Opens on June 2 "Peloponnese Trails" inaugurated today: New network of trails for sustainable tourism Knossos: 125 years since the excavations of Arthur Evans The Spanish TV show “Viajeros Cuatro” in Corfu Wyndham - Soliteight | 40 Super 8 hotels in Spain and Portugal Airbnb: Final price now displayed in accommodation searches Investments in the beaches of the Attica Riviera The Municipality of Chania at the “From Crete to Side” Festival in Turkey Region of Central Macedonia: Tourism Promotion Activities in Poland and the Middle East Region of Crete | Connecting Minoan Palatial Centers with Archaeological Sites Biodiversity protection plan is in full swing in Elafonisi Record participation in the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition | Chania 8 - 10 May Communities at the heart of tourism development Booking.com | No to limiting tourists, yes to infrastructure investments Thessaloniki’s dynamic presence at the World Tourism Summit in Hong Kong easyJet | Summer 2026 sales open Cruise | Turkey doubles its share, new opportunities for Greek ports Aid for the upgrade of the tourist shelter of Astakos and the Marina of Alimos Preparing the settlement of Kionia for the tourist season: An example to follow The action of the region of Crete "Let's go for... Greens" concludes this weekend “Art is our Language”: Campaign for the 70th Anniversary of the Athens Epidaurus Festival Tourism | Nostalgia drives Brits’ travel choices ΕΟΤ China | B2B meetings with Chengdu's t.os - Flights to Athens in June State-of-the-art conference center at Theartemis Palace Hotel in Rethymno Zagori: Collaboration with Impact Hub Athens for sustainable tourism and innovation Cooperation Memorandum between Development Athens and Piraeus University on Tourism Kos: New advertising campaigns with Jet2 and National Geographic Traveller UK Five cruise ships in Souda by Saturday Imbros Trail Run & Hike 2025: A sporting tribute to the History of Sfakia Cultural Days and Sea Routes in Piraeus Religious Tourism | The University of Palermo comes to Panagia Nafpaktiotissa Audio Walk in the Sitia Geopark: A Different Exploration Experience in Crete AEGEAN “takes off” Larnaca with a new direct flight to Rome Juneyao Airlines: More direct flights from Shanghai to Athens in 2025 Alltours: Familiarization trip to Greece for 250 travel agents Nations Cup Beach Volleyball is coming to TUI Magic Life Candia Maris on May 16-18 Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Traditional Easter in Naxos: Unique Customs and Local Cuisine Annual revenue of over 43,000 euros for Airbnb in Mykonos and Santorini Destination Management and Promotion Organization established in Heraklion  Lyft steps up European presence with FreeNow acquisition Jet2: Four new Greek destinations from Luton in summer 2026 Athens is the new hotspot in Europe for hotel investments - the 8th most attractive city in 2025 Significant increase of over 18% in direct bookings at Greek hotels for Easter What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 The 20 "loudest" luxury hotel arrivals in Greece in 2025 Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters ELSTAT: Hospitality enterprises' turnover grows 28.6% in Greece during Q1 Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism Direct connection of Chania airport to Israel to be strengthened easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Greek tourism sets new records in 2024: 36 million visitors and €22 billion revenue Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Increase in visitor numbers and revenues to museums and archaeological sites in 2024 Passenger traffic in Q1 | +9.1% at CAA airports, +6.5% in all Greek Tourism 2024: Record Performance at a Glance Ryanair: New Brussels – Volos connection in summer 2025 Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Global air passenger traffic hits record high in 2024 with 5.85 billion airline seats Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent The TimesThis huge resort (totalling some 699 rooms) is aptly named in honour of the Colossus of Rhodes the statue and Wonder of the Ancient World that once stood over the capital’s harbour it’s packed with facilities and appeals to both couples and families (with separate pool and dining areas that meet the needs of both) such a volume of guests might not make for everyone’s dream holiday but Amada Colossos keeps things surprisingly refined thanks to quality food and drinks and genuinely warm friendly service that authentically exemplifies Greek hospitality Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners rolling from doubles with sea or hillside views to two-bedroom duplex villas The bulk of the inventory are standard rooms which are a comfortable 23 sq m and have balconies and open-plan bathrooms with walk-in showers Far larger are the showpiece villas and premium deluxe rooms they may perhaps be a tad short on character but the fresh colour scheme adds a nice sense of place by reflecting the sea and sand outside Impressive soundproofing does sterling work in cutting out ambient noise from (depending on the aspect) the pool deck Score 8/10Though it’s possible to stay here on B&B basis most guests choose one of three all-inclusive packages (Gold Diamond and Elite — the latter offers villa stays and a private gazebo) all packages cover the main buffet restaurant where the three-meals-a-day spread is generous without being overwhelming YIAMOURISBreakfast and lunch cover all bases with Greek and other European favourites plus daily vegetarian and vegan options; there’s a similar wealth of choice (with international Mediterranean or Mexican themes) in the evenings there are four à la carte restaurants for Greek either included (depending on package or length of stay) or for nominal supplements • Best hotels in Rhodes• Best villas in Rhodes Score 9/10Although Amada Colossos straddles a stretch of beach packed with loungers and water sports the massive swimming pool takes centre stage Split between family-friendly and adults-only sections it’s served by three bars and has a “no reservations” policy for loungers There’s a five-slide waterpark and a trio of kids’ clubs The beachfront gazebos are worth the extra charge for guests who crave less of an all-day buzz The most serene spot of all is the spa where five treatment rooms (plus a separate nail bar) are staffed by supremely capable therapists with more at the 400-capacity amphitheatre An on-site shopping arcade adds to the mix GEORGE FAKAROSScore 7/10Faliraki, on the east coast of Rhodes but the resort has taken huge strides to clean up its act and head upmarket a polite distance from (but well within reach of) central Faliraki’s bright lights it’s ten minutes by bus to the pretty coves of Tasos or Kallithea Springs; carry on for another 15 minutes to reach Rhodes Town’s medieval core Price B&B doubles from £117; all-inclusive from £217 Restaurant mains from £14 (for those not on an all-inclusive package)Family friendly Y Accessible all parts of the resort can be accessed via elevators and ramps; three rooms have fully accessible bathrooms; lifts and in-room telephones are equipped with braille • Best family hotels in Greece• Best Greek islands to visit James Litston was a guest of Amanda Colossos Resort (amadacolossosresort.com) Sign up to the Times Travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks News | World The tremor, which happened at 10.19pm on Wednesday in the holiday hotspot was confirmed by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) They said they did not expect it to “have caused any significant damage” but added it was “probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter” There are around half-a-million quakes a year that register between 2.5 to 5.4 magnitude which are strong enough to be felt but only cause minor damage This one was strong enough that the experts predicted it would have been felt in other areas popular with tourists including Faliraki which is just 34 miles from the epicentre of the quake The EMSC also tracked a number of aftershocks with Greece and Turkey experiencing less powerful tremors on Thursday morning Rhodes is a huge tourist hotspot combining golden beaches with a world heritage site, bringing in about 2.5 million tourists a year in 2022. Last year, nearby Turkey was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.8 which caused widespread damage and killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless. It was one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the region and was felt as far away as Egypt. There were estimated to be more than 30,000 aftershocks in the three months that followed the initial quake in February last year. Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Lady Victoria Starmer VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason There's much more to the Aegean island than hedonistic nightlife I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice In travel this seems especially true of islands I was led to believe by some that it was a land of antiquities enquiring whether I was going to rave it up in Faliraki The chief reason why I was on this chunk of Aegean real estate was to visit Mark Warner's Levante Beach Resort which opened for the summer season last year It was still school term time when I visited and airport arrivals was full of under-fives – so it was a shock to be greeted by huge billboards for "Kinky: Real Live Sex Shows" After a half-hour drive to the north-west coast a gleaming white modernist hotel in the seaside resort of Kolymbia it stretches 400m from tennis courts behind the lobby down past 100 white cube-shaped rooms and 100 white cube-shaped family suites with five swimming pools (one an impressive 80m long) green lawns and – curiously – two archaeological sites dating from the Hellenistic period the Pan‑Asian restaurant and al fresco bar This turned out to be scattered with wicker sofas and soft perfect for lounging and watching active types learning to windsurf slightly unnervingly so in the way that new hotels are like a J G Ballard novel waiting to unfold were British – despite the assurance from David Hopkins that: "Twenty years ago we were trying to be British in foreign parts which was divided into three age groups from four months to 13 years plus an "Indie Club" games room for teens: everyone seemed content The drop-in evening childcare was also popular leaving parents to enjoy a grown-up dinner The staff expected a completely different atmosphere during the school holidays Mark Warner employs carers in their early twenties – seen as cool by over-14s – to guide teen activities parents are able to indulge in sports and pampering volleyball and football as well as sunrise and sunset stretches And a vast spa with treatments including a chocolate body wrap (€60) I booked a 45-minute lesson at the impressive tennis centre with its six new AstroTurf courts I also took a mountain-bike excursion up the coast past Afandou to Traounou Beach largely pristine stretch of sand with little development Both highlighted the glories of a sunny Mediterranean holiday It would be easy to stay ensconced in Levante but I ventured into Faliraki to find out if its sleazy reputation for drunken Brits was reasonable its dubious bars and clubs were beginning to fill up a mock Flintstone-themed monstrosity like a downmarket Vegas; full-on strip bars such as Q Club and Tiger with girls in nurses' outfits vying for trade; and nightclubs with names such as Climax and Pozers And there are plenty of places to buy a sequinned cowboy hat It was easy to see how all this has got out of hand yet I couldn't help thinking that this was really only two streets on a 75km-long island David Hopkins was certainly keen to reassure me "Faliraki was a quaint old fishing port that has gone through its bad times and is coming back." Levante's Rhodes-based architect told me that there has been a rise in the number of five-star hotels being built with new hotels such as Apollo Blue and Elysium Resort & Spa the contrast between Faliraki and Rhodes Old Town at the northern tip of the island is startling I was bowled over by the beauty and living history of this town which dates back to the arrival of the Knights Hospitallers of St John in the 14th century my guide from Ibiscus Tours: "Rhodes is still an important tourist destination We should be offering themed walking tours for example not just coach tours to Rhodes Old Town and Lindos." As we take in the view from Minos Pension's cosy roof-garden café above a warren of medieval streets "Moooi is a fashionable place to go with excellent cocktails and live music," she said "Mandala Restaurant serves affordable fusion food and has live Greek bouzouki music." with its impressive acropolis perched on a rocky promontory and a town of white sugar-cube houses below but liberal enough to encompass late-night Faliraki As Chrysta put it: "Here you can discover the ancient traditions – or see people walking almost naked down the street." Mark Warner (0844 273 7397; markwarner.co.uk) offers seven nights' half board at the Levante Beach resort from £671pp Summer holiday prices start at £1,275 per person Greek National Tourist Office: 020‑7495 9300; visitgreece.gr rodosisland.gr Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies By MARK DUELL IN LONDON and NICK FAGGE IN RHODES FOR MAILONLINE Britons staying in parts of Rhodes not hit by wildfires insisted today that there was 'nothing to worry about' - with just 20 per cent of the Greek island affected despite alarmist warnings from many quarters not to travel It comes after an easyJet pilot heading to the island issued a warning over the Tannoy to Britons on his plane telling crying passengers that travelling to Rhodes was a 'bad idea' before they got off Much of southern Europe is enduring one of the longest driest and hottest summers on record which scientists say has been caused by man-made climate change The Liberal Democrats were among those calling on the Foreign Office to advise against all but essential travel to Rhodes those not staying in south-east Rhodes said they were keen to enjoy their holiday as more Britons fly home on repatriation flights The UK has not discouraged people from going to Rhodes, although some Tories want the Foreign Office to add the island to its 'red list' so tourists can get refunds Britons in the upmarket resort of Kallithea told MailOnline today they were not worried about the blaze that has devastated hotels further south And others in Faliraki condemned claims that Rhodes is unsafe to visit as 'ridiculous' Holiday operator Tui has revealed all 42 hotels affected in the south-east - in Kiotari Tui said it had about 39,000 guests on the island 7,800 or 20 per cent of whom were affected by the wildfires However it has cancelled all holiday bookings to Rhodes up to and including Friday Hundreds of people have already returned to the UK after parts of the island went up in flames has insisted travellers should still fly to Rhodes because there 'has been no disruption in the airport' and only 10 to 20 per cent of the island has been affected by the fires She added that affected hotel accommodation accounted for 15 per cent of the total capacity of the island And UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove insisted the fires had been 'restricted to one part of the island' and Rhodes was still safe for British tourists to visit Labour has said the Government should 'rethink' the advice it is providing Mr Joyce told MailOnline: 'Where we are staying We wouldn't know there is anything going on if we had not heard it on the news' Dean Guest with his wife Jenny and children Alexa are on holiday in Rhodes from Birmingham and said they have hardly thought about the wildfires since they arrived Louis Bodrozic and his partner Joanna arrived in Rhodes on Sunday as news of the devastating wildfires was gripping the UK But the couple from London have not faced any problems  Alex Head and Callum Melhuist from Bristol found themselves caught up in the hotel evacuations in Rhodes on Saturday but have put it behind them and are enjoying their holiday told MailOnline in Faliraki today: 'It is totally wrong to suggest that it's not safe to come to Rhodes – that could ruin the island Everyone here depends on tourism for their livelihoods' Tourist James Shuttlewood said: 'It's absolutely fine here in Faliraki We are nowhere near any of the forest fires To be honest it's more scary in the Scandinavian bar across the road!' said the blaze 'is only affecting 10 per cent of the island and it is over 50 miles away' from where she is staying with her husband  UK tourists said today that they were carrying on with their holidays  British tourists on the Greek island of Rhodes in Kallithea More than 260 firefighters were battling flames on Rhodes for an eighth day in a row today after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said yesterday the country faced 'another three difficult days ahead' before high temperatures ease This list was released by Tui last night  The Rhodes hotels affected include the Rodos Princess Beach Hotel Absolute Kiotari Resort and Princess Andriana Resort But most other hotels away from the south-east of the island remain open - with airlines continuing to fly in foreign tourists for their summer holidays UK tourists said today they were carrying on with their holidays who said: 'Obviously we are aware of the fire But the blaze is only affecting 10 per cent of the island and it is over 50 miles away I know a lot of people have had their holidays disrupted but it's important that tourists keep coming to Rhodes there is no difference now as to when we were here in May.' Mrs Fairgrieve arrived on Friday from Edinburgh with husband Craig He told MailOnline: 'We could see the fires from the plane as we came in to land said they have hardly thought about the wildfires since they arrived on Friday told us that there was problem with fires on Rhodes but reassured us that it was a long way from our hotel 'And I haven't really thought about it since added: 'I was a bit concerned before we got here We're having a great time and the kids love it.' Louis Bodrozic and his partner Joanna arrived on Sunday afternoon as news of the devastating wildfires was gripping the UK But the couple from London have not faced any problems told MailOnline: 'It's a sad situation for those people who have been affected But everything has gone very smoothly for us.' Alex Head and Callum Melhuist from Bristol found themselves caught up in the hotel evacuations on Saturday explained: 'We took a boat trip down to Lindos When we docked the police made us get off the boat so they could use it to evacuate people from their hotels Tourists watch on in horror as the Rhodes wildfires take hold and evacuations are carried out A fire-fighting aircraft drops water over a wildfire near Vati in southern Rhodes this morning  People stand on a pick-up truck as they watch wildfires close to Vati in Rhodes this morning But we just walked up the hill and got the local bus back to our hotel in Kallithea Flights rescuing British holidaymakers in Rhodes have begun arriving in the UK as wildfires ravage parts of the Greek island Some people have complained about a lack of information from travel companies on how the incident will affect them How have different firms responded to the emergency Jet2 announced it would operate four repatriation flights from Rhodes to bring holidaymakers back to the UK They took hundreds of people to Manchester Leeds Bradford and Birmingham yesterday evening It comes after a flight carrying 95 passengers landed at Leeds Bradford on Sunday evening The company has 'significantly increased' staff numbers on the island and was running transfer coaches to take customers to the airport from evacuation centres yesterday It has cancelled all flights and holidays due to fly to Rhodes up to and including Sunday and has contacted customers about refund and rebooking options claiming the company will process a refund 'quickly' if a customer requests one after the arrival of three flights in the UK overnight Tui said it had cancelled all flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday as well as all flights for customers travelling to impacted hotels up to and including Sunday Those due to travel to unaffected areas on Saturday and Sunday can change to another holiday free of charge or cancel for a full refund The company said it is still operating empty outbound flights to bring customers on holiday elsewhere in Rhodes home 'as planned' The firm previously said more than 300 members of staff were on the affected part of the island easyJet announced it would operate repatriation flights to bring home British holidaymakers trapped on Rhodes an A320 and an A321 aircraft totalling 421 additional seats Nine flights already operating between Rhodes and the UK will also continue alongside them Flights are still operating for customers booked to travel to or from Rhodes before July 29 but if they would like to change their plans customers can change the date of their flight or request a flight voucher Thomas Cook is contacting customers due to travel to hotels in Lardos and Kiotari - the areas most at risk - up to and including Monday July 31 with offers of full refunds or the choice to amend their holidays The same options will be given to customers travelling to other parts of Rhodes on Monday The company will contact all customers travelling to Rhodes in coming weeks in order of departure date Those due to depart on Thursday will hear from Thomas Cook by no later than 6am the day before to 'discuss your options' British Airways said it was still operating flights to Rhodes as normal customers currently on the island needing to come home early can change their return flight free of charge and anyone travelling out from the UK in the next week can postpone their flight to a later date The firm has put a larger aircraft on the next flight from the island to accommodate customers who need to return earlier than planned 'I feel sorry for the people who have been affected by the fires One family were forced to divert to a different hotel upon arrival as their resort was cut off by the flames Mother Caroline Pickering from St Albans told MailOnline: 'We were booked into a hotel in Lindos But when we arrived on Sunday we learnt that it was cut off by the fire 'So our tour operator Trailfinders changed our booking to this hotel here in Kallithea instead My son Rory has been snorkelling and me and my husband Steven have been relaxing on the beach holidaymakers and British expats condemned claims that Rhodes is unsafe to visit as 'ridiculous' Fellow British tourist Ian Joyce told MailOnline: 'We came out here ten days ago And so we have been discussing whether we would have come to Rhodes after hearing about the fires on the news 'We think we probably would not have come if the fires had already been raging because we wouldn't want to put our children in harm's way We wouldn't know there is anything going on if we had not heard it on the news added: 'There really is no problem here in Faliraki It's perfectly safe to come on holiday to Rhodes And expat bar owner Sonja Dimitra told MailOnline: 'It is totally wrong to suggest that it's not safe to come to Rhodes – that could ruin the island Everyone here depends on tourism for their livelihoods it has been the local people who have help the tourists The tour reps have been nowhere to be seen You cannot repay this kindness by taking away their own way to support themselves.' added: 'It's absolutely fine here in Faliraki A statement from Tui on its website last night said: 'All bookings of Tui holidays to Rhodes will be cancelled up to and including Friday 'No guests will be taken to the island up to and including Friday however aircraft will fly out empty to Rhodes so scheduled inbound flights will take place to bring guests back to their home countries 'Guests with bookings whose holidays start in the coming days up to and including Sunday 2023 can rebook for other destinations or cancel their trip free of charge 'We therefore encourage customers with a planned holiday to Rhodes in the coming days Thousands of Britons have been rescued from fire-ravaged parts of the island with more now facing their summer holidays being cancelled Repatriation flights landed in the UK overnight and are set to continue today as holidaymakers spoke of their 'traumatic' experiences being evacuated from hotels and sleeping in schools airports and sports centres on the popular Greek island Ms Kefalogianni was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether people should fly to Corfu where nearly 2,500 people were also evacuated yesterday And she said: 'But this is also the case for Rhodes because there has been no disruption in the airport and I think it's particularly important to stress that only a small part of the whole island of Rhodes is affected 'It's approximately an area which is 10 to 20 per cent of the total area of the island it's 15 per cent of the total capacity of the island this was the largest evacuation that Greece has ever done and it happened in a matter of a couple of hours We've coordinated mobilisation of all resources As many as 10,000 Britons are estimated to be on the island with 30,000 due to head there in the next few weeks Holiday operators continue to cancel flights and holidays meaning thousands could be at risk of having their getaway plans scuppered Today it emerged that an easyJet pilot heading to Rhodes had issued a stern warning to Brits on his plane attempted to fly out of Gatwick despite terrifying fires scorching the Greek island sparking the country's biggest evacuation in history telling passengers on board the 180-seat capacity aircraft that travelling to the resort island was a 'bad idea' The pilot reportedly told passengers over the Tannoy before take-off: 'Travelling to Rhodes for a holiday at the moment is a terrible idea this flight is being operated on an emergency basis Return flights are now being managed by the military 'I don't know in what capacity you are travelling my sincere recommendation is it's a bad idea.' who was on the flight to Rhodes to report for BBC Wales' Welsh-language news programme Newyddion said that eight passengers chose to listen to the advice and disembark German tourists take water from a swimming pool of a hotel in Lindos Tourists queue to get on coaches at the Gennadi Beach area of Rhodes on Saturday Tourists try to sleep on the floor at an evacuation centre in Rhodes yesterday amid the fires Fire fighting crews working near close to the wildfire on the island of Rhodes yesterday Mr Gove said he plans to holiday on the Greek island of Evia insisting the region is safe for Britons to visit The Housing Secretary told Times Radio: 'I'm due to go on holiday to Greece in just over a week's time - not to Rhodes but to another island - and I'm looking forward to going and we do need to support the Greek government in dealing with the situation in Rhodes 'My heart goes out to those who are affected but the advice is clear - if you follow the Foreign Office advice it is safe.' But Labour has suggested the Government should 'rethink' the advice it is providing for people considering travelling to the Greek island of Rhodes Speaking during a private notice question in the House of Lords Tory former cabinet minister Lord Young of Cookham asked if the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office is 'really expecting families booked to go to Rhodes over the next few days to go ahead with their plans' Lords deputy chief whip the Earl of Courtown said the travel advice was there to allow people to make an 'informed decision' and is 'always under review' Labour leader in the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon said the minister should 'rethink this matter' She said: 'The Government's advisory is not helpful - or lack of advisory - to those who are not sure if they should fly this week or not or what the financial consequences could be and I do ask the noble Lord to reconsider the reply he gave to the noble Lord Young 'I'm not convinced he is entirely understanding the position of insurance companies and the struggle that many families face to pay for these holidays.' Rishi Sunak has been urged by the Liberal Democrats to call an emergency meeting in response to the wildfires The party's foreign affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran said: 'While thousands of British holidaymakers are impacted by the wildfires on Rhodes Rishi Sunak has shown a failure of leadership 'The Prime Minister needs to take action and urgently convene an emergency Cobra meeting to help holidaymakers 'The Government must also immediately change the Foreign Office advice to essential travel only which will enable the thousands of British tourists due to fly to Rhodes to safely cancel their holidays without being left out of pocket 'Holidaymakers are being let down by this Conservative Government and a Prime Minister who is missing in action when they need him.' A newlywed couple spending their honeymoon on Rhodes said they were taken out of their hotel amid 'intense' smoke and the sound of a child screaming 'I don't want to die' were moved on Saturday by coach from the Village Rhodes Beach Resort near Lardos Mrs Jones told the PA news agency: 'It was really quite traumatic driving to where we went because you could see everyone fleeing their hotels criticised tour operator Tui and said his family had managed to get back to the UK only after taking a ferry from Rhodes to Kos and then finding a flight to their home city Rhodes tourists Leigh and Charlotte Buckwell People sit inside a car as they watch the fires near the village of Malona on Rhodes today Martin Bowery with his wife Victoria and son Hayden Women embrace each other at Gatwick Airport yesterday amid the Rhodes evacuation He told PA: 'It is just devastation over there and it just feels like a real rubbish long weekend away.' Another man who landed at Bristol Airport with his young family said: 'Miserable A couple from Norwich were forced to flee a wedding party on Rhodes on Saturday arrived at Gatwick Airport on Monday having stayed on the floor of an office in a hotel after the wedding do came to an 'abrupt end' A family from Dorset were forced to sleep at a primary school on the island after ash began falling on the outdoor furniture at the villa where they were staying left the villa in Lindos after getting an alert on their phones and slept on 'slabs' in the school courtyard Airline easyJet said it was operating its third flight today while a spate of Jet2 flights took place yesterday evening An easyJet spokeswoman said: 'Customers are advised to follow official FCDO (Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office) advice For Rhodes this has not changed and our schedule continues to operate 'As we understand that some customers travelling to the affected area may want to change their plans we have put in place a flexible policy for customers travelling to Rhodes in the coming days with the option to change their flights for free to another date or request a flight voucher for the value of their unused flights if they no longer wish to travel.'  Travel firms have increased numbers of staff based on the island Transport Secretary Mark Harper said yesterday evening that he had spoken with airline companies and welcomed the additional flights people have not been discouraged from going to Rhodes The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Our advice is focused on the safety of British nationals and enabling people to make an informed decision about the situation on the ground 'The current situation is impacting on a limited area in Rhodes and while it's right to keep it under review and it's possible that the advice may change we do not want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground.' A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a team has arrived on Rhodes to support travel operators in bringing Britons home said crews had battled over 500 fires around the country for 12 straight days The fires are particularly devastating on very touristic islands such as Rhodes and Corfu where the season is in full swing and hotels are often full The comments below have not been moderated We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Homes and Property | Home Page Greek tourist officials today set out a raft of measures to stamp out loutish behaviour in the resort of Faliraki - as figures showed a sharp slide in the number of British youngsters travelling to the town The plan to give Faliraki its own police station and to enforce strict controls on organised bar crawls are just some of the moves to be introduced The action follows a summer in which the Rhodes resort was "put on the map for all the wrong reasons" with one British holidaymaker stabbed to death in a pub brawl an 18-year-old threatened with jail for stripping off in a bar and a 20-year-old paying a £2,000 fine after he was caught "mooning" in the street Thomson Holidays chiefs told a press conference today that like-for-like bookings across the industry for the youth market were down for next summer by 68% in Faliraki and said that alternative use would have to be found for some of the accommodation previously filled by the youth market president of the Rhodes Chamber of Commerce said there was no danger of the resort which attracted attention after ITV's fly-on-the-wall documentary Club Reps managing director of Thomson Holidays said: "The perception of the whole island (had been) tarnished "This year it was put on the map for all the wrong reasons and as news about Faliraki escalated there is no doubt that some families and couples were put off going." But he predicted the resort would be a "quieter party town next summer" "The message may already be getting through to young people The youth market is 68% down for sales next summer." He said the family market would continue to come to Rhodes but added that he was not so sure that the youth market would in such great numbers He said this would be counter-balanced by more families and couples travelling to Faliraki He said it was "only a matter of time until something happened" in Faliraki because there had been no police station there He said Faliraki was geared to the youth market but that the destination could be revitalised if there was a review of accommodation to attract more couples and families Asked whether the restrictions on pub crawls would prove too much for the youth market he said: "We have to work within the restraints which are set If Faliraki feels this is the best way forward we will follow it and work within these constraints The customers will determine whether that is acceptable or not whether they are happy with it or whether it's too restrictive for them." mayor of the Kallithea region which includes Faliraki outlined what he described as a "softly softly approach" to avoiding a repeat of last summer's events He said: "We have an obligation to ensure a safe and happy holiday for all our visitors to Rhodes There's no question of there being a police crack-down We want young visitors to keep coming to Rhodes He said lessons had been learned and said: "We do not want to deter young people from coming to Rhodes We will always welcome them with open arms provided they behave responsibly as the vast majority have." He said a lot had been learned from police in Blackpool who had given advice about dealing with late-night revellers But a representative for Libra Holidays warned the Greek officials that they "could not bite the hand that feeds you." She added: "If you are going to improve Faliraki you have to improve the whole town itself "What are you going to offer to the family There is nothing there apart from a beach and bars VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day An 18-year-old British girl was jailed for eight months for indecency today hours after being voted "Best Bottom 2003" in a Faliraki tourist contest became the latest target of the "immorality" clampdown when she was arrested at one of Rhodes's most notorious night clubs The sentence was greeted by her distressed family as draconian and a major overreaction by the Greek authorities She said her daughter had been working at the Fali Castle nightclub in Faliraki having completed a media diploma at City of Bath College She had been living in Faliraki town with two schoolfriends and a DJ Ms Brake said: "I only spoke to Jemma last night at about 8pm and she was fine "Faliraki is nowhere near as bad as they all say it is Jemma lives in a flat away from the centre There was pressure on the Foreign Office to intervene but a spokesman said: "It is a matter for the Greek courts." Ms Gunning was charged with indecent exposure and with "provoking public morals" She appeared before Rhodes chief prosecutor George Economou today Legal action could also be taken against six other English contestants in the show There were fears in advance of today's hearing that Ms Gunning could be made an example of in the same way as Mathew Malone who was jailed for a year yesterday by the same court was arrested and charged with permitting an illegal act to take place on his premises He said that the Bed Rock Club has "been operating without any kind of licence whatsoever He added that the show was "the kind of thing that draws large crowds of Britons and encourages drinking The police chief said that this time he is better prepared for the forthcoming court confrontation after the Rhodes court yesterday acquitted five British tour leaders accused of taking bribes to encourage tourists to drink in certain bars for lack of sufficient evidence Captain Kalamatas said: "This time we filmed and recorded the whole show." Ms Gunning was arrested and charged in the new campaign aiming to quell the worst aspects of hooliganism among young British holidaymakers as well as Cavos on Corfu and parts of Crete drunken brawls and drug smuggling this summer Several Britons are in prison pending trial The mayor of Faliraki today compared loutish Britons to "mindless soccer thugs" Ioannis Iatrides promised to give police greater powers "This is not an anti-British move," he said "But the problem should be compared to one which was solved namely that of British soccer hooliganism." Kyriakos Mitsotakis warns parliament that difficult days lie ahead as blazes also rage on islands of Evia and Corfu The battle to contain wildfires across Greece continued for a seventh straight day as firefighters struggled to extinguish flames amid scenes of pandemonium prompted by the nation’s biggest ever evacuation of tourists on inferno-stricken Rhodes authorities worked around the clock to tame numerous fires said it was clear the country was “at war with fire” efforts were being concentrated on dousing blazes raging on the islands of Evia and Corfu 0:53Drone footage shows scale of damage from wildfires on Rhodes – video“This battle is uneven and it will keep being like that for as long as the conditions remain hard,” the centre-right leader told the Greek parliament Warning that “three difficult days” lay ahead with the prediction that temperatures would rise he added: “We find ourselves at war with fire.” As wind-whipped infernos raged across soil parched by searing heat an estimated 2,466 citizens had fled dwellings in 17 villages along Corfu’s northern coast while hundreds had been forced to evacuate communities on Evia The latest evacuations came days after incoming infernos around resort areas in the south-east of Rhodes forced what officials described as the biggest evacuation in Greek history, which saw 19,000 people – mostly tourists – moved to the island’s north across land and sea. Holidaymakers recounted panic-stricken moments of being transported at the weekend in the middle of the night in army trucks to beaches before being placed on Greek navy ships. A common refrain was the shoddy treatment received at the hands of “invisible” tour operators to whom they had paid thousands of pounds to stay in five-star hotels on the island. Read moreMany voiced shock that other British tourists had been flown into the island by travel companies as late as Saturday night when it was clear the fires were raging uncontrollably across a large swath of the island Greece experienced the hottest temperatures in 50 years at the weekend with the mercury reaching 45C in the central region of Thessaly windy conditions have been likened to “super food” for fires The human-caused climate crisis has increased the wildfire season by about two weeks on average across the globe and is responsible for a higher likelihood of fire and bigger burned areas in southern Europe In the face of strong and erratic winds fanning flames civil protection officials in Athens said they had been left with little choice other than to enact what they called a “precautionary” operation to move tourists out of harm’s way on Rhodes incinerating 102 people in their homes and cars “[Since Mati,] we have learned to organise evacuations,” he said Government experts are scheduled to fly into Rhodes and other fire-hit regions in the coming days to assess the scale of the disaster – expected to be hugely costly – so that the process of compensatory payments can begin businesses and plots of arable land are believed to have been lost to the flames But for now the emphasis has been on salvaging the image of Greece as a tourist destination in the face of such disaster Read moreGiven the sector’s significance – tourism provides 25% of the country’s GDP and one in five jobs – the country’s tourism minister was at pains on Monday to insist that although fires had broken out on Corfu while in Rhodes “only a small part of the island” had been affected In what by late Sunday had become a large-scale military operation Greek army transport planes worked through the night to transfer camp beds sleeping bags and other vital supplies to Rhodes either at the island’s airport or in other makeshift shelters including schools and conferences halls “The hope is that what is being brought in will make life a little bit more comfortable for them before they go back home,” one official said 1:23Thousands flee Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires threaten hotels – video reportTourists stranded on Rhodes spoke of the kindness and generosity of locals many of whom had offered to host evacuated families in their homes adding that the departures had eased the chaotic scenes at the island’s airport People watch the fires near the village of Malona on Rhodes Photograph: Spyros Bakalis/AFP/GettyThe tour company Jet2 announced that it had scheduled an extra four flights for Monday evening to take Britons home Firefighting forces from around the world have arrived in Greece to assist in the battle to bring the fires under control Gig review by Steve Bennett at the Soho Theatre Jacob Hawley had a clear sense of identity from the moment he exploded on to the comedy scene as a white working-class lad who has seen the error of his bantz He is aware of the stereotypes of his demographic and acknowledges the truth in them but without any of the contempt that can come when a middle-class comic brings them up Faliraki is only his second full-length show but that sense of purpose is writ larger than ever as he compares where he is now to his teenage self taking that well-trodden rites-of-passage pilgrimage to a scuzzy party town doused in sunshine escaping life in a blur of drink and drugs on a dancefloor of a nightclub with a perfectly awful name that he fell in what he thought was love for the first time – a story that runs in parallel with anecdotes about his new partner (it’s no spoiler to say that holiday ‘romance’ did not sustain) These narratives offer some wonderful slice-of-life stories most notably involving Hawley encountering a super-dedicated drug user on the night bus and trying to deal with his animal-loving girlfriend’s concern at a stricken pigeon at Hampstead Lido.  He’s a naturally compelling raconteur and holds the audience’s attention with ease His charm also conceals some of the clunkiness of the show’s construction,  and the fact there are a few passages that could do with gagging-up The parallel strands about romances old and new didn’t tie up as neatly as he would hope and the feminism and mental health messages feel like something of an afterthought even though he has an excellent line about being one of the few male comedians with mental health issues who was judge an older generation of men for using outdated vocabulary about women – or on their actions?  And isn’t the working-class point of view is overlooked in the conversation about mental health but never the tortured cleaner,’ he notes sagely But the main impression Hawley leaves is of a young comedian supremely comfortable on stage; an engaging presence who’s able to dip off-script to riff as the moment demands He has some easy to-and-fro with the audience in a preamble about bad tattoos – he has his fair share – and later reacts with aplomb to a couple of worse-for-wear punters clattering out of the room disruptively saying so much about their behaviour without uttering a word It’s easy to envisage a TV career for this sharp Gig of the day Paul Chowdhry: EnglandiaLeicester De Montfort Hall from 19:30 Coming Soon Michelle De Swarte: The AftersLiverpool Royal Court TheatreFriday 19th Sep Chortle had 173,000 unique visitors in April 2025 We are currently listing 20,977 upcoming comedy events Website and all original content copyright © Chortle 2000 - 2025 Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you so we would ask that you disable it for this site You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience As Insta-friendly islands such as Mykonos and Santorini grow into the top draws in Greece it’s easy to forget that it was Rhodes, the pearl of the Dodecanese, which kickstarted Greece’s global tourism ascendancy in the mid-20th century as befits an island named after the wife of the Greek sun god Helios Combining glorious medieval architecture with the charms of the ancients – plus enough delicious mezze dishes to fill days' worth of varied eating – Rhodes is the island retreat for travellers that want it all (and then some) READ MORE: Discover myths of the Greek islands  The capital occupies the northernmost tip of the island and is divided into the walled Old Town (the 200-year abode of the Knights of St John and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) plus the New Town (called Niohori in Greek) A monument guards the harbour entrance and marks where the Colossus of Rhodes in (in)famous Faliraki you’ll find an umbrella-strewn shoreline nudist beaches and raucous nightlife aiming at the 18-35 demographic Around an hour’s drive southeast of Rhodes Town and crowned by an ancient Acropolis Lindos is the quintessential Greek island village with narrow winding lanes which you'll find are unescapable on this hilly with restaurants and bars spilling out onto the street A profusion of holiday resorts stretches snugly on a seemingly interminable sandy coast west of Rhodes Town They include the most upmarket choices on the island as well as interesting archaeological sites Despite the abundance and variety of accommodation options this is the most wind-exposed part of the island.   the fewer the crowds and the wilder and more untamed the landscape There’s beautifully wooded paths adorned with wild peonies and orchids around Profitis Ilias the most accessible peak of the mountainous interior loggerhead turtles on the grey sand beach of Plimmiri while pebbly Haraki and the sandy stretches of Tsambika and Agia Agathi will melt the heart of any beach addict.  READ MORE: Lesser-known Greek islands to visit before the crowds catch on  A post shared by In Camera Art Boutique Hotel (@incamerahotel) If you want an classic beach resort in the northwest, then the 5-star Electra Palace Resort succeeds in combining the feel of an affable Mediterranean village with an all-inclusive service imaginative spa experiences and no fewer than 10 restaurants and bars.   Rhodes is far enough from mainland Greece to have a cuisine of its own characterised by the frequent use – or Try lakani (goat or lamb stew with yellow split peas) karavoli (snails in bay leaf-infused tomato sauce) kolokythoanthoi (stuffed courgette flowers) and yiaprakia tender kind of stuffed vineleaves; Rhodes’ answer to dolmades You’ll find these in the small unassuming tavernas of the inland villages book a table in one of these stellar restaurants a sophisticated speakeasy that woos its clients not only for the breadth and imagination of its cocktails but also for the dedication and knowledge of its staff.  A post shared by Niohorirestaurant (@niohori_restaurant) Even if you don’t stay at whitewashed Melenos Lindos Hotel, do visit its Rooftop Restaurant to experience nouvelle cuisine dining à la Greque that draws connoisseurs from all over the island For a sense of history combined with an unforgettable meal go to award-winning family restaurant Mavrikos on the Lindos village square that’s been feeding the masses in the same spot since 1933.   A post shared by Melenos Art Boutique Hotel (@melenoslindos) For fresh fish and shellfish, as well as melt-in-the-mouth calamari and grilled octopus, you can do no better than dine at the uncomplicated and reasonably priced Prasonisi Lighthouse READ MORE: Discover the world’s most beautiful lighthouses  The best-preserved medieval town in Greece is dominated by the memory of the Crusader Knights of St John The Knights were based here for over 200 years until the Ottomans forced them out in 1522 Walk through the moated gates of the walled town and stroll down the cobbled Knights’ Avenue passing by the various Crusader 'language houses' (where different nationalities of the Order would meet) this Gothic castle was restored by the occupying Italians in the 1930s its interiors were redecorated in a more modern style but this singular fusion of modern and medieval has won over many critics Housed in a 15th-century Knights' Hospital the museum is worth visiting simply as a building Don’t miss the elegant Hellenistic sculpture of a bathing Aphrodite that could easily be mistaken as a Rococo-period statue Pro tip: the €10 combined ticket for the Palace of the Grand Masters the Church of the Castle plus the two Decorative Arts and Archaeological Museums is excellent value.  a resurgent Italy carved out the Dodecanese from the defeated Ottoman Empire Rhodes Town was pictured to be the capital of his Fascist Imperium The subsequent building orgy is both unique and fascinating: the Casino the Post Office and the Covered Market are all examples of this inimitable architectural burst that blends Art Deco and perceived ‘Orientalism’.   Ancient Greeks had an eye for where to build their temples so the views from the well-preserved Acropolis of Lindos on a promontory squeezed between two sandy bays St Paul was shipwrecked in one of his proselytising journeys The Acropolis itself provides fascinating details about the life of the ancients: check out the stone collection boxes for pilgrim donations that are still in place after 23 centuries.  Thousands of tiger moths come to mate in this 600-acre nature reserve which apart from the overall dramatic butterfly spectacle sports the only forest in Europe formed by the endemic Oriental Sweet Gum Tree whose aromatic resin acts as an aphrodisiac to the pretty insects.  If you fancy yourself the next Indiana Jones or Lara Croft serene archaeological site whose ruins manage to convey the feel and layout of an ancient Greek city: there are squares READ MORE: Here's how to plan your Greek island-hopping holiday Copyright © loveexploring.com All rights reserved The TimesA British woman has allegedly been gang-raped at a hotel on the Greek island of Rhodes said she was clubbing with a group of friends in the resort of Faliraki on Sunday when a group of Belgian men She told the authorities that the men took the group back to their hotel room The woman said she had consensual sex with one of them but was later attacked and raped by a group of four men “We continue to investigate the allegations because authorities have yet to establish that her claims are true and thus move to arrest or remand into custody the men involved in her complaint,” Konstantina Damoglidou Just another night in the bars of Faliraki.. When the amorous advances of two drunken British tourists were rejected the spurned pair decided to exact their revenge The two men broke into the holiday apartment of the young woman they had met earlier and cut off her hair as she slept Craig McMillan and Liam Owens crept through the lavatory window into Gina Ludden's bedroom after unsuccessfully trying to flirt with her in a nightclub in the notorious Greek resort of Faliraki When a distraught Miss Ludden awoke to find what had happened confessed to their 'prank' after Greek authorities threatened to confiscate the passports of every holidaymaker in the group They were then sentenced to six months' imprisonment for breaking into her room and assaulting her on condition that they return to Greece for the hearing of an appeal against their sentence McMillan and Owens were flirting with Miss Ludden in Ziggi's club in Faliraki the resort on the island of Rhodes which achieved notoriety last summer for widespread drunkenness an insurance company receptionist from Maidstone said yesterday she had not looked in a mirror since Speaking from the family home she said she felt 'violated' and 'like a freak show' after the incident and was suffering panic attacks Recalling the events of the evening that led up to the assault she said: 'We had talked with them around the pool and were messing around with them that night when I was getting ready 'They were taking the mickey because I had really long hair and lots of it It was so hot I went out on to the balcony to do it 'One of them said 'it doesn't take me as long to shave my head as it does to do your hair'.' She said that night she and her friend joined a Club 18-30 trip around the bars of Faliraki Miss Ludden added: 'It was a normal night out I had quite a lot to drink and I was just tired.' She said she locked her room door and also her patio doors as the 'lads' had scared her friend by creeping through them earlier in the week really tired and the next thing I remembered was waking up and seeing a pile of hair next to me When I realised it was mine I looked in the mirror It was the most traumatic thing I've ever done.' The top and sides of Gina's long blonde hair had been shorn with clippers She rang her parents in England and eventually managed to get hold of a Club 18-30 rep who moved her out of the apartment block She then suspected her attackers were the Scottish pair she had met earlier The two quickly confessed to the attack which they tried to laugh off as a prank But Miss Ludden said: 'I have been having panic attacks They think it's a funny prank but it's something that will stay with me forever last night insisted the incident was nothing more than a prank that went wrong He said: 'I blame Club 18-30 for all of this People know what these sort of holidays are like - it's an excuse to get drunk for a week Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue historic old towns and plenty of good food to boot Rhodes is one of the best Greek islands to visit year-round it comes into its own as sheltered bays become gloriously sun-soaked - perfect for those days when you just want to relax and do nothing If a fly-and-flop sounds like a perfect plan we’ve found the best all inclusive resorts in Rhodes where you can do just that They all have great ratings on TripAdvisor and Located in the popular resort of Faliraki, the 5* Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa is packed with activities games room and huge pools with waterslides Tui offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from Manchester on June 7 For those who want easy access to the beach, the 5* Mitsis Faliraki Beach Hotel & Spa is a great choice. It’s right next to Faliraki’s gorgeous coastline but you may have difficulty deciding whether to stay put on the lounger or try water skiing, jet skiing or parasailing. with a kids’ club and dedicated play areas for the little ones On The Beach offers a 9-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from London Stansted on June 18 The 5* Sentido Port Royal Villas & Spa is an adult-only hotel with direct beach access and all of them have seating areas so you can really enjoy your own space Jet2 Holidays offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from Manchester on June 20 With nine restaurants and five bars, the 5* Eden Roc is definitely one for foodies miniature golf and beach volleyball courts The beachfront property also has four swimming pools Tui offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from London Gatwick on July 8 The full-service spa with a hammam and sauna has a lot to do with it as does the huge number of pools you can lounge next to there are clubs and dedicated play areas for your little ones Tui offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from Manchester on June 10 The 4* Pegasos Deluxe Beach Hotel is on the east coast of Rhodes and just steps from a sandy beach it’s a little smaller but there’s a main pool plus a separate one with slides for the kids Jet2 Holidays offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from Birmingham on June 1 A TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice hotel, the 4* Mitsis Petit Palais Beach Hotel is close to the old city of Rhodes perfect for those who want to soak up some culture while they’re on holiday There are lots of restaurants and bars close by if you want to try something local The hotel has its own swimming pool with Jacuzzi as well Love Holidays offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from London Stansted on July 11 Guests here can enjoy a choice of indoor and outdoor pools and there are tennis courts for those who like to stay active a kids club and entertainment staff will keep them well occupied On The Beach offers a 8-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from London Stansted on June 9 There’s a large lap pool and two smaller ones that nest inside each other Love Holidays offers a 7-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from London Stansted on July 4 The 4* Mitsis Rodos Maris Resort & Spa is a family-friendly seafront property near the village of Kiotari and you can enjoy snorkelling right off the beach The hotel offers a busy programme of activities for those travelling with kids while a shuttle bus is available if you want to see some of the island On The Beach offers a 8-night all inclusive stay with flights departing from London Stansted on June 7 Jet2 Holidays still has some cheap all inclusive deals for June and July Tui has some bargains on waterpark stays with all inclusive options And we round up some of the best last minute deals Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Rhodes hotels are confronting a crisis as the ongoing wildfires significantly impact visitor numbers Hotel owners on the Greek island of Rhodes are facing significant cancellations due to the ongoing wildfires with some establishments reporting a 40% decrease in bookings As tourists continue to express fear and uncertainty the affected businesses have decided to lower their prices by 40% in a desperate attempt to encourage visitors to return and assure them of their safety The summer 2023 wildfires ravaging Rhodes have led to a surge of cancellations from anxious tourists causing a severe economic impact on the island’s hospitality industry the owner of Aquarius Beach Hotel in Faliraki reports that her hotel has experienced a drop of at least 30% in bookings with cancellations stretching into September with some witnessing a worrying 40% decrease in reservations Despite the challenges posed by the wildfires hotel owners and businesses on Rhodes are doing everything in their power to reassure tourists about their safety Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Stavroula Nikolou emphasises that the affected areas are primarily in the south while many parts of the island remain safe and fully operational To cope with power outages caused by the fires damaging electricity substations hotels are resorting to back-up generators ensuring that essential services are not disrupted with 8% of the island’s economy depending on the industry As the wildfires create uncertainty and fear hotel owners such as Peter Manias of Falirala Central Hotel and Eat Greek restaurant in Faliraki are expressing their concern over the devastating impact on their businesses and local communities They urge British tourists to continue visiting the island highlighting the importance of the summer season in securing income to sustain businesses during the quieter winter months is calling on British tourists not to abandon their island during this challenging time Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Neil FetherstonhaughThu 29 Jun 2023 at 11:51Greek police have arrest a man in Rhodes after an Irish woman was reportedly raped after her drink was spiked The 23-year-old has been accused of drugging the woman who has been described as being in her 20s before taking her to a beach and sexually assaulting her The Greek national is also accused of theft It has been reported locally that the woman had gone with a group of friends to a bar in the party town of Faliraki She described that at around 1:45am on Tuesday morning but she remembered leaving with an unknown man who had probably spiked her drink,” the Greek City Times reports The publication reports that the woman testified to a psychologist that in the morning she woke up on the beach without her underwear while her bag and mobile phone were missing It further reports the young Irish woman underwent a forensic examination which confirmed that she had been sexually abused and a case was filed against an unknown person for rape and theft Police used footage from store cameras in Faliraki Square and identified the man with who had left the bar with the young Irish tourist The 23-year-old accused was arrested on Wednesday morning and was taken to the District Attorney of Rhodes who ordered him to remain in custody until he testified to the investigator Please check your inbox to verify your details Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices They gave us dieting and democracy and depilation During an impassioned speech about the looting of Greek antiquities from the island of Rhodes my charming guide Dimitri showed me a photograph of a beautiful headless statue drapery billowing behind her - 'The Victory of Samothrace' 'Nike has taken the silhouette and made it a brand image on their shoes I looked down and saw that the famous Nike tick was based on the shape of the decapitated statue This should be a fantastic year for Greek tourism thanks to the release of Wolfgang Peterson's film epic later this month - to say nothing of Olympic fever in August But Rhodes is currently experiencing something of an image problem thanks to an infamous series of events in the resort of Faliraki a year ago Dubbed the 2003 Summer of Shame by the UK tabloids the island gained an unfair reputation for attracting British lager louts and acts of mindless violence We seem to have forgotten that Rhodes is the birthplace of art and culture Once the most important trading port in the Mediterranean and the gateway to three continents it has played a major cultural and political role from antiquity to modern times Distinguished Romans such as Cicero and Julius Caesar studied rhetoric and philosophy in the famous schools in Rhodes town The lovely ruins of the ancient city of Kamiros on the west of the island have been called the Pompeii of Greece but Faliraki ('England-on-sea') takes up only a six-mile strip of beach The most interesting thing about Rhodes is still its extraordinary cultural heritage The capital city of 'Rodos' stands on the same site as the ancient city Which means the town has a history stretching back over 2,400 years And it's one hell of an architectural jumble monuments from every period reflect the many colonising armies - Minoans Italians - who have left their mark on the island Yet the most refreshing thing about modern Rhodes is that the people aren't precious about their heritage Instead of roping off archeological sites for the conservationists they prefer to live alongside their history The old fortress city of Rhodes (recently voted the number one world heritage site by Unesco) is still a bustling neighbourhood of some 6,000 people who live and work in the same buildings that the Knights of St John inhabited six centuries ago designer clothes or kebabs from a shop next to a ruined temple Or step out of a nightclub and be confronted by a pile of cannonballs once fired from the Turkish siege guns still embedded in the ramparts of the city Muslims and Jews live harmoniously in a walled city surrounded by orchards and subtropical gardens Rhodes has a reputation for being politically neutral It is pacifist in spirit (it opposed the war on Iraq) although national service is retained just in case its Turkish neighbours ever think about invading again It has hosted major political events in the last 60 years from the 1948 meeting to establish the state of Israel to the 1958 meeting of guerrilla leader General Costas Grivas and Cypriot President Archbishop Makarios which led to the 1960 Cyprus Declaration of Independence The joy of Rhodes town lies in the juxtaposition of the unexpected Who would have thought the city would contain a dozen supreme examples of Italian fascist architecture In May 1912 Rodos was occupied by Italian forces and the governor Mario Lago embarked on an ambitious plan of public works New roads and public buildings were constructed archeological sites were laid out and beauty spots were landscaped Best of all is the Grand Master's Palace (now a museum) built by the Italians on the site of a Byzantine fort You feel like you're on the set of a Fellini movie I stayed in a villa in the ancient coastal town of Lindos It's like going back in time several centuries The narrow winding streets are made up of tiny whitewashed sea captain's houses Above the village looms a majestic 4,000-year-old acropolis Numerous restaurants (several very fine) and over 30 bars pumping out Sister Sledge and Wham Inside the villas you'll find traditional decor - painted ceilings carved door panels and black and white pebble floors known as hohlakia These mosaic floors are wonderfully practical if a trifle austere When I asked one holiday rep what she missed most about Britain Lindos has many celebrity fans - my billet belonged to the late astrologer Patric Walker and Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour still has a house in the village But it's the most relaxed place imaginable you can walk the streets late at night without fear and everyone leaves their cars unlocked throughout Rhodes 'There is no crime in Lindos,' Dimitri boasted 'People would be too afraid of bringing shame on their parents.' No wonder the Greeks balked at the antics of the Club 18-30 crowd despite all the modern trappings of DVDs and computers But they are fiercely proud of the Greek language their religion (Christian Orthodox) and traditions when they've had to defend them against so many invaders The Turks occupied Rhodes from 1522 until 1912 It was not until 1945 that the island was liberated and after two years under British administration officially united with Greece on 7 March 1948 Rhodians seem to have the work/life balance right Rhodes is called the island of Helios after the sun god and more sunshine - over 300 days a year - than any other Greek island The prevalence of the Greek extended family means there are few childcare problems Couples rarely live together unless they are married and most have to live close to parents and in-laws all their lives All babies are named after their paternal and maternal grandparents (hence the scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where everyone seems to be called Nicki) Then there is the archaic tradition where a widow or any woman who has suffered a major bereavement has to wear dark colours for the rest of her life It may take many years to save up the money to finish the house but it is a matter of pride that it is ready by the time she marries 'Look around the island,' Dimitri explained 'and you'll see lots of half-finished houses waiting for the next layer to be built on.' I saw them everywhere - a testament to the romantic hopes and dreams of Greek daughters 'But what if she doesn't ever get married?' I protested recalling the dilemmas facing my own generation at home He went on: 'We have a saying that if the house is very small it means the daughter is beautiful If it is huge with lots of extra balconies and porches and extensions it means there is a problem I found myself increasingly fascinated by Greek dating and mating rituals Later in the trip I met the vivacious Greek cookery writer Susie Atsaides whose recipe book Greek Generations has sold millions of copies in the States she is clearly a powerful player in Rhodes but confirms my suspicion that the sexes are not entirely equal 'The bride's parents have to pay for all the wedding expenses and the house,' she complains with a laugh 'The only thing men have to pay for is decorating the nursery and the kitchen That's obviously the two things they think we are good for - cooking and having babies!' Throughout my stay in Lindos I played a game with myself Would I swap my urban existence at home for the simple island life an extraordinary feeling of peace and safety And try not to get married while you're there · Olympic Airlines (0870 606 0460; www.olympicairlines.com) flies from Heathrow to Rhodes via Athens from £195 return · For more information about the island browse: www.rodosisland.gr This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025. The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media. specialises in meze inside the New Market in Rhodes town Expect a warm welcome from owner Irene and great value traditional seafood dishes The chalkboard menu features whatever has been caught that day fava bean dips and fresh dakos (bread topped with chopped tomatoes and cheese) Enjoy authentic food and drink in a leafy candlelit courtyard on jade-green chairs and pretty mosaic-topped tables Inside the boutique hotel Marco Polo Mansion this charming dinner-only restaurant is barely visible from the street in Old Town Rhodes But its delightful lemon-scented courtyard is always busy The building itself dates from the 15th century with creations such as pork loin with figs or octopus with cream of beetroot In a serene spot sitting above the popular town of Faliraki you’ll find this high-end Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in the five-star Esperos Village Blue and Spa Resort Non-guests can book a relaxing spa day here followed by a mojito at the pool bar and a delicious healthy dinner with sea views a superfood station and plenty of traditional specialities made from local produce It’s the first and best vegan restaurant in Old Town Rhodes you’ll find fresh focaccia baked daily; colourful salads lentil and arugula with grated vegan feta; plus vegan spetzofai (traditionally and it hosts regular live-music sessions to enjoy while you eat If you want to eat fresh seafood on the waterfront in Rhodes town visit Meltemi; it’s set along the sands of Elli Beach so you can expect a refreshingly cool breeze here You can take in spectacular views from the terrace while enjoying the delicious menu is easy to spot – he speaks multiple languages Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Hatzikelis This award-winning restaurant sits in a beautiful courtyard near the harbour in Old Town Rhodes It attracts a chic wealthy crowd out for a quiet romantic meal This traditional Greek cookhouse sits at the entrance of Apóllona village in a former clubhouse for Italian officers All ingredients come from the farmland surrounding this neighbourhood restaurant and Rhodian bread is baked daily in a wood-fired oven Starters include fava split peas with smoked herring The goat stew – slow-cooked overnight in onions and local wine – is a must-try; you just have to order it the day before complete with friendly staff and an aquamarine-coloured facade Sunday specials include barbecue octopus with romesco There are plenty of veggie options here and a range of Greek beers This is a rewrite of an article originally written by Helen Olley See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd