Labranda Blue Bay Resort

Labranda Blue Bay Resort, situated in Ialysos, Rhodes Island, Greece, is a lodging establishment that presents a varied picture based on recent guest reviews. This hotel balances strong positive aspects with notable areas for improvement, leading to a diverse range of guest experiences.

✨ Overall Impressions

Guests often describe the resort's ambiance as inviting and comfortable. While many travelers highlight exceptionally positive experiences, others encountered significant issues, resulting in a polarized view of the hotel's overall quality and service.

❤️ What Guests Loved

1. 👨‍💼🤝 Exceptional Staff & Service

   A consistent highlight in positive reviews is the staff's dedication and professionalism. They are frequently described as incredibly welcoming, helpful, and friendly. Several guests specifically commended Mr. Rommel Rillera for his very good and dedicated service, noting his role in making their stays enjoyable and providing excellent support, including facilitating early check-ins and room upgrades.

2. 🛏️🧼 Comfortable & Clean Accommodation

   Many visitors found their rooms to be immaculate and very comfortable. The hotel generally maintains a good level of cleanliness and organization throughout its premises, with the pools also frequently praised for being well-kept and clean.

3. 🍽️😋 Diverse Food & Dining Options

   The food at the resort receives widespread praise for being good, amazing, and offering great value for money. Guests, including those with particular dietary preferences or who are fussy eaters, appreciated the wide variety of food options available at the buffet, ensuring there was something for everyone.

4. 🏖️☀️ Prime Location & Convenient Amenities

   The resort boasts immediate access to a smooth pebble beach with some sand, a significant advantage that eliminates the need to trek with belongings. Guests also enjoyed scenic views from higher floors, with some reporting the ability to see Turkey across the water. The waterpark is a notable asset for families with children, described as safe and clean, providing ample enjoyment for younger guests.

5. 🎭🎵 Engaging Entertainment

   The entertainment team is often lauded for significantly enhancing the hotel experience, with guests noting they could comfortably spend their entire day and evening within the resort. The kids' entertainers are specifically highlighted as being nice and friendly, contributing to a positive family atmosphere.

⚠️ Areas for Improvement & Concerns

Despite the glowing feedback from many, some guests reported substantial issues that negatively impacted their stay, highlighting critical areas where the resort may need to improve:

1. 🚨 Concerning Operational Issues

   One review reported a particularly disturbing experience, claiming they arrived only to discover the hotel had allegedly filed for bankruptcy, leading to unexpected demands for payment for their stay. This serious allegation, if true, points to a significant lack of professionalism and transparency in hotel operations.

2. 🧹🐜 Room & Maintenance Shortcomings

   Several guests found their rooms to be tiny, uncomfortable, and noticeably lacking in attention to cleanliness and upkeep. Specific complaints included a persistent smell of urine, old and rusty fridges with unpleasant odors, loose fixtures like hanging bedside lights, and visible black mould in showers, for which the response was "This is just how it is in Greece". Maintenance was described as either nonexistent or slow, with the hotel feeling generally old, rundown, rough around the edges, and grubby. The elevator was also reported to be out of service for several days. Additionally, beds were noted as being hard and uncomfortable.

3. 🤢🍹 Inconsistent Food & Drink Quality

   While some guests praised the food, others critically described it as subpar, bland, poorly prepared, and made with cheap ingredients. The Muses restaurant was singled out as offering a poor example of Greek cuisine. Drinks also received criticism, with reports of undrinkable beer and inconsistent quality for other beverages (e.g., punch made with either orange juice or squash). Long lines for drinks were also a source of frustration. Furthermore, the pool bar's cleanliness was questioned, with mentions of rusty fridges and mouldy, wet areas.

4. 🙁 Staff Demeanor (Negative Perspective)

   In stark contrast to the positive feedback, some reviews portrayed the service as consistently terrible, with staff appearing indifferent, unhelpful, and performing only the bare minimum without a hint of courtesy. Certain bar staff were also observed to look notably unhappy.

Conclusion

Labranda Blue Bay Resort appears to offer a holiday experience that can vary considerably among guests. For those who enjoy the resort at its best, it stands out as a destination with immaculate rooms, excellent food, and outstanding service, particularly from dedicated staff members like Mr. Rommel Rillera. Its prime beachfront location, comprehensive waterpark, and engaging entertainment options are significant draws, making it particularly appealing for families.

However, prospective visitors should be mindful of the reported issues concerning maintenance, room conditions (including cleanliness concerns like persistent odors and mould), and occasional criticisms regarding the consistency of food and drink quality. The serious claim of unannounced bankruptcy proceedings in one review is a significant red flag that warrants consideration, though it may represent an isolated or past issue. Potential guests are advised to consult the most recent reviews and, if possible, verify the current operational status to ensure their expectations align with what the resort currently offers. When the resort delivers on its potential, it provides a highly enjoyable and recommended stay in Rhodes.

Stayed here last week. We had a fantastic family holiday. The food was excellent, plenty of choice everyday. The staff and animation team are helpful and friendly and there were plenty of activities for the whole family to join in with. The room we stayed in was a large family room with a sea view, it was a little dated but comfortable, cleaned everyday and you could see that efforts were being made to improve the hotel.There were plenty of options to visit Rhodes old town and Lindos.I would definitely bring the family back to Blue Bay for a holiday.

Been here a Week and leaving tomorrow, yes it's a budget hotel so give it 4 stars rather than 3, overall it's OK however the room's are small and not brilliantly maintained, hit and miss if tea and coffee is replenished same for toilet paper. The hotel is in need of a spruce up in places and it's location is a taxi ride to anything. Its a family hotel and now that it's school holidays it's a primary school! However good points again because all inclusive the food is good especially as mass production. Staff are very friendly and helpful, I think that is a Greek thing as well as the locals are also friendly. Overall good but just like my old school reports, could do better with a bit of a spruce up of the room's.

We are just home from a 10 night stay at blue bay. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. The entertainment staff were amazing with the children. The evening shows were great fun. The food was tasty with plenty of options. You're right on the beach front with clear blue sea. My boys loved the water park! It's cold!!! None of the pools were heated but you soon adjust. I'd highly recommend this place. Very beautiful place we'll definitely visit again.

Second time in this hotel. The hotel is not operating under the Labranda brand anymore.There are improvements in the food and service compare to the first time. The beach is clean. The weather wasn't great, but we made the best out of it. The animators are full of energy and motivation. Reception staff very helpful.We just wish it was better weather☀️Looking forward to the next visit.

The hotel has so much potential. Rooms and staff are fabulous. Rooms cleaned daily, towels changed whenever you want. Staff are friendly and helpful. Only downfall is the food is only lukewarm. Plenty of variety just would be better if it was hotter.