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Holiday villa rentals in Gennadi Rhodes

It is just over an hour’s drive from Rhodes Town to the southeast coast of the island, to the small village of Gennadi. It is a genuine Greek village where people live and work. There are also a surprising number of hotels and holiday villas to rent in and around the village and beside the beach.

Gennadi Beach

Gennadi stretches from the beach and up into the hills that back on to the village. The road running alongside the beach offer easy access to the hotels, villas, tavernas and private houses facing the beach. The beach in this part of Rhodes in unlike most on the island. It could be described as virgin beach, a completely natural sand and pebble beach that stretches for kilometres. The colourful pebbles are a fascinating range of colours and sizes. This could easily be a location for stone art pictures and competitions.

Gennadi beach is not suitable for family holidays where children are able to make sandcastles; there isn’t any of that kind of sand. What appears to be sand are minute pebbles. In fact, it is possible to walk up the beach from the sea towards land and note the gradual graduations in size of pebble.  Most beaches in front of hotels are swept on a daily basis. Not this one. Bamboo which grows beside the beach deposits dead canes, white sea daffodils grow in abundance and succulents and other small plants grow at the edges. This is very much a natural beach which can be a shock to holidaymakers who have only ever visited resorts with carefully manicured beaches.

Despite that, it is a perfectly good beach for sunbathing as long as you have a sunbed because pebbles are uncomfortable to lie on.  The various tavernas and hotels place their sunbeds and sunshades out on the beach during the summer season and rent them to holidaymakers. The fee very much varies from establishment to establishment.

Gennadi beach life is relaxed and informal. Sunbathe, drink, go for a paddle, swim or walk the beach looking for sea shells. Beach shoes are recommended, especially for children. People do swim but please be aware that there is a steep incline into the sea.

Holiday villas

It is possible to walk to the beach from almost all holiday accommodation in Gennadi. Villas and apartments are either very close to the beach, dotted around the village or up in the hills. The ones in the hills tend to have fantastic sea views and a longer walk to the coast. Stay in the hills if you would like privacy and tranquillity. The hills are crisscrossed with good walks that take you past olive groves and Nature’s rock garden. Shrubs grow in abundance and you may spot goats and deer. It is more than likely that you will hear the bells around goat’s’ necks before you spot them.

Many of the holiday homes in Gennadi have a swimming pool, either a private splash pool or a communal pool shared by a complex. Almost all are unheated. The weather in high summer is so hot that the cool water of a swimming pool is welcome.

Holiday accommodation could be a self-catering apartment, of which there are quite a few near the centre of the village and by the beach. There is a selection of holiday villas to rent that are either part of a complex or resort and also private villas. Large all-inclusive resorts tend to be located at intervals along the seafront. Last but not least are the smaller hotels which offer a room and restaurant on a bed and breakfast, half board or all-inclusive basis. 

Shopping

The village stores are able to supply holidaymakers with almost everything that they require to self-cater. There is a supermarket of a reasonable size which has a good butcher, a much-loved bakery, a greengrocers, gift shops and a couple of others. Fresh foods are reasonably priced and comparable to back home. Toiletries such as shampoo and deodorant tend to be much more expensive so do bring those. Most stock is imported, therefore prices are that bit higher than you might be used to.

Imported alcohol is expensive; expect to pay double, or treat a holiday in Gennadi as an opportunity to try the local wines and beers. The local wine sold in plastic bottles is drinkable. Better quality wines can be purchased in the supermarket.  Freshly squeezed orange juice is sold in the greengrocers and I delicious. They have a machine to juice the oranges in the shop. Try Greek branded alternatives to the goods that you need; they’re just as good.

Tavernas in Gennadi and eating out on holiday

The narrow road which runs from the small town centre where the shops are is lined with tavernas, bars and eateries.  Wooden tables and chairs are set out in the narrow road for diners to make merry to the sound of Greek music. The majority of eateries are only open during the summer season although Mama’s Kitchen stays open all year round. Explore the various menus for a taste of genuine Greek food. The restaurant owners know what tourists want and supply it.  Takeaways are available to eat in your holiday home or around the pool.

People like to hang out at the various bars sipping long cool drinks or cocktails. The Lab Bar near the bus stop in the town centre always has revellers chatting and enjoying themselves as Gennadi’s cats wind their way through the many feet.

Transport and travel

Gennadi is on a bus route to Lardos and Rhodes Town should you wish to have a day out although it is much faster and convenient to go by hire car.  Several outlets provide various means of transport. Hire a bicycle and explore the quiet roads, or a motorbike, quad bike or car. The countryside around Gennadi is simply beautiful. Visit nearby villages such as Asklipio which has a ruined castle on a hill overlooking the village, an impressive church and a labyrinth of narrow alleys.  Vati, the next nearest village to Gennadi is interesting to visit. It is another Greek working village that has a number of ruined stone buildings built by the Italian army during WWII. Some of these have been purchased and are being renovated to be repurposed. The Los Pelicanos tavern on the main road in Vati has a good reputation.

It is worth taking one of the roads that leads from Asklipio or Vati to drive up and into the mountains. The scenery is incredible. You might need nerves of steel because the road can be a little absent at the edges occasionally and there are a few tight bends.
During the off-season winter months, village life goes on, people shop, eat at the restaurants and drink in the bars. Preparations for the new season of tourists begin during early spring and increase as the new season approaches.