F Fine Suites - Adults Only

This is the biggest case of internet vs reality I’ve ever seen. The lack of charm started with unfinished rooms (which smelled of raw sewage due to incorrect plumbing on the sinks) and ended with the owner screaming at us for asking why the rooms had exposed electrical wiring and almost no furniture or decor. The owner also didn’t bother to even show up and check us in. She instead made us call her to get information on which room we were in and how to get wifi. The issues with the owner could be overlooked if the rooms matched the photos and descriptions online but they do not. Missing lighting, no TV in any room, lack of nightstands and decor all are very noticeable. We requested to change rooms after checking ourselves in as there was an issue with the toilet and a sewage smell coming from the sink. The room also had no decor and looked very unfinished and nowhere near worth the 250 euros a night we paid. The two other rooms we were shown both had the sinks near the bed and both unfortunately had very strong sewage smells too. We tried flushing water down them but within half an hour the smell just continued. The owner did admit that the rooms were missing the TVs advertised online but refused to acknowledge the exposed electrical wires and missing basic furniture or decor. F Charm also advertises free parking but it is 7 Euros a day at a nearby lot. There is also no bar or spa. It is just a few rooms with a small stone courtyard and a tiny room for reception that is usually locked. Overall, avoid this place as they wildly misrepresent their hotel as something luxury and stylish. Instead it is a nightmare with no service and half finished rooms without proper plumbing in place. Lastly, the owner is refusing to refund us after we left to stay in a hotel with the amenities advertised at F Charm (but didn’t actually exist). Please do not get scammed like we did on this place! We instead recommend Caesars Gardens Hotel and Spa.

As soon as I saw the property I knew I made a mistake booking this barely furnished apartment masquerading as a hotel. Do not fall for this delusion and be disappointed on your vacation like I was. The day of arrival it was very hot and I had been delayed by a ferry cancellation. I was genuinely looking forward to start my vacation on a relaxed note after reading the advertised amenities for F Charm. My first surprise was to learn I would have to drag my bags over cobblestones for 5 minutes. The owner clarified that when she advertised “we offer a car park free of charge” actually she meant there is a public parking lot that costs €7/day up the hill. No matter, I just wanted to try one of the “expertly crafted cocktails” at the on-site bar. Maybe I could get out of the sun since “the hotel boasts a beautiful garden where guests can take a leisurely stroll and immerse themselves in the serene surroundings”. Perhaps the hotel's spa could provide a “soothing massage” or I could do some planning in the “business center” or visit the hotel's “cozy coffee shop”. At the very least I could sit in the “air conditioned public area” and mingle with other guests. Upon arrival I was floored to learn that the only public space is a small courtyard, bare except a couple tables with seating. That sunny outdoor courtyard serves as a bar, garden, and spa. And - only in the morning and early evening - the small reception office doubles as a business center, coffee shop, and air-conditioned public space. To me this is willful fraud to tell a story of this bucolic facility that is actually one usually closed office and a courtyard. The “suite” did nothing to improve my arrival. It reeked of sewer gas from the poorly installed sink right next to the bed. It was sparse with no furnishing besides a cheap futon, wardrobe, and bed. The walls were bare except for some holes and hardware from previous installations. I was shown other rooms that had some wall art, but also exposed electrical wires. All rooms smelled of sewer and were missing most of the touches that were artfully staged in the posting. This is a very poor excuse for “luxury and comfort at its finest”. Only stay here if you are desperate and can accept a smelly, basic room without amenities or charm. The owner said there was nothing she could do to make up for her deception except provide a small discount for the missing amenities. What a shame, because she created a beautiful fantasy with false words and photoshopped images in the posting. Luckily I was able to find a nearby hotel that actually had those amenities, Caesars Gardens.

The name is more-or-less the only thing that I’d change about this hotel. In fact it was such a find that I’m reluctant to eulogise too much in case it gets too popular and hard to reserve in the future…but I owe it to my readers to record this place! Of course it is helped by the fact that it is in Lindos – the beautiful oasis that seems to be the main reason (though a good one) to go Rhodes. It’s just off the main drag, so calmer and more peaceful than many of the places in town. Eleni the owner has gorgeous taste, and the rooms overflow with it (she also offered good tips about restaurants and other places to go – all her recommendations turned out well). Our room was spacious and light, and the overall feeling was intimate charm (partly thanks to the small number of rooms here). Fine linen sheets, and thoughtful fixtures and fittings complete the picture. This doesn’t have any of the trappings of a 5 star resort – no pool, no gym, no bar or restaurant. There’s a small though curated range for breakfast – each option has a touch of flair. And I wouldn’t say they are good value, but it’s handy being able to slip out of your room into the courtyard area without hunting too far for the first meal of the day. And the portions are generous so you don’t really need much lunch

I’ve been to many islands in Greece and can share that this boutique hotel is a gem…along with being a fantastic value. Busloads of tourists visit Lindos everyday, but almost everyone departs before the sun sets, so they miss half of the experience. F Charm’s prime location allows you to stay just 100 meters from the nighttime fun, but far enough that you’re not bothered by noise from the revellers…and it’s as close as you can get to the stunning beach of St Paul’s Bay. The overall vibe created by hostess/owner, Eleni, is warm and welcoming…maybe it could be re-named as the Eleni Charm Hotel :-)

Another great stay at F Charm. There are only 5 rooms and we stayed in 2 of the big apartments, very comfortable with lots of room. Owner Eleni and staff do everything possible to make your holiday special. A perfect location in a quiet part of the town but only a 5 minute walk to restaurants / bars and 15 minute walk to the main beach. Breakfast is optional and can be ordered daily and served in the courtyard and is well worth it. Beach towels also provided. Lindos is a fantastic place but is hilly with some uneven paths so would bear this in mind if taking small children or people with mobility issues. The rooftop restaurants and bars are fantastic with great views of the Acropolis.

While I have sympathy for over running refurbishment, cancelling our reservation hours before we were due to arrive is just appalling customer service. The hotel offered to put us up in a rather shabby looking alternative (which unlike the f Charm, did look in need of a refurb) ‘at no extra cost’! This we declined and demanded a refund. At such short notice, we were unable to find good replacement accommodation in Lindos, and after so much aggravation we elected to cut short short our trip to Rhodes. This is a clear example of an organisation that has a clear destain for their customers. You may feel that they won’t do this to you, but they did it to us. Can you be sure that they won’t do this to you? There are plenty of other nice places in Lindos if you are booking ahead, don’t take the chance with this one.