How do you celebrate – or commiserate – your exam results? If your answer consists of going to the local pub or binge-watching your favourite soaps, it sounds like a much-needed rush of adrenaline is in order! This summer, why not turn up the heat (literally) and jet off to Faliraki? From balmy beaches to letting loose at bustling clubs, this tourist trove on the Greek island of Rhodes boasts sun, fun and plenty of rum. If you’re up for an unforgettable holiday, it’s time to get off the couch and start packing: an action-packed adventure awaits.
Bathe on the Beach
If you’d like to relax and recharge after your flight, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as taking a dip (or a nap) on Faliraki’s 5-kilometre coastline. While shooting the breeze with your mates or reading a riveting book may be enough excitement for your first afternoon, don’t miss out on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that are on offer. Whether you’d like to try your hand at paragliding, banana boating or wakeboarding, you’re shore to get your fill of cray-sea water sports.
If my amazing puns didn’t convince you to opt for these thrilling activities, perhaps knowing that Faliraki’s beaches have received 12 prestigious Blue Flag awards will. Not many beaches can best – or even compare with – these excellent standards.
*Top Tip: If you’re looking for some peace and quiet after riding the waves like a pro, check out Karthara Bay Beach, a truly tranquil spot. However don’t venture too much further south, unless you’d like to lose your bathing suit: Mandomata, a naturist beach, is a mere 15-minute walk away from Karthara Bay.
Seize the Shopportunity
Want to ensure that your new credit card works? Or did you ‘forget’ to pack the right shoes? Whatever your excuse may be, you’ll have to drop the act when you reach Faliraki Square: there are simply too many outstanding offers. This shopping area is bursting at the seams with handmade jewellery, leather shoes and trendy attire. Along with snagging souvenirs for your envious friends and family (and – let’s be honest – for yourself), you’ll be able to buy whatever toiletries you may have forgotten at home. Stylish shopping and convenient purchases all in one lovely spot!
*Top Tip: If you can’t get enough of haggling with local vendors, you can continue your shopping spree in the village of Kalithies’ market, which is only a ten-minute drive away. Alternatively, Rhodes’ Old Town has an extensive – albeit more crowded – shopping area that’s worth exploring.
Dig In at Dinner
After letting your credit card loose, you’ll be happy to know that you can further reward yourself with a delectable dinner – and without breaking the bank. In fact, Faliraki’s restaurants are remarkably well-priced, but never compromise on quality.
If you’d like to sample some traditional Greek cuisine, you’ll stumble across several charming tavernas if you walk along the beach. Along with enjoying a beautiful ocean view (and maybe even a sunset), you’re sure to experience the full range of Greek gastronomy here. From spinach and feta pies to stuffed peppers, your taste buds won’t be disappointed. You could even order some garlicky tzatziki for the table – provided that you have mints and/or keep your distance from others afterwards.
*Top Tip: If you’d like to diversify your culinary experience a bit, there are also plenty of top-notch international restaurants on the island. From Italian to Chinese and everything in between, you may even struggle to decide which mouth-watering (and economical) eatery to try next!
Drink and Dance
Although it’s tempting to feast on the island’s gastronomic sensations, it’s advisable to stop yourself from falling into an irreversible food coma. You’ll be glad that you exercised some self-restraint when you realise that the later hours of the evening are a much better time to lose your inhibitions. Before you know it, you’ll be raising the roof at one of Faliraki’s renowned bars or clubs… especially after a few shots of ouzo!
Bar Street – If you want to shake your hips and bawl out the words to your favourite songs without the slightest sense of embarrassment, kicking the evening off at Bar Street is your best bet. As its name suggests, this stretch of pavement is peppered with vibrant bars, whose booming music, cheap shots and karaoke machines are simply irresistible. Things will get particularly crazy if you order Faliraki’s own Fishbowl, which is an unbelievably big cocktail, for the table. (Whether you’ll remember the night after that is a different question, though.)
Club Street – Fortunately, the names of Faliraki’s most important streets leave no room for interpretation. Club Street is the best place to dance off your dinner and cocktails after midnight. Get ready to raise the roof with myriad party animals – some venues on this street welcome a whopping 2,000 of them! In addition to putting on fantastic light shows, you’re in for a line-up of legendary DJs, which have included big shots like EZ, Saki and Jay in the past. You also have an opportunity to entertain others by showing off your singing skills (or lack thereof) on the karaoke machine.
How to Get to Faliraki
Thanks to the large number of direct flights from London to Rhodes Airport (RHO), getting to Faliraki is a piece of cake. If you opt for a flight with airlines such as easyJet, jet2 or Thomas Cook Airlines, you’ll arrive in Rhodes in approximately four hours.
What’s more, the transfer time from the airport to Faliraki is less than 30 minutes – if you opt for the correct method of transportation, that is. Instead of cramming yourself into an overcrowded bus that stops at every turn, you’re in for the quickest and most reliable transfer with Shuttle Direct. Why not save yourself from the stresses of public buses by pre-booking a shared ride before you jet off?
Where to Stay
Rea Hotel – If you’re looking for a comfortable, convenient, clean and cheap holiday, Rea Hotel ticks all the boxes. This one-star hotel is situated two minutes away from the beach and right above the popular Jamaica Bar & Restaurant, serving as a holiday haven for water sports and party fanatics. Along with its air-conditioned and absolutely spotless rooms, guests can grab a cocktail or a delicious meal at the nearby bar and restaurant, receiving a generous 20% discount. Wi-Fi is free.
Hotel Platon – This one-star hotel strikes the perfect balance between elegance and practicality. If staying close to the beach is on your list of priorities, you’re only a six-minute stroll away from the waterfront. In addition to providing free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning, rooms are equipped with a stylish kitchenette, allowing you and your friends to cook for yourselves. And why not enjoy your meal on your room’s private balcony? Guests can also indulge in the hotel’s buffet breakfast, use the billiard table or relax in the open-air lounge.
About Shuttle Direct
Want to start off your holiday as stress-free and speedily as possible? Shuttle Direct has got you covered. We are Europe’s and North Africa’s principal airport transfer provider for a good reason: our services are dependable, quick and inexpensive. Pre-book your shared ride from Rhodes Airport to Faliraki in a few simple clicks – and hit the beaches and clubs in no time!
