Grand gestures: why every parent deserves an adults-only escape

Holidays without your kids might sound like the height of self-indulgence; but all parents deserve the chance to switch off properly once in a while. Lisa McGarry discovers why an adults-only break in Rhodes is not just about luxury, but learning to chill out.

Parents shouldn’t feel guilty for choosing an adults-only hotel

There’s a certain parental guilt about leaving the kids at home and disappearing off on a glorious holiday without them at an adults-only hotel. I felt it as the plane cruised over the impossibly blue Aegean and golden-fringed Greek islands, while I sat in my window seat without having to negotiate ownership.

I felt it again when I was shown to my swim-up suite at The Ixian Grand & All Suites, where a private pool shone invitingly just beyond the terrace, backed by the glittering sea. Then I felt it over an insanely good lamb kleftiko at poolside restaurant Milonges, where the elegant food and warm service made my day as I sipped an ice-cold glass of Assyrtiko, a volcanic white wine from Santorini.

And again, watching the nightly fiery sunsets sink over the horizon, bathing me in the kind of gorgeous afterglow that Meta bosses would love to turn into a story effect. I even recorded a little video note of the sunset to send my son, to let him know I was thinking of him.

But would I change it? Hell no.

As parents, we’re used to putting ourselves last. We make sure everyone else has eaten, found their swimming goggles, remembered the sun cream and had the best day possible before we stop to think about ourselves. Family holidays have their own magic, but so do a few uninterrupted days where somebody else is looking after you for a change.

The Ixian Grand & All Suites: this adults-only hotel is pure fun and relaxation

Set on Rhodes’ west coast in the laid-back resort of Ixia, The Ixian Grand & All Suites is an adults-only hotel that makes slowing down feel easy. Just 15 minutes from Rhodes Town and the airport, it combines a peaceful beachfront setting with enough restaurants, pools and facilities to encourage guests to stay put – although the island’s biggest attractions are all within easy reach for excursions or nights out.

The atmosphere is relaxed rather than over-fancy, so you’re free to dress up if you want, and can keep it casual if not (no swimwear or sports kits in the restaurants). During my stay I watched younger couples enjoying their first luxury holiday together, older couples who had clearly perfected the art of travelling as a pair, and groups of friends making the most of a child-free escape. What surprised me most was how naturally all those different groups coexisted. The hotel never felt dominated by honeymooners or retirees; instead it felt like a celebration of grown-up holidays in all their forms.

The sweet suite life

The hotel’s biggest draw is its collection of swim-up suites. Waking up and stepping straight from your terrace into a private pool is one of those holiday luxuries by which all others will be judged. While the standard rooms set around the pretty gardens have their own cute vibe, the suites elevate the experience further, with full access to Alazonia restaurant and dine-around options. They’re also extremely spacious, with free-standing baths, impressive showers, a whole living area and beds you can’t wait to starfish on.

Elsewhere, there’s spacious swimming pools: the main showstopper is where the evening entertainment happens (everything from opera to DJ sets) and a separate quiet pool area. A pretty pebbled beach with jetty and crystal-clear water is steps from the main pool, and the best spot from which to enjoy the stunning west coast sunsets.

An all-inclusive hotel where you can dine and drink around

I loved Truman’s Bar for post-dinner drinks as it has a proper classy bar feeling. The Blue Pool Bar is perfect for pre-dinner poolside cocktails and sunset, and there’s an app that lets you order refreshments directly to your sunbed. This little touch sums up the hotel’s appeal: once you’ve settled in, there’s very little you need to think about beyond whether to head for the sea, the pool or lunch. There’s even a snack stand for in between meal times, should you suddenly need ice cream.

The all-inclusive offering at The Ixian Grand & All Suites is one of its biggest strengths, and goes beyond the traditional idea of buffet dining. There’s a choice of restaurants, including Milonges, which showcases Greek and Mediterranean flavours, and Muza Htista, offering a more contemporary Japanese/Peruvian-inspired dining experience – I loved the sushi here. The dine-around concept means evenings feel varied and you can mix things up.

The main buffet restaurant looks out over the main pool, and is a winner for sheer choice. For suite guests, Alazonia offers a more refined feel, with a calmer atmosphere and additional options, as well as beautiful ocean views. For breakfast, you get the buffet spread and an à la carte menu. The service here is particularly good, though it’s good all around the resort, with the famously warm Greek hospitality in effect. I loved watching departing guests hug the staff, who seemed genuinely kind rather than just doing their job. It was also steps from my suite, so very convenient.

And as it’s an adults-only hotel, it’s free of kids running riot, throwing food, or just having a high–pitched meltdown, which felt like a blessing.

Exploring Rhodes: from Kallithea Springs to Lindos

One of the advantages of staying at The Ixian Grand & Suites is that it is easy to combine resort relaxation with some of Rhodes’ most memorable sights, and on my five-night trip, one day out was just enough,

A 20-minute drive away, Kallithea Springs was a lovely first adventure. Originally developed as a thermal spa in the 1920s, the elegant domed buildings, arches and mosaics now form a beautiful backdrop for visitors. Vintage photographs tell the story of its glamorous past, while pathways lead to viewpoints overlooking the clear Aegean waters.A dip in the sea there feels mandatory: but visitors come as much for the architecture and atmosphere as the chance to swim in the sheltered bay below, which also has a restaurant playing chilled tunes.

From there, it’s about 40 minutes down the coast to Lindos, one of Rhodes’ most iconic destinations. The whitewashed village is a maze of narrow lanes filled with shops, rooftop restaurants and traditional houses, all set beneath the ancient Acropolis.

You’ll meet plenty of wanderers armed with sun visors and selfie sticks, but the vibes are great, and the shops are mostly sheltered – I picked up some silver jewellery, and Greek myth-themed t-shirts for my family.

On the hot day in June during my visit, reaching the upper viewpoints felt like an achievement, but the views over Lindos Bay are worth the climb. I stopped short of the full Acropolis walk, instead taking pictures of the spectacular panorama before heading back down to the beach.

Lindos Bay, and a whole sea bass

Lindos Beach is long, lively and slightly overwhelming after peaceful Ixia, but the clear turquoise water made it an irresistible stop for another swim. Afterwards, a short drive brought me to Stegna, a quiet coastal village where lunch at a traditional and historic seafood restaurant, Stegna Kozos, with amazing decor and even better food, which was completely charming.

Sitting beside the sea with a whole sea bass on the table, crisp glass of wine, fresh local flavours and views across the bay, it was exactly the kind of slow but technicolour Greek island experience that makes you wonder about selling up and moving to Rhodes. After all that excitement, I was back at The Ixian Grand by late afternoon, with a whole evening’s fun ahead.

A last spa treat at my adults-only hotel

The Aegeo Spa is one of those places that encourages you to slow down the moment you walk through the door. Tucked away from the main resort, it’s a peaceful sanctuary of natural stone, warm wood and soft lighting, centred around a heated indoor pool where guests drift between loungers, the sauna and steam room at an altogether gentler pace.

The treatment menu spans deep tissue massages and signature Greek wellness rituals, body scrubs, wraps and facials using Aegeo Spa’s own skincare range, inspired by Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oil, aloe vera and aromatic herbs. After several days of sunshine, swimming and cocktails, I opted for a 40-minute facial. It was exactly what my sun-exposed skin needed, combining cleansing, hydration and a relaxing facial massage before I headed back out into the Rhodes sunshine.

Then it was time for one last dinner, one last fiery sunset over the Aegean and one last moonlit swim before slipping into my private pool again at first light. There was an unmistakable sense of melancholy about leaving, not because I’d escaped real life, but because, for a few precious days, life had become beautifully uncomplicated.

After four days at The Ixian Grand & All Suites, I realised that adults-only holidays aren’t about escaping your children. They’re about returning home with a little more in the tank. And as every parent knows, sometimes that’s the greatest luxury of all.

Find out more and book here

A swim-up suite at The Ixian Grand & All Suites costs from £414 per night