Villas Duc - Rhodes Island

A basic hotel is one thing. Being treated with hostility is another. Our one-night stay at Villas Duc turned into a nightmare experience my mother and I will unfortunately remember for all the wrong reasons. I was pregnant and travelling with my elderly mother. From check-in onwards we felt distinctly unwelcome. The receptionist asked whether we were staying only one night and then commented “one night here is enough as for us.” The lift was broken, yet we were initially expected to carry heavy luggage to the second floor. I had to explain that I was pregnant and could not carry heavy suitcases and that my mother was elderly before alternative assistance was considered. We were eventually placed in room 531. Villas Duc later apparently described this to Booking.com as an “upgrade”. In my experience, it was an extremely basic and dated room, with lack of privacy from neighbours: dark areas, inadequate/non-functioning lighting, old/damaged furniture, dirty dishes, missing toiletries and poor Wi-Fi, bad design of the room itself with random walls leading nowhere and not serving any function. The following morning we were then asked to pay another €20 for breakfast despite breakfast having been included and payment already having been dealt with. When I tried to show the receptionist the hotel's own invoice, she became argumentative and shouted that she did not need to see it. Before arriving, Villas Duc had specifically confirmed in writing that they would store our luggage after check-out. At check-out this promise was simply withdrawn. We were told that the storage room was “broken”. The hotel also refused to arrange the airport shuttle advertised through Booking.com, although this service had been one reason I selected Villas Duc over another hotel. During the resulting discussion, the female receptionist actually told me: “You get what you deserve.” Because it was still before the official 11am check-out time, we returned to our room. A cleaner was already there and continued cleaning and removing linen while my mother and I were still occupying the room. At final check-out, after everything that had happened, I photographed the room key to document that it had been returned. The male receptionist reacted aggressively and threatened to call the police. I reported the experience to Booking.com immediately. Booking.com initially told me in writing that Villas Duc had not responded to their request concerning my complaint. Villas Duc later refused to authorise a refund. Afterwards, I found other reviews reporting similar themes: guests feeling unwelcome, dissatisfaction with staff attitude, lift problems, unreliable Wi-Fi and dated/basic accommodation. I am not suggesting every guest will necessarily have the same experience. Some reviews are positive. This review describes what happened to us. The room being basic was disappointing, but that was not ultimately the biggest problem. The biggest problem was the way two paying guests—including a pregnant woman travelling with her elderly mother—were spoken to and treated. For that reason, I cannot recommend Villas Duc and would never return or recommend it to anyone.

The hotel has a great location, and our room was a nice size, but it completely lacked closets or hangers for our clothes. The pool was nice, but closing it at 6 PM while it is still light outside and guests are using it makes no sense. Unfortunately, the staff seemed very uninterested, and the breakfast selection was extremely small with almost zero options for vegans or vegetarians. Worst of all, the "private" terrace we were promised in the description was actually open to the public and constantly used by others However, despite these minor issues here and there, we overall had a good stay

Apartment hotel without the wild luxury. There is what is needed, good beds, a nice large pool and possible to get a sunbed up of the day. Sunbeds on both tiles and large lawn, so you do not lie on top of each other. Cleaning every day. There is a short distance to the supermarket and restaurants. The small supermarkets are overpricing. Trade instead in Skavenitis or Spar. Ca. 200 m to a stone beach. The hotel does not get top ratings. One of the first days we were there we asked to change a bulb in the bathroom. It wasn't changed when we left. The bathroom door could not be closed. Was repaired necessarily and flanged at the bottom. Kitchen holes hanged. Don't know what they have renovated in 2023. At least it wasn't kitchen and doors.