Agnanti Hotel

Agnanti Hotel suits divers who want their base to feel like part of the island rather than a sealed-off resort. The setting is by the sea in Kalamakia, with outdoor seating, a garden and terraces for the important post-dive business of sitting down and not moving for a while.

The hotel’s website is available in English, Greek and Italian, so English-speaking guests can find their way around the hotel’s online information. The accommodation itself is family-friendly in layout, with rooms for couples, twins and families, while air conditioning, free WiFi and a private entrance keep the practical side of the stay straightforward.

There is a shared lounge and TV area when you want company without committing to an evening out. For something more substantial, the restaurant is part of the hotel rather than another journey in the car.

You stay in Kalamakia, on Alonissos, Greece, right on the coast. The hotel has direct access to a sandy beach with sun loungers and parasols, while the sea is around 50 metres away. Glyfa Beach is about 0.9 miles away by road, and Vamvakies Beach is about 1.3 miles away.

Agios Petros Beach is around 1.6 miles away by road, or about 1.4 miles on foot, making it the most useful nearby option if you fancy a walk with a beach at the end of it. Mourtitsa Beach is about 2.7 miles away by road, while Leftos Gialos Beach is around 6 miles away.

The National Marine Park of Alonissos is about 7 miles away by road, and the island’s town centre is around 5 miles from the hotel. The surroundings are not built around a cluster of cafés outside the door: the nearest listed restaurants are roughly 1.1 miles away, so having the hotel restaurant matters.

For two, a sea-view double room keeps the choice simple: one double bed, air conditioning and the prospect of opening the door to the Aegean rather than a car park. The sea-view twin option is the practical pick when sharing a room but not a bed; some categories also add a sofa bed, so check the room card carefully before booking. Holiday logistics are not improved by discovering the third sleeping place is ornamental.

Families have more useful choices than a standard double. The Family Room with Sea View uses four single beds, while the Standard Family Room combines single and double beds. There are no cots or extra beds, so the beds already shown for your chosen category need to work for everyone travelling with you.

Room facilities include air conditioning, a refrigerator, a dining table, a wardrobe and extra-long beds. Sea views, balconies and terraces vary by category. You also have a private entrance, television, hairdryer and free WiFi throughout the hotel, giving you somewhere cool to return to and somewhere to put the day’s water bottles before dinner.

The hotel’s restaurant, ο Μανώλης, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner indoors. Its cooking is traditional Greek and homemade, with fresh local produce and island specialities rather than a menu designed to offend nobody and interest nobody. Seafood and Mediterranean dishes also feature in the hotel’s dining offer.

Breakfast is a continental buffet, with bread, butter, pastries, cereals, yoghurt, honey, jams, boiled eggs or omelette, cold meats, fruit, orange juice, milk, tea and filter coffee. It is the sort of spread that can cover both the early start and the appetite that arrives later, depending on how ambitious the morning’s diving schedule is.

A coffee house is available on site, and wine and champagne can be ordered. You can also have breakfast in your room, request special-diet menus and arrange packed lunches, which is useful when a boat trip or island excursion takes you away from the restaurant.

The easiest non-diving plan starts with the hotel’s own beach. Direct access, sand, loungers and parasols mean you can trade fins for a book without arranging transport or turning the afternoon into an expedition. The sun terrace, garden, patio and outdoor dining area give you several places to sit, with the sea still part of the view.

When you want to move, the hotel’s activity offer points towards the island and the water: snorkelling, canoeing and boat excursions are available, with activities such as island visits, waterfalls, markets and further snorkelling trips. The hotel also offers access to hiking, wildlife observation and cultural excursions, so a non-diving day does not have to mean staying horizontal until dinner.

There is no need to manufacture entertainment for its own sake here. A garden, a terrace, a swim from the nearby shore and a slow meal at ο Μανώλης make a perfectly respectable day off.

Agnanti is a five-storey property reached by stairs only. That matters with a full dive bag, a heavy suitcase or knees that have begun filing formal complaints, so choose your room with the building’s layout in mind. The property also has no mobile signal, although WiFi is available throughout the hotel at no extra charge.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 19:00, and you need to tell the hotel your expected arrival time. Photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in. Check-out is from 06:00 to 11:00. Private and express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and a tour desk are available, while car hire can be arranged through the hotel.

Skiathos Airport is about 39 miles away by road. Free private parking is available on site without reservation, which is useful if you are exploring Alonissos by car. Children of any age are welcome, the minimum age for check-in is 18, and pets are not allowed. Payment is accepted in cash, Visa and Mastercard.