Villa Katapoliani No.3

Villa Katapoliani No.3 is an aparthotel for divers who prefer a proper base to a dressed-up hotel room. You get air conditioning, a kitchenette, outdoor space and room to spread out, with the choice of a sea view, garden view or a larger apartment for family and friends. The mood comes from the setting rather than a long list of facilities: olive trees, palms, flowers and a country-style decoration give the place a more residential feel.

That makes it a sensible choice if your ideal evening involves a shower, something cold from the fridge and a meal arranged at your own pace. The sun terrace, garden and outdoor dining area give you somewhere to sit without having to go straight back into town. Katápola is close enough for the beach and port, but the accommodation itself sits among fields and trees rather than in the middle of the harbour traffic.

You stay in Katápola, on Amorgos in Greece, with the sea around 100 metres away and a sandy beach roughly 0.1 miles from the property. Katápola Beach is the obvious first port of call, while Kato Akrotiri Beach is about 0.7 miles away. Maltezi Beach lies around 1.1 miles from the villa, giving you a few alternatives when you fancy changing your view of the water.

Katápola Port is about 0.6 miles away, and Amorgos Botanical Park around 0.7 miles. The Monastery of Hozoviotissa is about 4.3 miles away, while the Ancient City of Arkesini is roughly 4.8 miles from the property. Several cafés and restaurants are within reach by car, including Kastanis and Tranzistoraki, both around 1.4 miles away. Santorini International Airport is about 53 miles away, so your arrival involves more than a quick airport taxi and a suitcase roll.

The room choice is really a question of how much space you want around the dive bags and the people carrying them. The sea-view studio is the straightforward couple’s option, with one large bed and a private outdoor space for looking towards the water. For four people, the sea-view apartment adds a separate living arrangement, while the two-bedroom apartment is the one to consider when privacy matters more than keeping everyone in one room. Family apartments include private bedrooms for parents and sofa beds in the living room for children.

If you would rather have more room than a sea view, the garden-view apartment accommodates up to five people and opens onto the greener side of the property. Every unit has air conditioning, a kitchenette, a private bathroom, linen, towels, a wardrobe and beds longer than two metres. There is also a dining table, hob, kitchenware, electric kettle and refrigerator, which is useful for breakfast supplies, cold drinks and the small act of feeding yourself before the next boat day.

The tiled floors and outdoor seating suit an uncomplicated island stay. Windows and balconies look towards the sea, mountains or garden, depending on the unit. Upper floors are reached by stairs only, so check the layout carefully if carrying luggage up steps is not your idea of a warm welcome.

Breakfast is included and is served at Teleion café, about 60 metres from Villa Katapoliani 1. The spread is built around local ingredients, eggs, cheeses and homemade pancakes. That is a useful start before a morning in the water, and close enough that breakfast does not require a full expedition with wet hair and a serious appetite.

The accommodation itself is set up for lighter, independent eating rather than a full hotel dining programme. Your kitchenette has a hob, refrigerator, kettle, kitchenware and dining table, and the outdoor area includes furniture for eating outside. Barbecue facilities are also available. In other words, you can keep the evening simple, buy what you need and make use of the space, or head towards Katápola for cafés and restaurants instead.

There is no need to manufacture a timetable here. The property gives you a garden, sun terrace, outdoor furniture and views of the mountains or surrounding landscape, which is enough for the post-dive routine of sitting down and allowing your legs to remember that they belong to you. The sandy beach is close enough for an easy swim or a change of scenery.

When you want to move beyond the shoreline, hiking and cultural excursions are part of the island’s offer. The Monastery of Hozoviotissa and the ancient sites around Arkesini give you clear targets for a day away from the water, while car hire is available for reaching them at your own pace. Families also have room to spread out in the larger apartments, with gardens, trees and flowers around the complex rather than a corridor leading straight to the next door.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed, and car hire is available if you want to explore beyond Katápola. WiFi is free in the rooms and throughout the property. A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage and a safety deposit box cover the practical details, while a flat-screen TV is there for the evenings when the legs have voted for an early finish.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You need to let the property know your arrival time in advance. Cash is not accepted. Children of any age are welcome, although cot availability depends on the accommodation selected and extra beds are not available. The property does not accept pets, and upper floors can only be reached by stairs.