Maison 66, Riviera Hotels

Maison 66, Riviera Hotels gives you a seaside base in Athens rather than a standard city stop. Direct access to the beachfront, sea views and a sun terrace set the tone; the useful bit is that you can finish a day in town or by the water without returning to a purely urban address.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the layout suits both couples and families. A shared lounge, outdoor seating and 24-hour reception keep the practical side simple, while the English-language website makes the booking information easy to follow. The hotel itself does not have an on-site dive centre, so diving here means arranging your outings with a nearby operator rather than walking straight from reception to a boat.

You are in Athens, Greece, on the beachfront. Akti tou Iliou Beach is about 350 metres away on foot, and Kalamaki Beach is roughly 850 metres away. Agios Kosmas Beach is around 1 mile away, giving you several stretches of coast within easy reach.

The setting also keeps Athens on the agenda. The Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum are each about 4.5 to 5 miles away, while the Temple of Olympian Zeus is around 4.5 miles from the hotel. Argiroupoli Metro Station is about 1.4 miles away, so you can leave the car behind for some city trips, although this is not a doorstep-to-metro address.

Eleftherios Venizelos Airport is approximately 17 miles away by road. Coffee Island is around 0.4 miles away, and several named restaurants and cafés sit within roughly 1 to 2 miles.

The rooms are built around the details that matter when you want to rinse off, cool down and stop thinking about logistics. Air conditioning deals with warm Athens evenings, while soundproofing is there for the night rather than for brochure decoration. Balconies and side sea views give you somewhere to sit with a drink instead of balancing it on the bathroom shelf.

For two, the King Suite with Balcony & Side Sea View gives you more room to spread out than the standard double, while the Queen Suite keeps the same balcony-and-sea-view idea in a smaller footprint. The Two-Bedroom Suite with Hot Tub is the one to look at when two couples or a family want separate sleeping areas and two bathrooms, with the hot tub adding a little end-of-day ceremony.

The Family Room brings together two single beds and a double bed, making it the practical choice for four. Minibars, work desks, WiFi and sofa beds cover the useful extras, and daily housekeeping means the room is reset while you are out. A lift helps with bags, and the hotel also offers luggage storage when your arrival or departure does not line up neatly with the room.

The beachfront is the obvious place to let the day slow down. The hotel adds a sun terrace, a terrace and outdoor furniture, so you can sit outside without turning every quiet hour into an excursion. For a diver, that is often enough: somewhere to dry off, watch the light change and avoid making a decision for a while.

When you do want to move, bike tours are available and boating is possible in the surrounding area. The beach itself gives you an easy non-diving option, while the shared lounge and TV area provide an indoor fallback when the sun has done its work. The Acropolis Museum, the Ship Museum Averof and the historic centre are all within reach by car or public transport, giving a non-diving companion plenty to do while you are occupied elsewhere.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight and check-out is from 11:00 to 11:30. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time. That matters if you are landing late or arriving after a long transfer; the 24-hour front desk covers the reception side of the equation.

A shuttle service is available and should be arranged with the hotel. Car hire is also available, while free private parking is on site; spaces cannot be reserved. The airport is about 17 miles away by road, and Argiroupoli Metro Station is roughly 1.4 miles from the property.

Free WiFi covers all areas, room service is available, and luggage storage helps with early arrivals or a late departure. The hotel has a lift, daily housekeeping and a shared lounge. Cash is accepted, and children of all ages are welcome; cots for children aged 0 to 2 can be requested, while extra beds are not available.