Iraklion Hotel

You come here for position rather than resort theatrics: a compact city hotel in Heraklion, close to the old town, the harbour and the coast. The atmosphere is practical and urban, suited to a diving trip built around exploring Crete as much as getting back into the water.

An English-speaking team is on hand, with a 24-hour reception and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. The tourist information service can help arrange excursions, while the lift makes the five-storey building easier to navigate when your legs have had enough of stairs and shore walks.

The Iraklion Hotel stands on Kalokairinou and Delimarkou Street, inside Heraklion's old-city walls. The centre is about a five-minute walk away, placing shops, streets and the main sights within easy reach rather than requiring a taxi every time you want to go out.

The sea is around 0.3 miles away on foot. Dermatos Bay is the nearby wild beach, while Ammoudara Beach lies about 1.4 miles from the hotel. Heraklion Port is also part of the surrounding city setting, and Heraklion Airport is roughly a 15-minute drive away.

The room range covers solo stays, couples, groups of three and family travel, so you can choose around the shape of your trip rather than trying to make one standard room do everything. A solo diver can keep things simple with a single room, while the triple and family options make more sense when several people are sharing the same base in Heraklion.

Air conditioning is available in several room categories, useful when you return warm, salty and ready to stop negotiating with the weather. Fridges are available in several rooms too, along with private bathrooms and showers; some categories add a television, hairdryer, desk and tea or coffee facilities. The exact equipment varies by room, so check the room card before booking if a fridge, desk or air conditioning matters to your routine.

The rooms are non-smoking, with Wi-Fi, towels and toiletries available across the accommodation range. A family room gives you more flexibility for a mixed-age group, while a double room with a double bed is the straightforward choice for two travelling together.

Breakfast is served as a buffet and included in the breakfast plan. The morning spread brings together omelette, ham, cheese, Greek yoghurt, flakes and fruit: enough to build a sensible start before a day of sightseeing or a dive, without pretending breakfast needs a tasting menu and a press release.

There is a bar for the first drink after getting back in, plus a snack bar when a full meal feels like overkill. The hotel does not set out a restaurant-led stay; the useful combination here is breakfast at base, then Heraklion's city table when you want a proper lunch or dinner.

Heraklion does the heavy lifting when you are not underwater. From the hotel, you can walk through the old city, reach the main attractions and make your own plan for the afternoon rather than being tied to an entertainment programme. The tourist information service can arrange excursions when you want to see more of Crete.

For the less ambitious part of the day, massages are available at the hotel. That is the relevant kind of luxury after repetitive finning and a long surface interval: lie still, let somebody else do the work, then decide whether the bar or the old streets gets the evening.

Check-in starts at 3 pm and check-out is at 11 am. The reception is open around the clock, with early check-in and late check-out available on request. That can be useful around travel days, particularly when your flight and your preferred sleeping hours refuse to cooperate.

Parking is available nearby, and the hotel also has an electric-vehicle charging station. Public parking is paid, so factor that into the practical side of travelling by car. Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and cash are accepted, and luggage storage is available for the awkward hours between leaving the room and leaving Heraklion.

A lift serves the upper floors, the building is non-smoking, and room service is available. The hotel also offers an ironing service, shoe polishing and a safe, while free Wi-Fi covers the property.