Far Out Village Hotel

Cycladic style, shaded gardens and a beachfront setting give Far Out Village Hotel a straightforward appeal for divers who want the sea close, a proper meal nearby and somewhere to sit down without ceremony. You can move from your room to the beach, the swimming pool, the bar or the restaurant without turning the evening into an expedition.

The mood is practical rather than formal. Air-conditioned rooms, balconies, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk cover the useful parts of a diving stay, while the gardens and sun terrace give you somewhere to slow down between swims, meals and the next day's plans. Families are welcome, and pets can stay without an additional charge.

That aside, the set-up is easy to understand: beach in front, food on site, pool behind you. Some holidays need less engineering than others.

You are in Mylopotas, Greece, directly on Mylopotas Beach. The sand is effectively at the hotel, rather than a short drive away dressed up as a beach location. From your balcony or the shaded gardens, the coast is part of the practical geography of the stay, not a day trip.

Ios Town is about 2.5 miles away, giving you access to the island's main town when you want a change of scene. Katsiveli Beach is roughly 1 mile away, Kolitsani Beach about 1.7 miles, and Valmas Beach around 2.3 miles. Sapunochoma Beach is approximately 2.8 miles away by road.

There is also some history within reach. The archaeological site of Skarkos lies about 1.9 miles away, while Homer's Tomb is around 7 miles away. The archaeological site of Paleokastro is roughly 8 miles from the hotel. You can keep the day coastal, or add a little island archaeology when your legs have recovered from the fins.

For two people, the Double Room keeps the arrangement simple with two single beds. That can be useful when you have different sleep patterns, or when sharing a room after a full day in the water without pretending that every couple needs one large bed. For three travellers, the Triple Room uses three single beds and gives each person a proper sleeping place.

Every room has air conditioning, a television, a private bathroom with a shower and a balcony. The balcony is the useful detail here: somewhere to sit with a drink, dry yourself off in the evening air and let the room stop feeling like the centre of the universe for a while. The rooms are set among the hotel's shaded gardens, so the outdoor space is close rather than decorative scenery viewed from a distance.

Free WiFi is available in the rooms, and room service gives you another way to handle the evening when you would rather not dress for dinner. Family rooms are available, and children of any age are welcome; children aged five and over are charged as adults. Cots and extra beds are not available, so the existing bed arrangement matters when you choose the room.

Breakfast is continental, which gives you a familiar start before heading down to the beach or setting off for the day's plans. The on-site restaurant takes you from breakfast through to late dinner, so you can eat at the hotel without arranging your whole day around a narrow service window.

The kitchen works with international specialities, but the homemade pizzas are the detail worth remembering. They are baked in a wood-fired oven, which is exactly the sort of information that becomes important when you return hungry, salty and no longer interested in discussing dinner at length. There is also a bar for drinks before or after the meal.

The restaurant and bar are on site, and room service is available when the balcony wins the argument. The arrangement is a breakfast-based stay rather than a stated half-board or all-inclusive package, leaving you free to eat at the hotel or explore elsewhere in Mylopotas and Ios Town.

The outdoor swimming pool is the obvious answer when the sea is in front of you but you want a change of water. You also have a sun terrace and shaded gardens, giving you two different versions of the same valuable activity: sitting down. After a long day, that may be enough of a programme.

A fitness centre is available for anyone who still has energy to spend, although access carries an additional charge. The beach itself supplies the more natural option, with Mylopotas Beach immediately outside the hotel and several other beaches around the island for a change of shoreline.

If you are travelling as a couple, the pool, garden and balcony create an easy rhythm without requiring organised entertainment. If you are travelling with family, the beach, pool and family rooms keep the day uncomplicated. You can also make the short journey to Ios Town, or visit Skarkos and the island's other archaeological sites when you want something beyond sand and sun.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 22:30, and check-out from 08:30 to 11:00. The 24-hour front desk is useful around travel days and can provide information about Ios Town. Payment is accepted in cash, so plan accordingly rather than discovering the detail at the desk with luggage in both hands.

Free public parking is available on site, with no reservation required. WiFi in the rooms is free, and air conditioning is included in the room facilities. Pets are welcome without an additional charge, which is a practical point if your travel companion has four legs and strong opinions about beaches.

The nearest listed airport is Santorini International Airport, about 35 miles away by road. Naxos Island National Airport is roughly 39 miles away, while Paros National Airport is around 49 miles away. The hotel is on Ios, so the airport leg is only one part of the journey; arrange the onward connection to the island when planning your arrival.