Harriets Apartments

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Greek, so you can deal with the practical details of your stay without resorting to underwater hand signals. Harriets Apartments is an aparthotel built by a Kardamena family, with the business opening in 1989 and the pool and bar added later.

The independent block is close to the town's restaurants, bars and beach, while its position away from the main activity keeps the accommodation quiet. You get a place that works particularly well when you want more control over the evening: make something simple in your apartment, sit on the balcony or terrace, then wander into Kardamena when you fancy a proper night out.

You are in Kardamaina, on Kos, rather than in the island's capital. Kardamena Beach is about 550 metres away, around a short walk from the apartments, and the town centre puts cafés, bars and restaurants within easy reach. Daskalos Kafenion is about 200 metres away, Portoeye Cocktail Bar & Grill about 250 metres away, and Pepperoni's Pizza Pasta about 450 metres away.

The setting also gives you a few straightforward options beyond the beach and the evening bar circuit. The archaeological site of Alasarna is about 1.1 km away, while Antimachia Castle is roughly 3.5 km away. Kos International Airport is about 5 miles from the property, making the final leg of the journey relatively short by island standards.

These are apartments rather than standard hotel rooms, which matters when you return hungry, salty and not especially interested in dressing for dinner. The kitchenette includes a refrigerator, stovetop, toaster, electric kettle, kitchenware and a dining table, giving you the option of keeping breakfast supplies cold or putting together something uncomplicated before an early start.

For a couple, the One-Bedroom Apartment is the natural fit, with a private bathroom and enough separation to make the room feel like more than a bed with a kettle beside it. The Two-Bedroom Apartment suits a small group of up to three, particularly if you value separate sleeping areas over hotel-style open space. The accommodation is compact, so it rewards travellers who use it as a practical base rather than as a room in which to stage a suitcase exhibition.

Air conditioning helps take the edge off warm Kos nights, while the balcony or terrace gives you somewhere to sit with a drink and a view towards the pool or mountains. Daily housekeeping keeps the practical side in order, and the apartments also have a wardrobe or closet, linen, towels, a hairdryer and a private bathroom. Upper floors are reached by stairs, a small point worth factoring in if your post-dive legs prefer a lift.

Harriets Apartments has a bar and a snack bar, with room service available when the sensible plan is to remain horizontal. Wine and champagne are also available. There is no restaurant detail to build a dining itinerary around, so the kitchenette is the useful centre of gravity for simple meals and stored drinks.

That arrangement suits Kardamena well. You can keep something cold in the refrigerator, use the dining table when you want to eat in, or walk to the nearby cafés and restaurants when cooking feels like an unreasonable demand after a day in the water. Portoeye Cocktail Bar & Grill is about 250 metres away, while Pepperoni's Pizza Pasta is about 450 metres away. The choice is yours, which is often preferable to discovering that every evening follows the same buffet timetable.

The seasonal outdoor pool is the obvious place to spend an afternoon when you are not heading to the beach. A sun terrace, outdoor furniture and an outdoor dining area give you room to sit with a book, dry off or let the day become pleasantly unstructured. The pool looks towards the surrounding landscape, with mountain and pool views available from the property.

For a little more movement, table tennis is available, and billiards gives you a slower contest when the heat has taken the enthusiasm out of anything athletic. BBQ facilities add another option for an evening around the property. You can also make use of the beach nearby or explore Kardamena on foot; the archaeological site of Alasarna is close enough to provide a modest cultural detour rather than a full expedition.

Check-in runs from 07:00 to midnight and check-out from 07:00 to 12:00. You need to tell the property your expected arrival time, which is especially useful if your flight lands late or your plans on Kos refuse to follow a tidy schedule. There is no age requirement for check-in, and children of any age are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the accommodation option.

Free WiFi is available around the hotel, and daily housekeeping is included as part of the stay. The building is detached from the main bustle of town, but upper floors are accessible by stairs only. Smoking is not allowed and pets are not allowed. For the airport, you can arrange a transfer with the hotel in the form it offers, or organise your own transport for the short journey to Kos International Airport.