Vassiliki Bay Hotel

English-speaking staff, alongside German- and Greek-speaking colleagues, make Vassiliki Bay Hotel an easy base for a stay in Vasiliki. The setting is practical rather than remote: you are close to the beach, the harbour and the village, with places to eat and drink within walking distance.

The hotel suits divers who want their accommodation to do the useful things properly, then get out of the way. Air conditioning, free WiFi, daily housekeeping, a lift, luggage storage and an outdoor pool cover the essentials, while the shared lounge and sun terrace give you somewhere to sit when the room feels too small for another post-dive discussion about who saw what.

You are in Vasiliki, Greece, on the southern coast of Lefkada, right by the sea and in the centre of the village. Vasiliki Beach is about 250 m away, roughly a three-minute walk, with golden sand, sun loungers and parasols. That is close enough for a swim before breakfast without turning it into an expedition.

The harbour is just as useful in the evening. Traditional tavernas and fishing boats give the waterfront its character, while nearby beach bars and public beach areas add a little more choice. For a change of scenery, Agiofili Beach is about 11 km away by road, and Ammoussa, Standing Stones and Kastri beaches are each around 10 to 11 km away.

Aktion Airport is about an hour away by car. The hotel can arrange an airport shuttle, and car hire or bicycle rental can also be organised for exploring beyond Vasiliki.

The room choice is mainly about how many people need to sleep in it and how much space you want around the beds. Couples can keep things simple with a Standard Double Room, while the Deluxe Triple Room uses a double bed and sofa bed for three guests. Family rooms are available, and a cot can be requested for a child aged up to two; extra beds are not available.

Every room has air conditioning, a balcony or veranda, a flat-screen TV, free WiFi, a safe, a wardrobe and a private bathroom with shower or bath, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. A refrigerator is useful for keeping water cold when you return warm, salty and hungry. Daily housekeeping takes care of the less glamorous part of the holiday, and the beds have been particularly well received for comfort.

The Economy Double Room on the ground floor may suit you if stairs are an annoyance rather than a charming architectural feature. The rooms are non-smoking and include heating, so the arrangement works beyond the hottest part of the season too.

The Main Restaurant serves Mediterranean food in an air-conditioned indoor setting, with a relaxed dress code. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available, and breakfast is served as a buffet from 07:30. Half board is the stated meal plan, which leaves you free to eat out in Vasiliki when the harbour looks more tempting than another evening indoors.

Lunch runs from 13:00 to 15:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 21:30. Room service is available during limited hours, though it is not the main reason to choose this hotel. For a drink beside the pool, the Pool Bar serves cocktails and snacks, with a swim-up bar built into the main pool. One bar, sensibly placed where wet hair and holiday clothes are entirely acceptable.

The outdoor Main Pool gives you an alternative to the sea, with sun loungers, parasols and a swim-up bar. It is not heated, so the sea may win on some mornings, but the pool works well for a quiet hour when you have had enough of saltwater and boat timetables.

There is plenty to do on the water beyond diving: snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and windsurfing are available, along with boat excursions and equipment hire. On land, bicycle rental, walking, island tours and village visits provide ways to see more of Lefkada without making the entire holiday about transport. Babysitting and a children's menu are available for family stays.

Check-in runs from 14:00, with arrivals accepted until 23:00, and check-out is by 11:30. You will need photo identification and a credit card on arrival, and the hotel needs to know your expected arrival time. Express check-in and check-out are available, while luggage storage helps if your room and your travel plans do not line up neatly.

An airport shuttle can be arranged as a paid service. Free WiFi covers the hotel, and the reception can assist with car hire, bicycle rental, concierge requests and a doctor on call. There is no private hotel car park: parking is available in the surrounding streets or in a free public car park about 300 m away. Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted, and pets are not allowed.