Hotel Meltemi

You come here for a simple island rhythm: the sea nearby, a balcony for a little fresh air, a pool when you would rather not walk any further, and Adamas within reach. Hotel Meltemi is a two-star hotel with air-conditioned rooms, sea views and direct access to a golden sandy beach. It is not dressed up as a sprawling resort. That is part of the point.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Greek, so you can sort out the practical details without resorting to diving-sign language at reception. Free WiFi runs throughout the hotel, while the shared lounge and pool area give you somewhere to sit when the room feels too small and the harbour feels too busy.

Couples get the easiest version of the stay: a room for two, sea air from the balcony and the beach close at hand. The hotel also welcomes children of any age, with cots available depending on the accommodation selected. There are no extra beds.

You are in Adamas, on the Greek island of Milos, with the hotel set on the seafront and direct access to a golden sandy beach. Sun loungers and parasols are available on the beach, so the transition from swim to horizontal recovery is mercifully short. Lagada Beach is also close by, while Papikinou Beach is roughly half a mile away by road.

The location works well when you want a little more than salt and sun. The Ecclesiastical Museum of Milos is about 400 feet away on foot, and the Milos Mining Museum is around 0.4 miles away. Skinopi Beach is about 1.6 miles away, while Sarakiniko Beach is roughly 2.4 miles away by road.

Adamas gives you a practical base for exploring the island rather than leaving you marooned behind a gate. The Catacombs of Milos and the ancient theatre are both around 3 miles away on foot or by road routes, and the airport is approximately 2.6 miles away by road.

The rooms are compact and designed for two, with either a double bed or a partial sea view depending on the option you choose. That partial view matters if you like to check the weather, watch the light change or simply have something better to look at than the wardrobe while drying out after the day. Every room has a private bathroom, balcony, air conditioning and a refrigerator.

The refrigerator is the sort of detail that earns its keep on a diving holiday: cold water waiting when you come back tired, and somewhere to keep a few provisions for the morning. A wardrobe, clothes rack and outdoor furniture keep the essentials covered, while the flat-screen television is there for the evenings when your legs have had enough of island life.

Choose the sea-view option when the outlook is part of the reason for booking. Choose the standard double room when you mainly need a clean, air-conditioned base for sleeping, showering and getting out again. Daily housekeeping, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer are included, and the rooms are non-smoking.

Meltemi Restaurant covers the useful three-part day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cooking is Mediterranean, with fresh local ingredients, and the setting is a terrace with sea views. The dress code is casual, which is welcome when the most formal item of clothing you have left is a pair of shorts that has seen too much salt.

Breakfast is included and served as a buffet. There is no stated all-day meal plan to organise around, so lunch and dinner are handled at the restaurant or elsewhere in Adamas. The terrace gives you a proper reason to linger rather than treating food as a quick interruption between swims.

There is one bar, the Pool Bar. It serves cocktails, drinks and snacks throughout the day beside the main outdoor pool. That gives you an easy landing place for a cold drink without needing to change into anything more ambitious than dry clothes.

The main outdoor pool is the obvious fallback when the beach is not the plan. It has a poolside bar serving drinks and snacks, so you can move from a few lengths to a shaded seat without turning the afternoon into an expedition. For a diver, that kind of low-effort option has its merits.

The water-based choices extend beyond swimming. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, boat excursions and equipment hire are available, giving you several ways to stay close to the water without signing up for another full day beneath it. The hotel can also arrange island tours through its excursion services.

If you prefer something with a little history attached, the Ecclesiastical Museum of Milos and the Milos Mining Museum are both close to the hotel. The Catacombs of Milos and the ancient theatre offer a longer outing, while car hire makes it easier to reach places such as Sarakiniko Beach or the Sulphur Mine.

Milos Island National Airport is about 2.6 miles from the hotel by road. An airport shuttle is available, and car hire can also be arranged through the hotel. Free nearby public parking is available without reservation, which is useful if you decide that an island holiday needs four wheels after all.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 23:30, and you need to tell the hotel your expected arrival time. Check-out is from 08:00 to 11:00. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, with luggage storage for the awkward gap between leaving the room and leaving the island.

Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted. A safety deposit box is available at reception, and laundry and ironing services can be arranged. Upper floors are reached by stairs only, so the room location is worth considering if stairs are a nuisance after a long day in the water.