Atlantica Beach Resort Kos

Some resorts are built around a lobby; this one is built around the beach. Atlantica Beach Resort Kos sits on the sand at Gourniati, with gardens, open grounds and sea views giving you room to spread out rather than queue for the same small corner of the property. You can arrive as a couple, bring the family, or simply choose a base where the day does not need much organising once you are back on dry land.

The resort works particularly well if your idea of a holiday includes a proper choice of ways to spend the afternoon: beach, pool, fitness, yoga, games, water activities or a quiet patch of garden. There is entertainment in the evening too, including live performances and themed dinner nights. In other words, you can make as much or as little of the programme as your legs permit.

The address is in Kardamaina, on the south coast of Kos, rather than in the centre of the resort town. The hotel has direct access to a sandy beach, with loungers and parasols ready for the uncomplicated business of lying down and doing very little. Lakitira Beach is roughly 0.05 miles away, while Helona Beach is about 0.1 miles from the property.

Kardamena Beach and the town itself are about 2 miles away, putting bars, cafés and restaurants within a short drive. Casa Rossa and several bars in Kardamena sit around 2 miles away by road, while Pepperoni's Pizza Pasta is about 3 miles away. For something more historical, the Alassarna archaeological site is around 2 miles away and Antimachia Castle about 3 miles away. The coast is the immediate neighbour; the rest of Kos takes a little more planning.

Air conditioning matters on Kos, particularly when the day has involved heat, salt and rather more sun than planned. Rooms have air conditioning, a private bathroom, balcony, wardrobe, hairdryer, slippers and an electric kettle, with a sofa and desk in the living area. You also get a television, cable channels and a view; the useful sort of comfort rather than a collection of gadgets looking for a purpose.

For two people, the sea-view rooms make the most of the setting without requiring you to leave the room to see the Aegean. Garden-view rooms are the more inward-looking choice, while the larger suites give you more room to separate sleeping, sitting and drying-off duties. A maisonette suite is the practical family option, with two bathrooms and enough space to avoid conducting the entire evening around one suitcase.

Balconies and terraces give you somewhere to sit with a morning coffee or let the day cool before dinner. Room service is available, as is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Family rooms are offered, and children of any age are welcome; the range of room layouts means you can choose around the people travelling rather than trying to make one standard room perform miracles.

Four restaurants keep meals firmly on site, which is useful when you have returned hungry and would rather not start negotiating transport before dinner. The kitchen covers Mediterranean, Greek, Italian and international dishes, with themed dining nights adding a change of direction when a third consecutive plate of the familiar no longer feels like a decision.

Breakfast is served as a buffet, with local specialities, fresh pastries and a range of drinks. Lunch and dinner are also available, and vegetarian and vegan choices are catered for. There is a restaurant, a bar and a snack bar, so you have options beyond sitting down to a full meal every time you want something to eat or drink.

The dining style is broad and resort-based rather than a single taverna with one well-guarded menu. You can keep things Greek, switch to Italian, or let the themed evenings make the choice for you. Wine and champagne are available, and special-diet menus can be arranged on request.

The beach is the obvious place to start, with sunbeds and parasols for the traditional post-water horizontal position. An outdoor swimming pool is available year-round, while the gardens and sun terrace give you alternatives when the sand has become too enthusiastic. Pool and beach towels are also available, which saves one small but irritating item from the packing list.

If your shoulders still have an opinion, the fitness centre offers a reason to move carefully, and yoga and fitness classes are available. The wellness facilities include massages, including back, neck, hand and full-body treatments, as well as spa packages. The resort also offers kayaking, table tennis, darts, billiards and tennis; tennis equipment and billiards carry an additional charge.

Evenings bring live music or performances, entertainment and themed activities rather than a compulsory seat in front of a television. You can also take a cultural outing to Kardamena village. Families have a children’s playground, kids’ club, games room, children’s pool and child-friendly dining facilities, so the resort can accommodate different holiday speeds under one roof.

Kos International Airport is about 6 miles from the resort by road, with the drive taking around 18 minutes. The hotel offers an airport shuttle for an additional charge, and car hire is available if you want to reach Kardamena, the archaeological sites or beaches farther along the island without waiting for someone else’s timetable. Free parking is available on site.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out runs until 11:00. A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, currency exchange and concierge service cover the practical edges of the stay, while the on-site minimarket and souvenir shop save you a trip when the need is small but immediate. Laundry and pressing services are available, and a doctor can be arranged on request.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Children of all ages are welcome, with cots and extra beds available according to the room option and availability. The minimum age for check-in is 18, cash is accepted, and pets are not allowed.