Narges Hotel

Traditional Cycladic architecture sets the tone at Hotel Narges, where bright colours, balconies and a poolside bar do the talking. The hotel has 77 rooms, suites and family-friendly options, with enough room for a couple wanting an easy base by the sea or a group that needs more than one bed and a fighting chance of keeping bags off the floor.

You will be understood in English or Greek by the hotel team, which removes one of the more tiresome small obstacles of travelling abroad. The atmosphere is relaxed and practical: a garden-view balcony, air conditioning, a restaurant on site and a swimming pool for the hours when the sea can wait. Aliki itself is a quiet seaside resort, so evenings here lean towards food, a drink and a slow walk rather than a thumping resort schedule.

Aliki Beach is around 0.1 mile away, and the hotel sits in the coastal part of Aliki rather than somewhere inland where reaching the water becomes a daily expedition. The village has a small harbour, colourful fishing boats in summer, seafront fish tavernas and cafés. A few steps beyond your room, you have the useful choice between the pool and the beach. Tough decisions, admittedly.

Piso Aliki Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach are each about 0.4 mile away. Faragas Beach is around 1.3 miles away, while Voutakos Beach lies about 2.3 miles from the hotel. For a change of scene, Parikia, the island's main town and port, is about 8 miles away. The Archaeological Museum of Paros is around 6 miles away, with several historic and protected sites in the same wider area.

Paros National Airport is about 0.7 mile away, making Aliki the closest resort to the airport. The island can also be reached by ferry, with Parikia serving as the main port.

The rooms are designed around the Cycladic setting rather than dressed up as anonymous boxes. Bright colour, tiled or marble-style floors and balconies opening towards the garden give you somewhere to sit when you have finished being horizontal. The Double or Twin Room is the straightforward choice for two, while the Double Room with Extra Bed and the Triple Room make more sense when a third or fourth person needs a proper place to sleep rather than a diplomatic arrangement with the sofa.

For couples who value breathing space, the Suite is the room to look at first. It combines a large bed with sofa beds and gives you more room to separate sleeping, sitting and the inevitable spread of travel paraphernalia. Family rooms are available too. The rooms and suites include air conditioning and heating, a mini fridge, safety box, satellite television, Wi-Fi and a balcony with garden views; bathrooms come with a bath or shower, toiletries and a hairdryer.

Daily housekeeping keeps the return from the water uncomplicated. The fridge is useful for keeping water cold, while the air conditioning helps you recover from hot, salty hours outside. Room service runs from 08:00 to 20:00, and breakfast can be brought to your room when the balcony sounds more appealing than a dining room.

The on-site restaurant works with Greek flavours prepared by the hotel's chef, served in a charming blue-coloured setting. This is the useful sort of arrangement for a diving holiday: you can eat at the hotel without turning the evening into another logistical exercise, then make your way back to your room before the next early start.

Breakfast is included and runs from 07:30 to 11:00, with an early breakfast service for days that begin before the island has properly woken up. Breakfast can also be served privately in your room. Special-diet menus are available on request, and children's meals are offered.

The Pool/Snack Bar is the main drinking station, with refreshing cocktails, drinks and coffees beside the large pool. A snack bar covers lighter appetites between proper meals, while the bar service gives you somewhere to sit with a drink without having to dress for dinner. Room service is available during limited hours, from 08:00 to 20:00.

The large outdoor swimming pool is the centre of the hotel's non-beach life, surrounded by parasols, sun loungers and relaxation beds. Pool and beach towels are available, so you can move between salt water and fresh water without turning your luggage into a linen cupboard. A separate children's pool gives families another option for the afternoon.

Yoga classes and massages are available when your shoulders need a less technical form of attention. You can also take part in windsurfing, horse riding, walking tours and cultural excursions. The hotel has a tour desk to help turn those possibilities into an actual plan, while board games and puzzles suit the slower end of the scale.

Aliki is particularly suited to an easy family day: the resort has cafés, fish tavernas, a children's play area and football, basketball and volleyball facilities. For a livelier evening, Paros nightlife is available beyond the village, with Parikia and other island destinations providing the change of pace.

Paros National Airport is about 0.7 mile away, and an airport shuttle is available to arrange with the hotel. You can also reach Paros by ferry through Parikia. The main town and port are about 8 miles from Aliki, so the location works particularly well if a short airport connection matters more to you than being based in the island capital.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is until 11:00. You will need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. Cash is accepted for payment. Luggage storage, express check-in and check-out, a tour desk and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel are available for the practical edges of the trip.

Laundry and ironing services are available, and small pets are accepted on request. Children of all ages are welcome; a cot can be requested for a young child, subject to the selected accommodation. The hotel also offers babysitting or child services, useful when the adults want a quiet meal rather than another round of negotiations over chips.