Calma Apartments & Studios

Calma Apartments is the sort of place that suits divers who like a little control over the day. You have your own apartment, your own kitchen, and a balcony where you can sit with a drink while the Cretan light does its usual work on the hills. It is less about formal hotel routine and more about having a base in Plakias that you can run at your own pace.

The outdoor swimming pool, garden and pool bar keep things pleasantly straightforward when you are back from the water. Families can use the kids' pool, while couples have the practical advantage of being close to the beaches, bars and restaurants without being tied to a fixed meal plan. Free WiFi runs throughout the property, and air conditioning is there for the part of the day when the sun has stopped being charming.

You are in Plakias, in Rethymno, Crete, with Skinos Beach roughly 150 metres away. That is the nearest stretch of sand and sea; Plakias Beach is about 1.5 km away, so you can choose between a nearby dip and the longer sweep of the main beach. Foteinari Beach and Souda Beach are both within about 1.5 miles, while Kalypso Beach is around 1.4 miles away by the listed route.

This is a useful base if you like having a few evening options close at hand. Smerna Music Bar is about 150 metres away, with Cozy Backyard and On the Rocks also nearby. Alianthos Beach restaurant is roughly 0.4 miles away; Taverna Plateia and Taverna Panorama are around 1 mile away. Chania International Airport is a substantial transfer rather than a quick hop, at about 50 miles by road.

The accommodation works best when you want room to organise yourself rather than simply drop a bag beside the bed. Every apartment has a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, stovetop, coffee machine, kettle, kitchenware and dining table. That gives you somewhere to sort out breakfast, keep drinks cold and assemble something simple when restaurant timing no longer matches your appetite.

For two, the Studio keeps things uncomplicated, with a king-size bed, private bathroom and balcony. If four people are travelling together, the Two-Bedroom Apartment gives you separate sleeping space, while the Family Studio has two single beds, a king-size bed and two bathrooms. The latter is the more obvious choice when sharing one bathroom would become the real adventure of the holiday.

Air conditioning matters in Crete, particularly when your body has already spent hours in salt water and sun. Balconies look towards the garden or mountains, and the rooms also include wardrobes, linen, towels, a shower, hairdryer and flat-screen TV. A washing machine is available as part of the apartment facilities, which is handy when swimwear has begun to outnumber everything else in the luggage. Quiet hours run from 13:00 to 16:00, and smoking is not allowed.

This is self-catering accommodation, not a resort built around a dining timetable. The kitchen gives you the tools for breakfast or a simple evening meal, with a dining table rather than a token shelf pretending to be a dining area. Coffee can be made in the apartment, and the fridge is useful for keeping water, fruit and anything else you want ready after a long day outside.

For a drink without leaving the property, there is a bar by the pool, along with a snack bar. When you want a change of scene, nearby Plakias supplies several bars and restaurants within about a mile. That combination suits a diving holiday rather well: make something quick when you are tired, or walk out when you still have the energy for a proper evening.

The outdoor swimming pool is the main reason to stay on site once the day's plans are over. Sun terraces, outdoor furniture and a garden give you somewhere to sit without having to make another expedition, while the pool bar keeps the practical business of obtaining a drink pleasantly short. Families also have a separate kids' pool.

If you want to leave the lounger behind, snorkelling, horse riding and fishing are available away from the property. The surrounding beaches offer further reasons to move, from nearby Skinos Beach to Foteinari, Souda and Kalypso. For a couple, that makes the afternoon easy to shape: pool and balcony for the quiet version, or a short outing when staying still starts to feel like work.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 20:00, and you need to tell the property when you expect to arrive. Check-out is from 08:00 to 11:00. An airport shuttle and shuttle service are available to arrange with the property, while free private parking is available nearby and does not require a reservation.

Children of any age are welcome. Children aged six and over are charged as adults, cots for children up to two can be requested, and extra beds are not available. Pets are allowed on request without an additional charge. Payment is accepted in cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal and by bank transfer. Parties and events are not allowed, with quiet hours from 13:00 to 16:00.