Orpheas Resort Hotel (Adults Only)

This is an adults-only, beachfront resort in Georgioupolis, designed for a holiday where the day can run at an unhurried pace. You have a garden, an outdoor pool, sun terraces and a bar serving cocktails and snacks, so the practical business of relaxing does not require much planning. The hotel has 88 rooms and suites, and the atmosphere is aimed firmly at grown-up breaks rather than family logistics.

English is spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the useful things in English from arrival onwards. That matters when you are tired, hungry, or trying to explain that the air conditioning has become more important than the television. Free Wi-Fi runs throughout the property, while the adults-only policy keeps the setting focused on couples and adult travellers.

The hotel is in Georgioupolis, Greece, directly by the coast. A sandy beach lies 50 metres away, with sun loungers and parasols, making the walk from your room to the water short enough for even the least ambitious afternoon plan. Peristeras Beach is around 0.6 miles away on foot, while Georgioupolis Beach is about 2.1 miles away on foot.

You are not in the centre of Rethymno, despite the wider destination sometimes being described that way. Rethymno's Fortezza Castle and Archaeological Museum are about 10 miles away, with the old town's historical sights at roughly the same distance. For a nearby coffee stop, Posto di Caffe is around 1,350 feet away by road; Babis Taverna in Georgioupolis is about 2.6 miles away by road.

The room choice is mainly about how much space and privacy you want when you come back sun-warmed and ready to stop moving. The Double Room with Garden View is the straightforward option for two, while the Partial Sea View version gives you a little more of the coast to look at from your private outdoor space. For a couple who values a more self-contained set-up, the Suite with Private Pool is the obvious pick; the water is there without waiting for a lounger to become available.

If you are travelling as three, the Junior Suite is the sensible middle ground. The Standard Double Suite gives more room again and can accommodate up to four, which is useful if you want space for bags, clothes and the general debris produced by a diving holiday. The room cards below give the exact dimensions and sleeping arrangements, so the useful distinction here is how each category fits your way of travelling rather than another recital of numbers.

Air conditioning, soundproofing and a mosquito net all help with the night-time part of the holiday. Rooms have a refrigerator, minibar, electric kettle, tea and coffee facilities, flat-screen television and a private bathroom; some also have a balcony, terrace, sea view, hot tub or private pool, depending on the category. Daily housekeeping keeps the practical side under control, and the garden-view rooms offer a quieter-looking outlook while the sea-view categories put the coast back in the frame.

The Main Restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an air-conditioned indoor setting and a buffet built around international dishes. Breakfast is continental and buffet-style, and the hotel operates on an all-inclusive basis. That gives you a clear routine: eat before heading out, return to a proper meal, and avoid turning every evening into a search for a restaurant that can cope with a hungry diver.

The Pool Bar is the less formal part of the operation, serving cocktails, drinks and snacks throughout the day beside the outdoor pool. There is also an on-site coffee house, a snack bar and minibar facilities in the rooms. Wine and champagne are available, while special-diet menus can be requested. The important practical point is that you can keep the day moving from breakfast to poolside drink to dinner without leaving the grounds.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to spend the hours when the sea has done its work. It is surrounded by sunbeds and umbrellas, and the pool itself has a swim-up bar, so you can move from water to shade without turning the afternoon into an expedition. Pool and beach towels are available, while the nearby sandy beach gives you a second place to stretch out with a book.

For something more active, the hotel has a fully equipped gym, table tennis, darts and billiards. Bicycle rental is available on site, and horse riding can be arranged away from the property. Massages include full-body, back, neck, foot, head and hand treatments, which gives you several ways to deal with shoulders that have spent too long carrying kit and not enough time carrying a drink.

The garden, terraces and shared lounge give you quieter places to sit when you have had enough sun. You can also use the tour desk to organise time away from the resort, while Rethymno's museums, Fortezza Castle and historic centre provide a cultural change of scene roughly 10 miles away.

Chania International Airport is about 30 miles away by road, with a driving time of roughly 50 minutes. Heraklion International Airport is the longer alternative at around 60 miles by road and about 1 hour 27 minutes. Shuttle service and car hire are available, so you can choose between arranging the transfer and taking control of the route yourself. Free public parking is available on site without reservation.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and check-out is from 11:00 to 11:30. A 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, a tour desk and luggage storage make the arrival and departure mechanics fairly manageable, particularly if your flight times do not line up neatly with the room timetable. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

Laundry and pressing services are available, as is a safety deposit box at reception. The hotel accepts cash, and pets are allowed on request without an extra charge. The adults-only policy is firm: children are not allowed, the minimum age for check-in is 18, and cots or extra beds are not available.