Apollo Blue

The sea is the organising principle here. Apollo Blue sits directly on the coast in Faliraki, with gardens, a golden-sand beach and the sort of resort layout that lets you move from room to pool, beach to dinner, without turning the evening into a logistical exercise.

You get an all-inclusive hotel with 240 rooms, air conditioning, free WiFi throughout and a choice of quieter recovery or more sociable holiday rhythms. The atmosphere leans towards a full resort rather than a small hideaway: live music, evening entertainment, themed dinners and organised activities are all part of the picture.

English, German, French and Greek are spoken by the hotel team. That matters when you are discussing an early departure, a room request or the small practical details that become surprisingly important after several days in salt water.

You are in Faliraki, Greece, directly on the coast. The hotel has access to a 200-metre golden-sand beach, with sun loungers, parasols and a beach bar. Beach loungers and umbrellas are available for an additional charge, so the beach is close, but not every part of it is folded into the room arrangement.

Faliraki Beach is about 1,150 feet away by road, while Katafygio Beach is around 0.7 miles away on foot. Kathara Beach is roughly 0.9 miles away on foot, and Anthony Quinn Beach is about 2.2 miles away. For a change from the hotel shore, that gives you several named stretches of coast within easy reach.

The surrounding area is not short of places to wander towards. Bars such as King's Castle, Aruba Cafe Bar and Climax Bar are within about half a mile, while Rhodes Town and Lindos are offered as excursion destinations. Rhodes International Airport is around 9 miles away by road, and the Acropolis of Rhodes, the Temple of Apollon and the Street of Knights are all within reach by car.

The room choice is mainly about the view and how much outdoor water you want attached to the stay. Garden-view and side-sea-view double rooms suit couples who want a straightforward base, while the junior suites with sharing or private pools make more sense when the room itself is part of the holiday rather than somewhere to leave your bags.

For three people, the junior suites and the superior double room offer more useful breathing space than the smallest single or standard double options. The Deluxe Junior Suite with sea view and sharing pool is reserved for guests aged 12 and over, which gives it a more adult feel without turning the whole resort into an adults-only property.

Rooms have balconies overlooking either the Aegean Sea or the gardens, plus air conditioning, a fridge, satellite television and a kettle. Bathrooms include a bath or shower, bathrobes and slippers. A pillow menu, room service, breakfast in the room and a tablet on request are available when you want the room to do more of the evening's work. Soundproof rooms and soundproofing are useful details for anyone who values sleep more than a late-night soundtrack.

All-inclusive is the operating format, with two restaurants and two cocktail bars. Breakfast is a buffet with continental options, and the Main Restaurant also serves lunch and dinner in an air-conditioned interior. Its international cooking keeps the arrangement familiar after a long day out, while vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices are available.

The A la Carte Restaurant changes the setting rather than pretending dinner needs a new identity: Mediterranean food on the terrace, with smart-casual dress. Dinner here runs later than the main restaurant, and the hotel's dinner dress code is smart casual; men are asked to wear long trousers. A small detail, but one worth knowing before the first evening when your luggage is still half packed.

The Pool Bar is built into the main outdoor pool and specialises in cocktails. The Lobby Bar provides the indoor alternative, also with cocktails, while a snack bar, minibar and tea-and-coffee facilities cover the less formal moments. Room service runs around the clock, and breakfast can be brought to your room when the idea of joining a buffet before a morning departure feels optimistic.

The main outdoor pool is the obvious post-dive landing point, with an integrated bar, sun loungers, parasols and pool towels. The pool is heated in the early and late seasons. There is also a children's pool, so the pool area is designed for mixed-age holidays rather than quiet adult-only swimming.

Apollo Spa covers 150 square metres and includes massage, facial treatments, a sauna and a Jacuzzi, with a relaxation area, steam room and hammam also available. Couples' massages, full-body treatments and more targeted head, neck, back, foot and hand massages give you several ways to persuade tired muscles to cooperate again. The first sauna visit is free for every guest.

If sitting still becomes too ambitious, there is a fitness centre, yoga, aerobics, table tennis, a games room and billiards. Bicycle hire, cycling, bike tours, horse riding and cultural excursions are available, while water-based options include snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing and boat excursions. Evening entertainment brings live music, performances, themed nights and sport broadcasts. Families get a kids' club for children aged 4 to 12, children's activities, babysitting, a children's menu and an indoor play area.

The hotel has a 24-hour reception, concierge service, luggage storage, lockers, a tour desk and car hire. Airport transfers are available as a paid shuttle service, and private parking is free on site. That combination is useful if you are arriving with dive luggage, hiring a car for the island or simply want the first and last airport journeys arranged through the hotel.

Free WiFi covers the whole property. Laundry and ironing services are available, there is an on-site minimarket, and an infirmary is available at the hotel. Wheelchair access, a lower bathroom sink and toilets with grab rails are part of the accessible facilities. The hotel is non-smoking, and pets are not allowed.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots are available on request, while extra beds are not available. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Bring a photo ID and payment card for arrival, and let the hotel know your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out runs in the morning, so an early departure is perfectly possible, although the precise arrangements are worth lining up with reception rather than leaving them to the final evening.