Hotel Hermes

Rhodes Town suits divers who want more from the evening than a quiet corridor and a television. Hotel Hermes sits in the middle of the town, on a pedestrian street, with the old city close enough for an unhurried wander once your kit is put away. The setting gives you history, harbour life and plenty of places to eat within walking distance.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside German, French and Greek. That matters when you are discussing an early arrival, a room request or the practical details that somehow become important when you are tired, salty and carrying too much luggage. A 24-hour reception, a lift and express check-in and check-out keep the hotel straightforward rather than theatrical.

The atmosphere is urban and useful. You are choosing this address for access to Rhodes Town, not for a resort bubble. The shared lounge and television area give you somewhere beyond your room to sit, while the pedestrian setting puts the evening outside your door.

The hotel is in Rhodes Town, Greece, on a pedestrian street about a ten-minute walk from the Medieval Town. Mandraki harbour is just beyond the hotel, and the Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of Knights and the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes are all within the old-city walking area. You can spend the afternoon following stone lanes rather than looking for somewhere to park a hire car.

Elli Beach is about 0.5 miles away on foot, with Akti Kanari Beach around 0.6 miles away. Ixia Beach and Zefyros Beach are further out, at roughly 1.7 and 1.8 miles by road respectively. The sea is close, but this is a town base rather than a hotel directly on the sand. That distinction is worth keeping clear when comparing it with a beach resort.

Rhodes International Airport is about 8 miles away by road. Cafés are close at hand, including Viamare the Rat Pack, Monk Coffee the Pure Rhoasters and Myga, all within a short walk. The Acropolis of Rhodes is around 0.9 miles away, while the Aquarium of Rhodos is about 0.7 miles from the hotel.

The room choice is deliberately simple, which can be a blessing when the main decision is whether you need a bed for one or two people. The Single Room is the practical solo option. For two divers, the Twin Room gives each of you a separate single bed, useful when neither of you wants to negotiate for the middle of a double after a long day on a boat.

Most of the 35 rooms have views towards the port and sea, so the outlook can add a little Rhodes to an otherwise functional stay. Balconies are available, and hardwood or parquet floors keep the rooms feeling more like a town hotel than a package-resort box. The rooms are non-smoking, with private shower rooms, towels, a hairdryer and a wardrobe or cupboard for the clothes that have survived the day.

Air conditioning and heating cover the hot and cooler parts of the season. A mini fridge is handy for keeping water cold, while the electric kettle lets you make something warm before heading out. There is also a desk, a flat-screen television, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and a socket beside the bed. Daily housekeeping and a wake-up service deal with the less glamorous parts of a dive holiday, including the morning when the alarm feels personally offensive.

Half-board is available, with a continental breakfast served from 7:00. That gives you a proper start before heading towards the harbour or meeting a dive operator in town. The hotel restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can keep the day uncomplicated when you would rather eat than conduct another logistical exercise.

Mediterranean cooking is served in the Hermes Restaurant, in an air-conditioned interior setting. Lunch runs from 12:30 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00, with smart-casual dress. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, and the kitchen focuses on fresh local ingredients.

For a change of scene, the Beach Taverna serves seafood and local specialities on the beach, with lunch from 12:00 to 16:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 23:00. The dress is casual there, sensibly. Two bars complete the picture: the Pool Bar handles cocktails and snacks, while the Lobby Bar concentrates on wines and spirits. Room service runs around the clock, which is the sort of detail you appreciate when your appetite has not read the timetable.

The main pool is outdoors and has a swim-up bar, so you can replace salt water with something colder without making a production of it. A separate outdoor pool is set aside for children. The hotel also has direct access to a 200-metre golden-sand beach with sun loungers, parasols and a beach bar, giving you an easy place to read, dry off or stare at the horizon while pretending not to think about tomorrow's dive.

The Hermes Spa covers 200 square metres and includes massage, facial treatments, a sauna and a jacuzzi. After several days in a wetsuit, a treatment has a fairly obvious appeal. A gym and yoga are available for those who still wish to make responsible decisions while on holiday.

On the water, you can try snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing and boat excursions, with equipment hire available. On land, cycling, hiking and cultural excursions offer alternatives to another afternoon beside the pool. Excursions include Rhodes Old Town and Lindos Acropolis, while live music and themed evenings provide a little structure after dinner without requiring you to join in.

The pedestrian-street location is convenient for the old city and harbour, but it is not a drop-off-at-the-door arrangement in the usual resort sense. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, a lift and upper floors accessible by elevator. Car hire can be arranged, although the surrounding town is best approached with walking shoes rather than a heroic relationship with traffic.

Check-in starts from 15:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You need to show photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Children are not accommodated, and pets are not allowed.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Luggage storage, a concierge, laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, with a doctor reachable on request. Airport transfers can be arranged with the hotel, either privately or as a shared shuttle, and car hire is another option for reaching beaches and sites further around the island.