Abella Suites Embonas

With just five suites, this is a small-scale address rather than a resort with its own postcode. Abella Suites sits in Embonas, Rhodes's wine country, and suits you if your idea of a good base involves a well-finished room, a village setting and somewhere civilised to slow down in the evening.

The mood is understated and practical. You have a heated pool, a sun terrace, outdoor seating and a spa for massage and facial treatments, while the rooms bring air conditioning, balconies and soundproofing into the equation. There is also a restaurant and bar on site, so the day does not have to end with a search for dinner while still carrying half the sea in your ears.

The hotel is in Émbonas, on the slopes of Mount Attavyros, surrounded by vineyards and mountain scenery. This is inland Rhodes, not a beachfront base: Kopria Beach is about 5 miles away by car, with a driving time of around 15 minutes.

You are in a village rather than an isolated country hideaway. Bakery Makarounas and Maroullakis Taverna are about 100 feet away, while Bakis Brothers is around 750 feet from the hotel. For a little more historical wandering, the Castle of Kritinia is about 5 miles away and Ancient Kamiros about 8 miles away.

Rhodes International Airport is around 22 miles away, roughly a 35-minute drive. A car therefore makes sense if you want to combine the coast, archaeological sites and the inland wine country without turning every outing into a logistical exercise.

The choice is between two suite categories, with the larger Deluxe Suite giving you more room to spread out if you are travelling as a trio or simply dislike living out of one carefully balanced dive bag. Family rooms are available, and children of any age are welcome; children aged 12 and over are treated as adults for occupancy purposes.

The useful details are the ones that matter once you are back from the coast. Air conditioning helps after a hot day, soundproof rooms keep the night more contained, and extra-long beds are a welcome detail if your knees have spent the day folding themselves into a wetsuit. Each suite has a balcony with either city or mountain views, giving you somewhere to sit with a drink rather than treating the bed as the only available chair.

There is a private bathroom with a shower, bathrobe, slippers, towels and toiletries. A coffee machine and kettle cover the first caffeine emergency, while a minibar handles the need for something cold without sending you straight back out. Free WiFi, a desk and streaming services are there for the less glamorous parts of travel, including checking tomorrow's plans and pretending you will not watch one more episode.

Breakfast is included and is served at the Bistrot, where the day starts with artisanal coffee. That is a sensible arrangement for a diver: coffee first, decisions later. Breakfast can also be brought to your room when you would rather keep the morning quiet.

The hotel's restaurant serves brunch and dinner, and a bar is available on site. A coffee house adds another place for a drink, while the wine selection focuses on local wines from the Embonas vineyards, which gives the setting more purpose than simply putting a bottle on a shelf and calling it regional.

This is not presented as an all-inclusive operation. You have breakfast included, restaurant meals, a bar and local wine to draw on, with Maroullakis Taverna and other nearby restaurants providing alternatives within the village when you want to change the scenery.

The heated pool is the obvious place to put the afternoon on hold, especially when the sea has already done the hard work. The sun terrace, patio and outdoor furniture give you room to sit, read or dry off without turning the whole break into an organised programme.

The spa keeps things simple: massages and facial treatments, in a space designed for relaxation. That is enough for the evening when your shoulders have had their share of carrying equipment and your preferred activity is remaining horizontal for a respectable length of time.

If you want to move rather than rest, bicycles are available to hire, and the tour desk can help with arranging outings. Board games and puzzles cover the slower end of the scale, while car hire is available for reaching the beaches, historic sites and vineyards around Embonas.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 23:00, with check-out from midnight to 12:00. A 24-hour reception, private and express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and lockers make the arrival and departure windows fairly manageable, particularly if your flight and your room do not agree on timing.

Rhodes International Airport is about 22 miles away, and airport shuttle or other shuttle services are available to arrange with the hotel. Private parking is available nearby and requires reservation, so this is worth sorting before arrival rather than discovering it while unloading bags in the village.

The hotel also offers a tour desk, an on-site cash machine, daily housekeeping and room service. Pets are welcome on request, and cash is an accepted payment method. Parties and events are not permitted, which keeps the character of the place firmly on the quiet side.