Avant Garde Suites

Avant Garde Suites sits above the sea in Akrotiri, with 14 individually decorated rooms and suites facing the caldera, the island and the Aegean. Colours are lively, the furniture is modern, and the mood suits a couple who would rather watch the light change over the volcano than join the late-night crowd in Fira.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Greek, so you can deal with the useful things without resorting to underwater hand signals. The hotel works particularly well for a diving break with a partner who wants sea views, a pool and a few easy ways to spend the surface interval.

A bottle of wine awaits on arrival. Then there is a terrace, a cocktail bar and a room with enough space to sit down properly rather than balancing a drink on the edge of a suitcase.

Your base is in Akrotiri, Greece, on the southern side of Santorini rather than in the busy centre of Fira. The sea is close, and the nearest black-sand beach is roughly 50 metres away on foot, with sun loungers, parasols and a beach bar. Caldera Beach is about 300 metres away by foot; Akrotiri Beach is around 1 mile away, while Red Beach is about 1.5 miles away.

The setting gives you the island's volcanic character without putting you in the thick of the evening traffic. The Archaeological Site of Akrotiri is about 1 mile away, and Fira is roughly 7.5 miles from the hotel. A few restaurants are within walking distance, including Melina's Tavern at about 1 mile and Asterias at around 1.1 miles.

Santorini International Airport is approximately 4.7 miles away, around a 20-minute drive. If you want more of the island than the nearby beaches and ruins, car hire is available.

The room choice is really about how much Santorini you want in front of you when you open the door. The Standard Studio keeps things straightforward for two, while the suites with a hot tub and caldera or panoramic volcano view turn the terrace into part of the holiday. For a couple, that outdoor space and the view may matter more than another decorative cushion indoors.

The rooms have air conditioning, soundproofing, a seating area, a desk and a private balcony or terrace. There is also a fridge, minibar and coffee maker, which are useful when you return warm, thirsty and not particularly interested in a supermarket expedition. Bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer are provided, and the bathrooms have either a bath or shower.

The larger options can sleep three using a sofa bed or their additional sleeping arrangement, but cots and extra beds are not available. That makes the choice simple: couples have the widest range, while a small family should check the sleeping layout carefully before booking. Satellite TV, a DVD player and a CD player are there for the evening when the Aegean has finally defeated your plans.

The Aegean Restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace, with Mediterranean cooking, fresh seafood and local wines. Traditional Greek flavours and local ingredients do the useful work here; there is no need to pretend a plate of food needs a marketing speech. The caldera view comes as part of the table, whether you are sitting down for lunch or trying to remember what time dinner starts after a long day out.

Breakfast is included and served as a buffet from 07:00. You can also have breakfast in your room, which is the more civilised option when an early start has left you negotiating with coffee rather than speaking. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available.

There is one named bar, the rooftop Sunset Bar, serving signature cocktails. The pool bar also serves cocktails and light snacks, while room service runs around the clock. That gives you several ways to eat and drink without turning every evening into a search for a table elsewhere.

The heated adults-only infinity pool is the natural place to spend the afternoon when your legs have had enough of fins, ladders and Santorini steps. It overlooks the Aegean and has a swim-up bar, with sun umbrellas and loungers nearby. One pool is enough when it is positioned for the view and you are not travelling with a committee of children demanding water slides.

For more deliberate recovery, the 100-square-metre Aegean Spa offers massages, facials and a jacuzzi. The fitness centre and yoga studio cover the active option, while the spa deals with the more sensible question of whether your shoulders still belong to you. Beauty services are also available.

The hotel can arrange or offer access to kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling, boat excursions, cycling and hiking. There are cooking classes and cultural excursions, including trips to the volcano and an Oia sunset outing. Live music and themed nights add some evening activity, although the rooftop bar and the view may already have done enough for one day.

Airport transfers are available from Santorini International Airport, arranged with the hotel as a shuttle service. The airport is about 4.7 miles away, with a drive of roughly 20 minutes. Private parking is available on site, and car hire can be arranged if you want to explore beaches, archaeological sites and the rest of the island under your own steam.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. You also have luggage storage, a tour desk, concierge service, express check-in and check-out, a safe at reception, laundry and dry cleaning. A doctor can be requested if needed, which is reassuringly practical rather than glamorous.

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00. The minimum age for check-in is 18, children of all ages are welcome, and babysitting is available, although cots and extra beds are not. The hotel is non-smoking and does not accept pets. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cash are accepted.