Epic View Suites

There is a straightforward appeal here for divers who want the sea close, a proper bed afterwards and enough outdoor space to slow the pace. Epic View Suites sits directly by the beach in Akrotiri, with a garden, sun terrace and a year-round outdoor pool, so your day can move from salt water to fresh water without turning into an expedition.

The setting also works for a couple travelling together, particularly when one of you wants time by the pool or a caldera view while the other is thinking about the next dive. Family rooms are available too, and private check-in and check-out keep arrivals and departures pleasantly simple when your travel day has started early or finished late.

Air conditioning, soundproofing and free WiFi cover the useful basics. Add a bar, a rooftop sunset and a beach close enough to reach on foot, and you have a hotel built more around enjoying the island than collecting facilities for their own sake.

You are in Akrotiri, Greece, on the southern side of Santorini and right beside the coast. The hotel's beach access is 50 metres away, leading to black sand with sun loungers and parasols. Caldera Beach is about 400 metres away, or roughly a four-minute walk; Akrotiri Beach is around 0.9 miles away, while Red Beach is about 1.3 miles away.

The archaeological side of the island is close at hand rather than merely printed on a brochure. The Archaeological Site of Akrotiri is about 1.1 miles from the hotel, with the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira around 4.3 miles away. Ancient Thera is roughly 4 miles away, giving you a solid non-diving outing when your logbook needs a rest day.

For eating away from the hotel, Melina's Tavern is about 0.9 miles away and Asterias around 1.1 miles. Santorini International Airport is approximately 4.7 miles away, while the central bus station is about 4.3 miles away. This is a coastal Akrotiri base, not a central Fira address; that is the useful distinction when you choose where you want your evenings to happen.

The room choice comes down to what you want waiting for you at the end of the day. The Royal Suite is the one for a couple who want sea views and a private hot tub, while the Sapphire and Emerald Suites give a little more flexibility for up to three guests, with sofa beds available in the accommodation range. Family rooms make the larger arrangement possible without forcing everyone into a compact double.

If the view matters more than space, choose a sea-view suite. If you are keeping the room as a sensible base between dives and island walks, the Budget Double Room with its king-size bed and garden view is the more restrained option. It is the sort of decision best made before arrival, while the legs still work and the luggage is still closed.

Air conditioning matters on a warm island after a full day outside. A refrigerator, coffee machine and electric kettle give you the means to keep drinks cold and make something hot without leaving the room, while balconies and outdoor furniture add somewhere to sit rather than simply somewhere to hang a towel. Private bathrooms, showers, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer cover the ordinary end-of-day reset, and daily housekeeping keeps the room from becoming a second equipment locker.

Restaurant Epic handles breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace, with Mediterranean cooking and views towards the caldera. Breakfast is included and takes the form of a buffet, with continental and American choices. For a diver, that gives you a proper first meal before heading out, while breakfast can also be brought to your room when you would rather keep the morning quiet.

There is one named bar: Bar Epic, a rooftop bar focused on cocktails and sunset views over the caldera. That is the evening proposition in plain terms—go upstairs, order something cold and watch the light change, rather than search the island for a bar before dinner. A snack bar is also available for the moments when a full meal feels like overkill but an empty stomach is not an option.

Room service is available, and special-diet menus can be arranged on request. Wine and champagne are also available. The stay is based on breakfast included, leaving lunch and dinner flexible whether you eat on the terrace, use the snack bar or head out to one of the nearby restaurants.

The main post-dive decision is whether to use the infinity pool or walk to the beach. The outdoor pool looks towards the caldera and is open year-round, with sun loungers and umbrellas around it. A hot tub adds the more stationary option: sit down, stop moving and let the island carry on without your involvement for a while.

The black-sand beach is 50 metres away, with loungers and parasols available there. Caldera Beach is another short walk, so you can change the scenery without planning a full excursion. The garden and sun terrace offer quieter places to read, dry off in the sun or simply wait for dinner without automatically ending up at a screen.

When you want to leave the property, the tour desk can help organise island outings, and car hire is available. Akrotiri's archaeological site is close enough to make a useful non-diving half-day, while Ancient Thera and the museums around Fira give you longer options. No elaborate programme is required; on a dive holiday, a well-placed pool is often all the entertainment you need.

Santorini International Airport is about 4.7 miles away by road. An airport shuttle is available to arrange with the hotel, and a separate shuttle service is also offered. Car hire can be arranged, while free private parking is available on site without a reservation, which is useful if you want to explore beyond Akrotiri rather than depend entirely on local transport.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to midnight, and check-out from 08:00 to 12:00. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, with luggage storage for the awkward gap between leaving the room and leaving the island. A tour desk, safety deposit box and daily housekeeping cover the practical details that tend to surface once the holiday is under way.

Children of any age are welcome, and cots or extra beds can be requested according to the accommodation chosen. Children aged six and over are charged as adults under the property's policy. Cash is accepted, and pets are not allowed. WiFi is free throughout the property, so you can check the next day's plans without having to hunt for a signal.