House Kostas on the beach

House Kostas on the beach is an aparthotel for divers who would rather spend their time beside the water than crossing town to reach it. The setting is straightforward: beachfront access, sea views, balconies, and places to sit outside. No grand resort theatre; just the useful bits for a day built around the sea.

You get air conditioning, soundproofing, a private entrance and free WiFi throughout the property. The English-speaking team means you can deal with the practical details in English, whether that is arranging your arrival or asking about the local area. Families are catered for too, with family rooms and a children's playground.

You are in Sarti, Greece, right on the seafront. The property has direct access to a golden-sand beach, with sun loungers and parasols for the part of the day when your fins are staying firmly in the bag. Sarti Beach is only a few steps away, so there is no shuttle choreography before you reach the water.

Achlada Beach is about 0.7 miles away on foot, while Platania Beach is around 1.4 miles away. Goa Beach is roughly 2 miles away by road, and Platanitsi Beach about 3.3 miles on foot. For food and coffee, Stavros is around 0.2 miles away, with Lauer House and Restaurant Kotsaris both about 0.3 miles away. Cafe Kleio is roughly 0.2 miles away, and Ladario Beach Bar about 0.4 miles.

The accommodation works particularly well when you want a little more independence than a standard hotel room allows. Kitchenettes come with a stovetop, refrigerator, coffee machine, kettle and kitchenware, so you can keep water cold, make coffee before an early start and sort out something simple when a full restaurant meal feels like unnecessary admin.

Couples can choose a double room with a king-size bed, while the triple and quadruple accommodation gives families or small groups more sleeping flexibility. The quadruple rooms use a king-size bed and two single beds; apartments sleep up to four. Every unit has a private bathroom, balcony, air conditioning, TV, wardrobe and mosquito net.

Soundproofing and tiled floors help keep the room practical rather than fussy. A private entrance gives you an easy return from the beach, and the balcony provides somewhere to sit with a drink while the kit dries on you rather than in your imagination. There is one bathroom per unit, worth bearing in mind when four people are all trying to leave for breakfast at once.

The property has a bar and an on-site coffee house, with outdoor seating and an outdoor dining area. That covers the useful end of the day: coffee before heading out, somewhere to sit with a cold drink, and a place to stay outside rather than retreating straight indoors.

There is no meal plan described, so the kitchenette matters. The refrigerator, stovetop, kettle and kitchenware let you keep things simple in the apartment when you want an early night or a quick meal between activities. For a proper dinner, Stavros is about 0.2 miles away; Lauer House and Restaurant Kotsaris are both around 0.3 miles from the property.

The beach is the main piece of downtime here, and it is directly outside rather than an excursion in its own right. Sun loungers and parasols give you the basic equipment for a slow afternoon, while the sun terrace, balconies and outdoor furniture offer alternatives when you want to sit up, dry off and watch the light change over the water.

Snorkelling and hiking are available, giving you two easy ways to keep moving without turning the afternoon into another organised operation. Horse riding, canoeing and fishing are also available away from the property. Younger guests have a playground, which means the adults may get a few uninterrupted minutes with their coffee. Not a bad use of infrastructure.

An airport shuttle is available and can be arranged with the property. Nearby public parking is free, although spaces cannot be reserved, so a car requires a little flexibility on arrival. Luggage storage, a tour desk and express check-in and check-out are available when your travel plans do not line up neatly with the room.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 22:00, and you need to give the property your expected arrival time. Check-out is from 08:30 to 11:00. Children of any age are welcome; a cot can be requested for children aged from birth to two years, while extra beds are not available.

The property is non-smoking and pets are not allowed. Quiet hours run from 15:00 to 18:00, a detail worth remembering if you are planning a midday nap after a morning on the water. Card payment is accepted and cash is not.