Jolandas House

English and German are spoken by the hotel staff, so you can handle the practicalities without resorting to underwater hand signals. Jolandas House is a four-star hotel with 18 rooms, suited to a stay where the hotel is part of the plan rather than merely somewhere to drop a bag.

There is a garden, a terrace and a sun terrace for the slower parts of the day. Add a restaurant, a bar and free internet throughout the hotel, and the basic evening routine is all here: shower, food, a drink, then the serious business of deciding whether tomorrow starts with the sea or a little more sleep.

The hotel is in Sithonia, Greece, at Jolanda's Haus, 63072 Toroni. That places you on the Sithonia peninsula rather than in a busy city-centre setting, with Toroni Beach, the beach near Likithos Fortress and Ema Beach among the nearby places to explore.

The surrounding area also lends itself to walking, cycling and snorkelling, so you can keep a day on land pleasantly simple. A car is useful for exploring further afield, and vehicle hire is available through the hotel.

The choice is between rooms, studios and apartments, including a two-bedroom apartment for stays where separate sleeping space matters. The duplex and deluxe apartment options give you alternatives to a straightforward hotel room, while the Suite adds a safe, telephone and toiletries to the standard practical kit.

Air conditioning is available in the accommodation, along with a private bathroom and television. Hairdryers are provided, and the rooms are non-smoking. The apartments keep their equipment list deliberately simple, so this is a place to choose for the layout and the air conditioning rather than for a long catalogue of in-room extras.

Family rooms are available, and an apartment can make the end of the day easier when you want somewhere to sit down properly instead of balancing everything on the edge of a bed. Luggage storage is also available, useful when your travel times and your room times refuse to cooperate.

Food is covered by an on-site restaurant, with a bar for the part of the evening that calls for a drink rather than another plate. There is no need to leave the property simply to find somewhere to eat after a full day outside.

A barbecue area adds a more informal option when you want to keep the meal uncomplicated. The booking details for the stay set out which meals are included, so check that point when choosing your arrangement rather than assuming the room rate tells the whole story.

The hotel gives you a few easy ways to spend time out of the water: a garden, terraces, hiking and cycling. The sun terrace is the obvious place for a quiet spell with a book, provided the book survives the Greek light and the post-dive fatigue.

Snorkelling is also available for a lighter look at the coast, while the barbecue area offers something more sociable when you are travelling with family or friends. Children and families are welcome, making the two-bedroom accommodation particularly relevant when several people need a little more organisation than a single room provides.

Free parking is available if you arrive by car, and vehicle hire can be arranged through the hotel. A lift makes the building easier to navigate with luggage, while 24-hour reception, express check-in and check-out, and luggage storage take some of the friction out of travel days.

Airport transfers are available on request, either as a private service or a shared shuttle arranged with the hotel; any additional charge is confirmed when you book the service. Check-out is by 12:00. The listed check-in time is 22:00, so the arrival arrangements deserve attention if your journey runs late or your plans change.

The hotel has free internet throughout, air conditioning and a safe. It is non-smoking, and pets are not admitted. German and English are spoken by the staff, which is useful from the first airport message to the last question about the road out of Sithonia.