The 5-star Grecotel Kos Imperial Thalasso is in the tranquil area around Psalidi, a 10-minute drive from bustling Kos Town, where “ancient Greek ruins are scattered everywhere you turn, and a mighty medieval castle still watches over the harbour” (Lonely Planet).

Facilities at the hotel are impressive; there’s a 1000-square-metre outdoor saltwater pool and lazy river, a beachfront pool, a garden pool, a children’s pool, two indoor pools and a stretch of private pebble beach. For dining, you can choose from four restaurants — each with outdoor seating areas — serving Mediterranean and Greek dishes, plus a separate lounge bar and a beach bar. Guests also receive a bottle of wine and a fruit basket on arrival.

Free on-site activities include water polo, beach volleyball, table tennis and aerobics classes, or guests can try windsurfing, waterskiing, scuba diving and jetskiing at the hotel’s watersports club for an additional charge.

The Aqua Elixir thalasso spa has two pools, an open-air whirlpool, a sauna, a steam room, a relaxation room and a gym. There’s also a beauty salon and treatment rooms offering seaweed and mud-based massages (supplements apply for treatments).

In the main town of Kos, tourists will find a mixture of architectural styles, from Byzantine churches to Turkish minarets and mosques and more recent buildings demonstrating an Italian influence. Many of the archaeological sites overlook sandy beaches and offer breathtaking views over the Mediterranean. This beach hotel and resort is 6.5 km from the centre of Kos and 8 km from the Asclipion ancient monument.

Built in 2002, this hotel consists of a main building and village-style bungalows, all of which overlook an idyllic beach and the crystal waters of the Aegean Sea. The resort contains a lobby with a 24-hour reception desk, impressive lounges and outdoor terraces and the hotel offers a wide range of facilities for families. Amenities include a hotel safe, lift access, a café and bar, several restaurants, one of which is surrounded by a lagoon, a hairdressing salon, Internet access (charges apply), room service (charges apply), as well as a car park, a kids club and a play area.

The hotel has a total of 384 rooms and guests have a choice of one or two-bedroom bungalows or rooms. Bungalows are comfortable and spacious with a combined bathroom and sitting area. The bedroom is fully equipped and the sitting area has relaxing lounge facilities. There is also a selection of rooms available with connecting doors. Double rooms are en suite with marble bathrooms. Family rooms have a garden view and satellite TV, a direct dial telephone, individual air-conditioning, a safe and a refrigerator. The maximum number of guests in family rooms is two adults and two children. Rooms also have balconies and terraces, minibars and hairdryers.