Kerkis Bay

The fishing port in southwest Samos is wonderfully laid-back, and we ended up wishing we'd booked more than four nights. Our room was quiet and clean, with air conditioning that worked well. The double-glazed balcony door blocked noise, and wooden shutters kept the light out. The beds are hard, but I slept better than usual because the surroundings were so relaxing. Breakfast was included, simple but enough, and the coffee was good. Downstairs, the restaurant had a charming feel, and hotel guests got a nice 10% discount.

I was there for a meal, not staying at the accommodation. The harbour-side setting is pleasant, and the Greek chips were very good. The beef stifado wasn't traditional, but I still enjoyed it. Just be ready for a big pile of onions before you get to the tasty, tender beef underneath.

The quiet at Kerkis Bay was just what I wanted. My partner even called it Pensioners Paradise, and I'd come back because it was away from the glitzy, well-trodden tourist spots. It is a long way from Samos's main population centres, but good value for the money. Our rooms had a separate bedroom, lounge and bathroom, and were huge compared with places we'd seen elsewhere in Europe and the UK. One frustration was the fridge outlet: it was the only socket that worked without the key, but it was right beside the bed. I moved the fridge to the lounge, so it switched off whenever we went out. The included continental breakfast was adequate, with cereal, toast, cheese, tea and coffee. Parking was a matter of finding any spot in the blazing Aegean sun.

They bring bread before the meal and act as if it's included, then add 0.7 euro per person to the bill. It feels like an easy way to take money from tourists who can't read Greece. The receipt is only in Greece, with no English text. It seems like a lot of restaurants in samos do this.