Situated on a hill overlooking Naxos City and the sea, the beautiful three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Grotta offers 37 serene rooms with appealing features like mini-fridges and rainfall showerheads. The highlight of the hotel is the hospitable owners who take care of guests like family. Though on-site features are limited, guest rave about the delicious free breakfast, and there are a spa-like indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna. Those looking to be closer to the beach should check out Naxos Resort Beach Hotel, which is a minute from the shore and has a wading pool for kids.  

The two-and-a-half-pearl, adult-only Zorzis Hotel offers clean, affordable rooms in a peaceful environment. It is in the small village of Perissa, a few minutes' walk from a gorgeous black-sand beach and several restaurants and bars. The 10 simple rooms are air-conditioned -- for free -- and include a mini-fridge, flat-screen TV, and safe, plus furnished balcony. The free breakfast is delicious, with specialties like Greek yogurt and fresh spinach pie., and an on-site site is lovely. Guests rave about the attentive owners who make the experience special with spot-on recommendations for things to do and their warm Greek hospitality. Those traveling with children should check out Smaragdi Hotel, which has a playground, kids’ activities, and easy access to the beach. 

The Aeolos Mykonos is a 28-room hotel perched hillside just over a half-mile from Mykonos Town center. The modern-Cycladic property is centered around the pool and garden area, ensuring pretty views from each of its bright white rooms. All rooms come with a private balcony or terrace and guests can take a dip in the outdoor pool or relax in the bubbling whirlpool. While there is a cute breakfast room and a bar that serves snacks and even room service, there is no full-service restaurant on-site -- meaning guests have to either make the trek up and down the hill or catch rides with the hotel's informal shuttle service.

A stylish, serene pool area and intimate vibe are highlights at Elounda Garden Suites, a 19-room, upper-middle-range property just three minutes’ walk to the town center. All rooms but one are arranged as suites, with separate living areas, kitchenettes, and outdoor spaces. Safes, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and toiletries also come standard. The well-sized pool and adjacent bar serving drinks and snacks are popular with guests, plus the beach is a five-minute walk away. A breakfast buffet with fresh local fare is available for a fee, but dinner is not served on-site. Guests receive lovely welcome and farewell gifts, and both Wi-Fi and private parking are free. It’s a fantastic, affordable option for families and couples alike, but those looking for something cheaper can try sister property Elounda Krini Hotel. 

Costa Marina Villas is a charming, family-run budget property set in a relatively peaceful street just minutes from the center of Fira town. Its 20 spotlessly clean rooms are spread over three floors and, although lacking the area's famous sea views, most have balconies or terraces. While facilities are in short supply -- there's no pool or restaurant -- super-friendly hosts and a homey ambience make for a great base from which to explore the surrounds. All in all, in a destination known for its pricey accommodation, Costa Marina Villas is one of the best values on the island. 

Comfortable settings and stellar family-run service draw travelers to the Pension Sofi, a three-pearl property with a quiet location just outside downtown Naxos. Interiors have quirky, contemporary, and traditional decor, and common areas are bright. Rooms are quaint, outfitted with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and charming outdoor spaces -- with Venetian castle views in upgraded units, while Studios have basic kitchettes. Think quality over quantity here -- free transfers and breakfast are pros, but there are no restaurant, pool, or wellness amenities. Travelers wanting a pool should consider the Hotel Spiros, where rates are equally reasonable. 

The Melenos Lindos Hotel is a charming, three-pearl boutique property within the pedestrian-only, historic village of Lindos. Housed in a 17th-century sea captain's home with antique furnishings, its 12 rooms have views that include the sea and gardens. A free continental breakfast is served on a terrace with water views; there's also a popular formal restaurant. Guests are welcomed with free drinks, snacks, and gifts. The grounds also include souk-like shops with artisanal and vintage goods. The hotel is a popular wedding destination, which may preclude rooftop dining. Guests might hear morning noise from a nearby primary school. Another downside: There's no pool. For a property outside the village with a pool, travelers could consider Lindos Sun Hotel.  

Nissaki Hotel is a posh, boutique hotel overlooking the exclusive Psarou Beach and less than a five-minute walk to the beach of Platis Gialos. The hotel has 18 upscale guest rooms with marble bathrooms and stylish furnishings. Guests can have massages while lounging by the chic infinity-pool and gaze at the yachts docked in the bay. There’s an outdoor whirlpool tub and a separate family area with a shallow family pool surrounded by palm trees and illuminated at night. The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet, and an open-air restaurant with ocean views. Mykonos is a 10-minute drive, and a free airport shuttle is available. If no rooms are available at the Nissaki, the Myconian Ambassador Hotel and Thalasso Spa Center is a larger hotel with more guest rooms.

Repeat guests love the mid-range Dina's Paradise Hotel and Apartments because of the beach proximity, gorgeous swimming pool, and comfy rooms. This smaller hotel with 10 apartments and one suite is centrally located to a sandy beach with calm waters (via steep stairs, common in Greece) and about a 15-minute drive to Corfu. The area and beach have plenty of restaurants, water sports, and shops geared toward tourists. Back at the hotel there's a nice size adult's pool and kiddy pool with a terrace and views of the Ionian Sea. The pool-adjacent bar serves cocktails and snacks, plus breakfast in the morning (for a fee). Apartment-style rooms have full kitchens and more sea views. Note that some rooms are only accessible via steep steps without an elevator.

A basic, family-run apartment hotel built around a pool, the simple Kastro Beach Apartments is located an easy walk from Malia's main strip, close to the area's sandy beaches. Central location and affordable prices make the Kastro Beach Apartments a popular option with young couples looking for a relaxing, budget-friendly base close to Malia's bustling nightlife scene. Later in the season, the apartments are popular with older couples and families with older children who especially appreciate the kitchenettes in all rooms, and proximity to the beach and area sightseeing.

Located by the black-sand shores of Perissa Beach, the 21-room Stelios Place is a charming, mid-range family-run getaway. Affordable, clean rooms are pleasantly furnished with flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges, and some have private balconies, but they don't have sea views. Amenities include free shuttle service and a 24-hour communal kitchen. At the center of the property is a pool heated by the Santorini sun with laptops at the pool bar. If rooms with sea views are a must, check out the Blue Diamond Bay Hotel instead.

Villa Renos is a boutique, often budget-friendly property that has been owned by the same Greek family for the past 300 years. The ancient building has been renovated with a major emphasis on out-of-this-world, unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea and the regional caldera. Each guest room has a private balcony with French doors that overlook the water. Some rooms have private hot tubs as well. A free multi-course breakfast incorporates organic ingredients and gets rave reviews from past guests. There's a bar near the outdoor (unheated) whirlpool but no restaurant or full swimming pool. If you're looking for lower rates, it's worth looking at the nearby Antonia Hotel Santorini. You'll lose those gorgeous views but rooms are nearly half the price.

This quaint (bordering on weathered) adult-only property sits high on a hill with panoramic views over Mirabello Bay. Run by a friendly couple, the hotel offers minimal amenities such as a small pool with plenty of loungers, a restaurant with local fare, and simple rooms. All rooms have kitchens, as well as balconies or terraces, but they are bare bones.

This budget hotel offers travelers easy access to Malia’s nightlife and a fun vibe that attracts primarily groups of friends. The property consists of four buildings in different locations, but all are a short walk to the main area with the outdoor pool, snack bar, and raved-about owners. The 45 simple rooms are a bit dated and there are extra fees for air-conditioning, safes, and Wi-Fi, but all come with kitchenettes, outdoor spaces, and flat-screen TVs. Many guests praise the hotel's Greek Night with dancing, drinking, and food, while others warn of the owners' hard sell to attend. Overall, it's a good pick for party-minded adults who don't mind being a 20-minute walk from the beach. Those looking for more amenities should check out Danelis Apartments, which has a well-reviewed restaurant, free air-conditioning and Wi-Fi, and hospitable owners. 

The Damianos Hotel is a family-owned, mid-range boutique located in a quiet part of Drossopezoula, near the bus stop that goes directly to Paradise Beach in about 20 minutes. The hotel has a large outdoor pool and whirlpool with scenic ocean views in the distance. A poolside bar serves drinks and snacks, and the Greek breakfast includes pastries, crepes, and yogurt. Twenty four contemporary rooms look a bit dated, but come with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and some sea views. Free Wi-Fi and airport or port transportation add value to the stay. For something on the beach, check out Mykonos Palace Beach Hotel -- but note that rates are higher.