Seaside Beach Hotel

The hotel caters to a mix of international couples and families who want an effortless and casual beach vacation. Guests wearing various states of bathing suit attire spend their days meandering back and forth from their beach chair, to the oceanfront restaurant, to the apartment-style rooms. The restaurant has open-air dining and the little bar sits right next to the pedestrian walkway, so it stays busy with strollers and guests who stop in for a cool drink. 

Cycladic architecture is evident among the smattering of two-story buildings that make up the hotel. Terra-cotta planters hold native trees and nautical artwork hangs on exterior walls. Family-owned and operated, the owner and his sons are on-hand to answer questions and provide recommendations for excursions in the area. Note that the hotel closes from the end of October through April. 

The hotel is built on the quieter northern end of bustling Kamari Beach. The pedestrian-only road sees its share of strollers, but the crowds are thinner here than they are a bit further south. The beach is made of black pebbles, you'll have to walk a bit further down for the famous black sand, but views and water quality are gorgeous. The entire pedestrian walkway and it's tiny offshoot streets are crammed with high-end and low-end restaurants, banks, souvenir shops, tour operators, and hotels. There are public parking lots nearby, but no parking directly in front of the hotel. Conveniently, Sea Side Beach Hotel is just under a 10-minute drive to Thira Airport. However, it's about a 40-minute drive to Oia and 20 minutes to Fira Town. 

The 26 rooms here are divided into rooms, apartments, and suites. Decor varies, but each room is tastefully decorated with attractive furniture and updated finishes. All units come with a mini-fridge, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and a semi-private furnished outdoor area. The apartments feature kitchenettes with two-burner stovetops and have a small dining and living area. The Family Apartment features a lofted bedroom surrounded by a wooden railing. Units facing the front of the hotel have beautiful views of the Aegean Sea across the street, and side units offer partial sea views. The remainder of the rooms mostly overlook the pool. Bathrooms provide a mix of showers (usually covered by fabric curtains, and some are quite tiny) or large shower/tub combos. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. 

Features at Sea Side Beach Hotel are above average for the room rates. The beach setup is quite chic, with padded loungers and umbrellas set between walkways (for ease of traversing across pebbles). Drink service (coffees, cocktails, and wines) is provided on the sand. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner on a covered deck right next to the sun loungers. The menu provides a wonderful range of seafood, pasta, pizza, and Greek specialties like lamb kebobs. Free breakfast buffet is served closer to the rooms, and the spread includes hot and cold items, including feta pies. The full-service bar is just next to the pedestrian walkway and there are several tables with ocean views. Most guests seem to prefer the beach, but there's also a swimming pool towards the back of the property. The pool area includes a few loungers and umbrellas. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Note that parking is not available.