SIVOTA, GREECE.

Niceness gets you a long way. It doesn’t hurt if you have a lovely hotel in a beautiful location but someone to look after you (thank you, Simpson Travel!), to make you feel like they want you there, to arrange all your travel and answer your questions, even when you feel you’ve been a bit annoying, that’s what matters. Oh and the fact that when you get there, you find out it’s adults only so you don’t have to worry about falling over... whatever toys children are using these days.

The hotel in question is White Orchid, a sandstone-coloured modern build that is blocky and cool and yet somehow rustic (that’ll be the sandstone) in Sivota on the Epirus Coast of Greece. The fact that they only have eight suites means you won’t have to get lucky to bag a best view because they are all best views and none of that ‘garden-facing’ nonsense. With your own private patio for the imbibing of wines, furniture that is luxe-moderne, a large naturally lit room with the sea just there outside the window and so much storage we wished we’d taken more than skimpy swimwear, this is a home away from home so much nicer than your home. You know, back home. There are even baths on terraces and those terraces have glass barriers so that view is not obscured by so much as a thread of wire.

Yes, the infinity pool is hard to get away from – especially with that view across the sea to a totally green island – but for breakfast, start up on the terrace (views!), where they keep it interesting by putting on pancakes one day, a salmon the next, maybe a proper fry-up. And you don’t feel locked in to the hotel when it comes to food: take the short walk to the harbour and you’re spoiled for choice with The Blue Coast for seafood so fresh it might just pinch your bum and the Acanthus bar for a cocktail or [insert your own number here].

While you’re at the harbour look into taking a boat out to explore the local islands and secluded beaches, not forgetting to borrow some snorkeling kit from the hotel before you set out. Or you can take the short drive to the River of the Dead as it’s known in Greek mythology (though you should ask for Acheron River, as that’s what’s on the signs). Transparent water, rocky landscapes, horse riding, kayaking, towns and villages thick with heritage and character, there’s even the Zagori National Park which has the world’s deepest gorge, if gorges get you going. We’re not going to pretend there’s a rocking gay scene because outside of our own suite, that wouldn’t be strictly true. But the atmosphere is so accepting and relaxing that we’re totally sold on the idea of adult-only hotels. Where next?