The hotel itself is pleasant enough—stone walls, terra-cotta roof, simply furnished rooms, but the picturesque location is the real draw. The Kalamitsi sits in an olive and cypress grove, and a narrow staircase leads down to a virtually private pebbled beach. Ask for an upper room—most offer a sea view. To get to the hotel, drive out of town (away from Kalamata). You'll pass the Voulas taverna (the sign is spelled half in Greek, half in English), and the entrance for the Kalamitsi is on the right immediately thereafter.

One of Greece's most romantic destinations, Monemvassia village is the site of a medieval castle marooned on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by a tangle of stone houses. Camouflaged in the citrus-scented hills, the 27-room Kinsterna is only about four miles away, and equally romantic. Immaculately restored, the 500-year-old mansion is named for a Byzantine cistern system that still snakes through the property, sidestepping a lone orange tree and spilling springwater into an angular pool. Lounge chairs set up in stone alcoves welcome guests to bask in the stillness and gaze at the sea (only a 15-minute walk away). Interiors subtly bridge the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Venetian phases of the building's checkered history. Soothing pale grays are jazzed up by a mix of old and modern: richly textured kilims and antique chests, gold Kartell lamps and transparent Ghost chairs. Treats abound: Champagne is standard at breakfast, the first raid of the minibar is free, and there's a hot tub outside the sultry little spa. If you can muster the energy, explore the hiking trails on the grounds; the likable staff will pack you a picnic.

Messinia is a ravishingly remote corner of the southwest Peloponnese that's a four-hour drive from Athens (or one hour from tiny Kalamata airport). It was well under the radar until the advent of Navarino Dunes, a 320-acre Mediterranean-hugging resort that's part of the ambitious Costa Navarino development—a modern take on a classic agora of shops, restaurants, cafés, and a cavernous spa flanked by two hotels. The 321-room Romanos is more exclusive than the neighboring Westin Resort, with low-slung buildings wrapped around a series of seductively lit lagoons. It's aimed squarely at couples, with poolside cabanas and plunge pools in nearly all its ground-floor rooms. Dark wood and polished marble interiors are quietly understated relative to the glitzy clientele. The range of activities at both properties is exhaustive, but the main attractions are the half-mile sandy beach and 18-hole golf course. Food at the various multi-ethnic restaurants (which include Greek, Italian, and even American diner fare) is fine, but breakfasts make a bigger impression—a smorgasbord of local produce, perfect cappuccinos, and eggs any way you'd like. Though occasionally out of their depth, staff are always enthusiastic.

Messinia is a ravishingly remote corner of the southwest Peloponnese that's a four-hour drive from Athens (or one hour from tiny Kalamata airport). It was well under the radar until the advent of Navarino Dunes, a 320-acre Mediterranean-hugging resort that's part of the ambitious Costa Navarino development—a modern take on a classic agora of shops, restaurants, cafés, and a cavernous spa flanked by two hotels. The family-friendly Westin Resort is livelier and more laid-back than The Romanos next door. Its 445 rooms are done in pale wood and exposed stone, with blissful tubs positioned to make the most of pool, golf, or sea views. Frazzled parents unwind at the swim-up bar, while the little ones run amok in the spiffy waterpark, bowling alley, and giant sand castle equipped for sleepovers. The range of activities at both properties is exhaustive, but the main attractions are the half-mile sandy beach and 18-hole golf course. Food at the various multi-ethnic restaurants (which include Greek, Italian, and even American diner fare) is fine, but breakfasts make a bigger impression—a smorgasbord of local produce, perfect cappuccinos, and eggs any way you'd like. Though occasionally out of their depth, staff are always enthusiastic.