Ramon's Village Resort

You arrive at a resort shaped more like a small tropical village than a standard hotel block. Palm-thatched cabanas, royal palms, bougainvillea, lilies and hibiscus fill the gardens, with Mayan sculptures tucked among the planting. The design takes its cue from Tahitian cottages in Bora Bora, but the setting is firmly San Pedro, Belize.

The beach is directly in front of you, and the resort keeps beach chairs ready for a day by the water. There is a lagoon-style pool, a poolside coffee and smoothie bar, a spa and an on-site restaurant, so the useful parts of a diving day are all close at hand. Families have their own cabana options, while couples can choose a more private beachfront stay.

You are also in the middle of San Pedro rather than out on a remote strip of coast. Most places in town are around a five-minute walk away, which makes an evening ice cream, drink or wander a realistic option rather than a transport operation.

The resort sits on Coconut Drive in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, Belize. It is directly on the seafront, with San Pedro Beach beside the property and a white-sand beach area for guests. North Ambergris Caye Beach is around 1.2 miles away, while Playa Blanca is around 5 miles away.

San Pedro Lagoon is around 0.7 miles from the resort, and Esmeralda Park is around 0.2 miles away. Boca del Rio Park is around 1.1 miles away. The immediate area also gives you practical choices for eating and drinking, including Pineapples on the Beach, Free Kingdom Bar & Restaurant and Paradice Cream.

The location works well for a stay that mixes diving with town life. You can spend the daylight hours on the water, then walk out for a change of scenery without turning the evening into another excursion.

The accommodation is divided between beachfront, seaside and jungle cabanas, with larger suites and family layouts for groups who need more room to spread out. The Presidential Suite and the Grand Suites add a sofa bed, while the family cabanas combine a king-size bed with single beds. That makes the choice fairly simple: beachfront or seaside for the view and immediate access to the shore, jungle for a more garden-facing setting, and a family cabana when beds matter more than a romantic layout.

For two, the Beachfront King, Seaside Deluxe King and Honeymoon Cabana keep things straightforward with a super-king bed. The Honeymoon Cabana is the more distinctive pick, with a wrap-around veranda, personal hammock and bar area right on the beach. It is the sort of room that makes a post-dive afternoon on the property easy to imagine.

Air conditioning and a private bathroom take care of the practical recovery work after heat, salt and several hours in a wetsuit. Rooms also have a wardrobe, towels, toiletries, a hairdryer and a drying rack for clothing; selected accommodation includes a balcony, a refrigerator and a microwave. Daily housekeeping, room service and free WiFi are available, while upper floors are reached by stairs only.

Pineapples On The Beach is the resort's restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cooking is tropically inspired, with a broad choice of dishes and daily specials; the Pineapple Boat is the signature detail, and the chef's preferred dish according to the resort. With the restaurant on site, you can go from the boat to a proper meal without negotiating San Pedro while still carrying half the sea on your skin.

The breakfast choice includes an à la carte or American breakfast, and breakfast can also be served in your room. Room service is available more generally, with packed lunches and special-diet menus on request. That covers the early start, the hungry return and the occasional evening when leaving the room feels like an unnecessary expedition.

There is one named bar, Tropic Al's, beside the pool. It focuses on fresh fruit smoothies and gourmet coffee, with views across the Caribbean Sea, lagoon-style pool and tropical gardens. Wine and champagne are also available, although the resort's main drinking brief is refreshment rather than a long list of cocktail theatre.

The lagoon-style pool gives you an easy place to cool down without going back into the sea, while the direct beach access and sun loungers keep the alternative equally simple. A garden, sun terrace and shared lounge add places to sit when you have had enough sun but are not ready for bed. There is also live music, evening entertainment and televised live sport for the parts of the day when the dive computer is safely out of sight.

The Beach Spa offers spa facilities, foot baths and massages including full-body, back, foot and couples treatments. Fitness facilities, fitness classes and yoga classes are available as well, giving you something more constructive than arguing about whose turn it is to check the surface interval.

For a day away from diving, the resort arranges island adventures, snorkelling, canoeing, fishing and boat excursions. Mainland outings can take you towards Mayan civilisation, zip lines and underground caverns. The Tiki Turtle Trading Company and Ramon's Village Outfitters provide on-site shopping, while concierge support and a tour desk help organise the excursions.

San Pedro Airport is nearby, and an airport shuttle is available. Car hire is also offered if you want to explore beyond the immediate centre of town. Luggage storage, private check-in and check-out, a tour desk and concierge support cover the useful arrival and departure details, while a business centre is available for anyone who has not quite managed to escape work.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 22:00, and check-out from 06:00 to 12:00. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Cash is accepted, children of any age are welcome, cots can be requested subject to the selected accommodation, and extra beds are not available.

The property has free WiFi throughout, air conditioning, daily housekeeping, laundry and ironing services, room service and a wake-up service. Upper floors are accessible by stairs only. The resort is non-smoking throughout, and pets are not allowed.