Artisan Suites on Bowen

Artisan Suites on Bowen is a small four-star hotel with just five rooms, set at Artisan Square on Bowen Island. You get private bathrooms, air-conditioning, balconies, work desks and views towards the sea or gardens, with enough going on nearby to make the place practical rather than isolated.

This suits you if your ideal evening involves eating well, watching something on the flat-screen TV, or sitting outside with a coffee instead of joining a full programme of hotel entertainment. The rooms are soundproofed, Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the terrace and picnic areas give you somewhere to sit when four walls have done quite enough for one day.

The hotel welcomes children of any age, although children aged 18 and over are charged as adults. Parties are not allowed, and the setting is non-smoking throughout.

You are on Bowen Island, not in Vancouver itself, at the end of a cul-de-sac in Artisan Square. From downtown Vancouver, allow around 30 minutes to reach Horseshoe Bay, then around 22 minutes on the Bowen Island ferry. Once off the ferry, the drive to the square is about 800 metres.

That puts you within reach of the island's beaches without placing the hotel directly on the sand. Bowen Bay Beach is about 4 miles away by car, around 10 minutes, while Tunstall Bay is also about 4 miles away and roughly 11 minutes by car. Roger Curtis Beach is about 5 miles away, with a drive of around 13 minutes.

For a walk rather than a swim, Crippen Regional Park is about 1 mile away on foot, and Killarney Lake is around 0.8 miles away on foot. The immediate food options include Artisan Eats Cafe & Fine Foods, about 0.25 miles away, with Bowen Island Pub and Sushi To GO both around 0.6 miles away.

The choice is mainly about the view and how much room you want around the bed. For two of you, the Queen Room with Balcony - Mt. Gardner gives you a king-size bed and a private balcony, while the Parkview option keeps things more compact with the same broad sleeping arrangement. If looking out towards the water matters more than having the smallest footprint, the sea-view room is the obvious direction.

Travelling as three works with the sea-view room's super-king bed and sofa bed. That is the one to consider when another diver, a child, or a travelling companion is joining you, although there are no cots or extra beds available beyond the sleeping arrangements shown for the room.

The practical details are well aimed at tired travellers. Air-conditioning and heating cover changing weather, with a fan as another option; soundproofing helps keep the night from becoming a communal event. You also have a refrigerator, coffee machine, electric kettle, wardrobe, work desk and balcony, depending on the room. A private bathroom includes a shower or bath, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer, while streaming services and a flat-screen TV take care of the evening when your legs have voted for an early finish.

Food is one of the stronger reasons to base yourself here. The dining offer covers French, local and European cooking, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free choices, so the post-dive meal does not have to be a negotiation with the kitchen.

The named venues give you several different moods. Barcelona Tapas & Wine Bar serves Spanish dishes at lunch and dinner, while The Bowen Pub is the local gathering place for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Doc Mogan's works the comfort-food side with seafood, pasta, steaks and salads.

For the earlier part of the day, Artisan Eats Cafe is one floor below the suites, with freshly baked pastries, locally roasted coffee, lunch and brunch. Tell Your Friends Cafe sits by the ferry pier for breakfast and lunch, and The Snug Cafe, in the cove, serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week. There is also a coffee house on site, with a coffee machine and kettle in the rooms for the first cup before you head out.

Bowen Island gives you a sensible choice after diving: move gently, or stop moving altogether. The hotel has a terrace, outdoor furniture and picnic areas, so you can take the day outside without turning relaxation into an organised activity. A refrigerator in the room is useful here too, particularly when you want cold water without another outing.

On the water, kayak and paddleboard activities are available, with equipment rental. On land, the island offers cycling, hiking and golf, while temporary art galleries provide a change of scenery for a dry afternoon. Crippen Regional Park is about 1 mile away on foot, and Killarney Lake is around 0.8 miles away on foot.

The nearby beaches add another option when you want salt water without a full dive plan. Tunstall Bay and Bowen Bay Beach are both around 4 miles away by car, and Roger Curtis Beach is about 5 miles away. Chaises longues and parasols are associated with the beach access, leaving you to decide whether the next excursion requires fins or merely a towel.

You can check in between 15:00 and 22:00, and check-out runs from 05:00 to 10:00. The minimum age for check-in is 18. A refundable damage deposit is taken by card on arrival and returned after check-out, subject to an inspection of the property.

The suites are on the second floor, reached by 14 stairs. That is worth factoring in if your luggage has become a decompression chamber for everything you own. The property is non-smoking, pets are not allowed, and parties or events are not permitted.

For the journey from Vancouver, drive to Horseshoe Bay and follow the signs for the Bowen Island ferry. The crossing takes about 22 minutes, followed by roughly 800 metres to Artisan Square. Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base is about 16 miles away by road, with Vancouver International Airport around 27 miles away. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and the rooms include private bathrooms, air-conditioning and coffee-making facilities.