The Breeze Hotel & Villas

The Breeze Hotel & Villas is built around space rather than ceremony: private villas, a garden, an outdoor pool and enough room to sit down properly. That suits divers who prefer a base with some independence, where you can make coffee, put your feet up and decide for yourself whether the evening calls for the beach or the sofa.

Couples can keep things simple in a One-Bedroom Villa, while the two-bedroom layout makes more sense for friends or family travelling together. The property also welcomes children of any age, and its ground-floor, wheelchair-accessible units make the practical side of a stay easier for guests who need it.

You are in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, on Calle Principal and close to Tamarindo Beach. The beach is about 0.1 mile away, so the sea is part of the daily routine rather than a planned excursion. Grande Beach is around 0.9 mile away, while Langosta Beach is about 1 mile from the property.

The location also gives you access to Tamarindo itself. Cafe Colibrí is roughly 0.1 mile away and Breaking Bread about 0.1 mile away, useful for a quick coffee or something uncomplicated before heading out. For a change of scenery, Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste is around 2.7 miles away, and the R Nal de Vida Silvestre Tamarindo is about 1.6 miles away.

These are villas rather than standard hotel rooms, and that changes the rhythm of a stay. You have a kitchen with a refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, toaster, coffee machine and kitchenware, plus a dining table and a seating area with a sofa. For a diver, that means cold drinks, an easy breakfast and somewhere to sit without balancing a plate on your knees.

The One-Bedroom Villa is the straightforward choice for a couple wanting generous living space and a private base. Travelling with others? The Two-Bedroom Villa has two bathrooms, which avoids the usual morning queue when everyone has an early start. The villas also include a washing machine and tumble dryer, a useful combination when swimwear and travel clothes have been through another round of salt and humidity.

Air conditioning and a fan cover the hot Tamarindo nights, while garden or pool views give the accommodation an outdoor feel. Daily housekeeping, private entrances, private bathrooms and free WiFi keep the practical details in order. A flat-screen TV with cable channels is there when the body has had enough of the day and the brain has no interest in making conversation.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to reset without going anywhere, with a sun terrace, loungers and pool or beach towels. The garden, patio and outdoor furniture give you several ways to sit in the shade, while the picnic and outdoor dining areas make the property feel more like a villa base than a room with a bed attached.

For the slower sort of afternoon, massages include back and full-body treatments. Yoga and Pilates are also available, which may appeal when your preferred exercise is gentle movement rather than another ambitious outing. There is no need to turn every surface interval into an expedition.

If you do want to keep moving, the area offers kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, boat excursions, horse riding, hiking and cycling through local providers. Golf is available within 3 miles, and the property can also connect you with activities such as ATV and canopy tours, trips to Avellanas Beach, Palo Verde National Park and giant leatherback turtle nesting safaris.

Tamarindo Airport is about 2.5 miles away by road. An airport shuttle is available and should be arranged with the hotel; car hire is also available, and free private parking is provided on site without requiring a reservation. The hotel can also help with luggage storage and concierge requests, while express or private check-in and check-out keep the arrival and departure process fairly direct.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 21:30, and you need to tell the property your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 11:00 to 11:30. Payment before arrival is made by bank transfer, with the hotel sending the instructions after booking.

Cash is not accepted. Children of any age are welcome, although extra beds are not available; cots depend on the accommodation selected. Pets are not allowed. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and the villas use 110–120 volt electrical circuits.