Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Cancun Downtown

If your diving holiday needs a practical base rather than a resort bubble, this city-centre hotel makes a sensible case. You have air-conditioned rooms, private bathrooms, free WiFi, a restaurant, a lounge and a fitness centre, with the useful parts of Cancún close enough to reach without turning every outing into a transport exercise.

The hotel's website is available in English and Spanish, which makes planning and booking straightforward for both English- and Spanish-speaking guests. The shared lounge gives you somewhere beyond your room to sit with a television, while the 24-hour front desk keeps the hotel functioning around early starts, late arrivals and the occasional travel day that refuses to run to plan.

This is an urban stay on Avenida Tulum, suited to divers who want access to the city and nearby dive operators, then a clean, modern room to come back to. Less sand in the lobby. Fewer wet flip-flops in the lift. That may be precisely the point.

You are in Cancún, Mexico, in the city centre rather than on the hotel strip. Cancún Government Palace is about a 13-minute walk away, while Parque las Palapas is roughly 0.7 miles on foot. That places you in the working, eating, moving part of town, with more than just hotel restaurants for company.

Several places to eat sit very close by. La Parroquia de Veracruz and Irori are around 100 metres away on foot, and La Ressabrosa is also nearby. For a coffee stop, Starbucks is roughly 550 metres away; Crazy Hot Coyote and Coco Bongo Beach Party are within about 400 and 600 metres on foot respectively.

The nearest listed beach, Playa Las Perlas, is about 1.9 miles away on foot, or roughly 2.7 miles by car. Playa Linda and Puerto Juarez Beach are each around 3 miles away by car. Cancún International Airport is about 9 miles away by road, with the airport journey taking around 16 minutes by car.

The King Room is the straightforward choice for a couple who want one large bed and a room that keeps the evening uncomplicated. For two guests who prefer separate beds, the Double Queen Room gives you that option and can accommodate up to four guests, making it the practical pick for a small group or family sharing a base in town.

The Executive King Suite with Sofa Bed gives you more room to spread out, with a sofa bed and a desk in the living area. It suits a couple who would rather have somewhere to sit and sort tomorrow's plans than conduct the entire evening from the edge of the bed. The room categories are compact city accommodation, not sprawling dive lodges, so choosing the layout that matches your travelling party matters more than chasing a grand-sounding label.

Air conditioning is standard, which is useful when Cancún has done its usual work on you. Rooms have a private bathroom with shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer, plus a minibar and coffee machine for the first drink before breakfast or the one you need when you return from a long day. A wardrobe, clothes rack, alarm clock, television and free WiFi cover the ordinary practicalities, while room service and breakfast in the room let you keep the door closed when you have no interest in joining the rest of civilisation just yet.

Arena is the hotel's restaurant, serving international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That gives you a built-in option when you want food without another journey across town, particularly useful when your appetite has arrived before your enthusiasm for choosing a restaurant.

Breakfast is served as a buffet with American options, juice, fresh pastries, cheese and fruit. It is a useful start for a diving day, although no early breakfast time is given, so you will want to check that point if your departure is at the crack of dawn. Breakfast can also be brought to your room.

There is no hotel bar listed, but the shared lounge provides a place to sit with the television, and room service remains available when the sensible plan is food, a shower and an early night. If you do want to go out, the city-centre setting puts nearby restaurants and bars within walking distance rather than requiring a full evening expedition.

The main hotel-based option away from the table is the fitness centre. It gives you somewhere to keep moving between dives or to undo the effects of a day spent sitting in transport, at breakfast and in the restaurant. It is a fitness room, not a wellness programme, so pack your expectations accordingly.

For a gentler pause, the shared lounge and TV area offer a change of scenery from the bedroom. You can also use the tour desk to organise outings beyond the immediate city-centre routine, while car hire is available for making your own plans. The Mayan Museum is about 11 miles away by car, and El Rey Mayan Ruins are roughly 11 miles away by road.

The hotel also has practical space for simply stopping. After a day under water, a lift, air conditioning, WiFi and a room-service meal can be more useful than an ambitious list of activities. The city is there when you want it; the room is ready when you do not.

Cancún International Airport is about 9 miles from the hotel by road. A shuttle service is available, and car hire can be arranged through the hotel. The property also has free private parking in a parking garage, with no reservation needed, which is handy if your itinerary includes more than the hotel-to-dive-centre shuffle.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. Guests under 18 can check in only with a parent or official guardian, and the minimum check-in age is 18.

A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, daily housekeeping and a business centre cover the useful travel mechanics. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, with those services charged separately. The hotel has lifts, step-free access and accessible rooms, including bathrooms with lower sinks and toilets with grab rails. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cash are accepted.