Aventuras Club Marina

Aventuras Club Marina is an aparthotel for divers who prefer a proper base rather than a small room with just enough space for a suitcase. You have furnished accommodation, a kitchen, outdoor space and access to a private beach area, with the option of preparing something simple instead of going straight back out for dinner every evening.

The English-language website makes the property accessible before you arrive, while the accommodation itself leans towards an independent stay: you can keep food and drinks in the fridge, make coffee, and take a little time over the evening. There are 41 rooms in total, with family apartments as well as studios, so the choice suits both couples and groups travelling together.

The tone is more apartment-style than formal hotel routine. That matters when your day has already involved an early start, salt water and a fair amount of kit to think about.

You stay in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, on Avenida Bahia Xcacel, in the Riviera Maya. The property is on the seafront and has direct access to a private beach area, while Playa Puerto Aventuras is about 0.2 miles away. Bahia Xcacel Beach is roughly 0.4 miles away by road.

The immediate area is useful rather than remote. Pelican Point Restaurant & Bar is about 0.1 miles away, with Nauty Burro and Massimo around 0.1 miles as well, so you have nearby options when cooking feels like an unnecessary extension of the day's exertions. A minimarket on site also helps with the small but important supplies: water, snacks and breakfast basics.

Playa del Carmen is around a 20-minute drive away, bringing more restaurants, bars and evening entertainment, as well as the ferry connection to Cozumel. Xcaret Park is about 8 miles away, and Parque Lol-Beh is roughly 0.9 miles from the property.

The accommodation is designed for people who appreciate space and a little autonomy. Studios work for couples or smaller groups, while the two- and three-bedroom apartments give travelling families or dive groups separate sleeping areas and more than one bathroom. The larger apartment categories also bring views towards the marina, which gives you something to look at while the coffee machine does its work.

Every accommodation is fully furnished, with a kitchen or kitchenette, dining table, refrigerator, microwave, toaster and kitchenware. That is not decorative equipment: it means you can make a quick meal, store fruit and drinks, and avoid searching for a restaurant when you return hungry and sun-worn. A coffee machine is there for the early start, while a balcony or terrace provides a place to sit outside.

Air conditioning and a fan cover the warmer nights, with plenty of natural light during the day. You also have a flat-screen television, DVD and CD players, a wardrobe, an iron and a laptop safe. Private bathrooms include a shower, towels, linen, toiletries and a hairdryer. Daily housekeeping keeps the apartment side of the stay from turning into domestic duty, and wheelchair-accessible units are available.

Breakfast is included, and room service is available when you would rather eat without moving very far. Packed lunches can also be arranged, which is useful for a long day out when the first meal needs to travel with you rather than wait for your return.

The real strength here is the kitchen in your accommodation. You have a dining table, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, kitchenware and a coffee machine, so a quick breakfast or a late plate of something simple is entirely workable. Grocery deliveries are available too, and barbecue facilities give you another way to handle dinner when you want to stay close to the apartment.

For a meal outside, Pelican Point Restaurant & Bar, Nauty Burro and Massimo are all close by in Puerto Aventuras. Playa del Carmen offers a much wider choice of restaurants, bars and nightlife when you want a livelier evening. In other words, you can cook, order in or go out; the decision can wait until you know how your legs feel.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to spend the awkward gap between returning from the sea and deciding whether dinner is happening. A children's pool is also available, and the property has a private beach area with sun umbrellas and pool or beach towels. Sun loungers or beach chairs are available for settling in properly rather than balancing on the edge of a towel.

When your shoulders want something more useful than another swim, the wellness offering includes a hot tub or Jacuzzi, massages and body treatments. The spa services also cover facials, manicures and pedicures, with hair and beauty treatments available. That gives couples an easy non-diving afternoon without requiring a full expedition beyond the property.

You can also use the bicycles, go kayaking or snorkelling, or arrange a tour through the tour desk. Tennis and golf are available nearby, while the area offers access to Parque Lol-Beh, Punta Venado Bike Park and Xcaret Park. The concierge service can help organise outings, and the private beach area remains the simplest option when the correct plan is doing very little.

Cancun International Airport is about an hour away by car. Playa del Carmen National Airport is roughly 12 miles from the property, while Cozumel International Airport is about 18 miles away. An airport shuttle and other shuttle services are available to arrange with the property, and car hire is also offered. Bicycle rental is available on site, while private parking is available on the property and requires a reservation.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and you need to tell the property your arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 01:00 to 12:00. Private and express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, a tour desk, concierge service and currency exchange are available, which is useful when flights and dive plans do not line up neatly.

Wi-Fi is free in the rooms and throughout the hotel. Children of any age are welcome; children aged 12 and over are charged as adults, and cots for children up to three can be requested. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Smoking, pets and parties are not allowed, and cash is an accepted payment method.