Hotel D Abril

You come here for a straightforward hotel in Huatulco, with the practical basics in place rather than a long list of resort distractions. Hotel D Abril has 27 rooms, free Wi-Fi, free parking and a swimming pool with a shallow section for children.

The hotel team speaks Spanish. The hotel's website is available in English, French and Spanish, which helps you get your bearings before arrival, while day-to-day contact at the property is in Spanish.

This is a useful base if your priorities are a nearby beach, a room with air conditioning and a meal on site. You can also use the excursion assistance when you want to get out and see more of Huatulco.

The address is Cerrada de Monte Albán, in the Santa Cruz Bay area of Huatulco, Mexico. The sea is 50 metres away, and the hotel has direct access to the beach. That puts the shoreline within an easy walk rather than requiring a daily taxi or shuttle.

The setting also gives you access to several of Huatulco's named bays, including Bahía de San Agustín, Bahía Riscalillo, Bahía Tangolunda, Bahía Santa Cruz, Bahía Maguey y El Organo, Bahía Chachacual, Bahía Chahué, Bahía Cacaluta and Bahía Conejos.

The hotel is 22 km from Huatulco city centre. You are therefore staying close to the bay, not in the middle of the urban centre; useful if the beach matters more than being surrounded by town.

For a couple, the standard double room is the natural fit, with a double bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, television, Wi-Fi, towels, toiletries and water. The combination is suitably practical after time in the heat: cool the room, take a shower and put your feet up without having to go looking for the basics.

If you are travelling as a small group, the quadruple room gives you a more useful starting point than trying to squeeze several adults into a double. Larger room options are also available for groups of up to six, so the hotel can work for a family or a group of friends who would rather stay under one roof.

The hotel describes its 27 rooms as air-conditioned and equipped with a ceiling fan and television with Sky service. The rooms are therefore set up for a proper night rather than just a place to leave your bag. Private bathrooms are part of the listed room options, and standard categories include rooms with air conditioning.

There is one restaurant at the hotel, serving local cuisine. That gives you an on-site option when you want food without adding another journey to the day, particularly useful when the Pacific sun has done its usual work on your appetite.

A food dispenser is also available for a quick snack or drink. There is no bar described here, so this is more about keeping things simple than building your evening around cocktails.

The meal arrangement depends on the room booking you choose. Check the booking details attached to your stay to see whether meals are included.

The swimming pool is the main place to settle between outings, with a shallow section for children. Pool access runs from 9:00 to 21:00, giving you time for a dip in the afternoon or a quiet swim before dinner.

The beach is directly accessible and only 50 metres from the hotel, so you can trade the pool for the bay whenever you prefer salt water and open space. Huatulco also lends itself to water-based outings, with snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing and boat excursions available in the area.

When you want something organised rather than improvised, the hotel offers excursion assistance and ticketing support. Laundry, a safe and free Wi-Fi cover the less glamorous but genuinely useful parts of a travelling diver's routine.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 19:00, while check-out is at 12:00. Reception is open around the clock, but an arrival outside the check-in window should be arranged with the hotel before you travel. The hotel offers free parking, and free parking is also available nearby.

You can pay by Visa, Mastercard or cash. Wi-Fi is free, and laundry facilities, a safe and excursion assistance are available. Smoking areas are provided, and the property has wheelchair-accessible facilities.

The hotel is 22 km from Huatulco city centre. There is no airport shuttle listed, so arrange your onward transfer directly with the hotel or through your travel plans. One child aged six or under stays free when sharing a parent's or guardian's room and using the existing bedding.