Innisbrook Resort

A large Florida resort suits divers who want plenty to do on a non-diving day, and enough space to spread out when the kit is no longer the main event. Innisbrook Resort sits in Palm Harbor, with outdoor pools, golf, dining, a full-service spa and broad leisure facilities gathered on one property.

English is the working language of the hotel team, so you will be understood from arrival onwards. The atmosphere is resort-based rather than boutique: useful if you are travelling as a couple, with family or in a group that does not all want the same timetable.

You can keep the day active with golf, tennis and fitness, or take the less heroic route and head for the spa. After all, not every surface interval needs to involve another activity.

The address is in Palm Harbor, Florida, at 36000 US Hwy 19 N. Crystal Beach is about 3 miles away, while the Gulf of Mexico is roughly 2 miles from the resort. You are not staying directly on the sand, so reaching the coast is part of the daily plan rather than something you do in flip-flops from your room.

Clearwater Beach is available by complimentary hotel shuttle, with sun loungers and parasols at the beach. Sunset Beach is about 3.5 miles away and around a 12-minute drive. Honeymoon Island is around a 10-minute drive, giving you another straightforward coastal outing when you want a change from the resort grounds.

Palm Harbor places you within reach of practical stops as well as leisure. A coffee shop is about 1 mile away, Palm Harbor House of Beer is around 1.5 miles away, and several restaurants sit roughly 1 mile from the resort. Dunedin Fine Art Center is about 7 miles away, while Pier 60 is around 12 miles away.

The room choice matters here because the accommodation ranges from a straightforward room with two queen beds to multi-bedroom suites. If you are travelling with family or a group, the two-bedroom options give you separate sleeping areas and two bathrooms, with capacity for up to six, seven or eight guests depending on the option. That is a different proposition from simply adding another bed to a standard room.

For a couple, the junior suites provide more room to sit and recover properly, while the one-bedroom suites add a separate bedroom and living space. Selected suites include a fully equipped kitchen, and all suites have a kitchenette, so you can keep drinks and simple provisions close at hand rather than making every small hunger a restaurant expedition.

All rooms have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a seating area and a flat-screen cable television. Coffee-making facilities help with the first cup before you are fully operational, while private bathrooms include a bath or shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. Hypo-allergenic bedding is available on request, and daily housekeeping keeps the practical side of a longer stay under control.

Breakfast is served as a buffet, with continental, American, vegetarian, gluten-free and full English or Irish choices. There is also a breakfast-to-go option, which is handy when the morning is governed by an early start rather than a leisurely second coffee.

The resort has five restaurants in total. Market Cafe covers breakfast, lunch and dinner with American classics in a casual indoor setting, while Fire is the evening choice for steaks and seafood with a smart-casual dress code. Packard's Steakhouse and Market Salamander Grille are also part of the on-site dining line-up.

For the post-dive drink, Island Grille is the pool bar, serving cocktails and light bites beside the Island Pool. Osprey Bar and Turnberry Pub add wine and beer menus to the resort's drinking options. There is also a snack bar and an on-site coffee house, so you have more than one way to deal with the familiar gap between getting out of the water and sitting down to dinner.

The Island Pool is a large outdoor pool with a swim-up bar and water slide, making it more lively than a silent adult retreat. Sun loungers and umbrellas give you somewhere to dry off without immediately committing to another outing, while the surrounding resort grounds include gardens, terraces, outdoor furniture and an outdoor fireplace.

Golf is central to the resort, with four golf courses on site. You can also use the fitness centre, join fitness or yoga classes, or book time with a personal trainer. Tennis courts and tennis equipment are available as well, although tennis equipment and court use carry an additional charge.

The Salamander Spa is the quieter answer to a day away from the sea. Its treatments include massage, facials, manicures and pedicures, with a sauna, steam room, relaxation lounge, hot tub and spa facilities also available. A massage chair, body treatments and beauty services round out the menu, should your idea of recovery involve considerably less movement than golf.

The resort is about 16 miles by road from St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport and around 17 miles from Tampa International Airport. Tampa International is roughly a 26-minute drive, while St. Pete–Clearwater is around 22 minutes by car. An airport shuttle service is available through the property; arrange the form of transfer with the resort before travelling.

Check-in runs from 16:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You will need photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the person checking in must be at least 21. The front desk operates around the clock, with express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, concierge service and an on-site cash machine.

Private parking is available on site, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, as are a business centre, meeting facilities and ten meeting rooms. Pets are allowed, with the applicable conditions to confirm before booking. Children of all ages are welcome, while cots are not available and extra beds depend on the accommodation selected.