Key Lime Cottage

English is spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the useful things plainly, from arrival arrangements to organising a day on the water. Key Lime Cottage is a small guesthouse in the heart of Old Town Key West, with six rooms and the sort of central address that lets you leave the car behind when the day's diving is done.

After a day underwater, the practical pleasures matter. You have air conditioning, a garden, an outdoor swimming pool and places to sit outside, while the private entrance to your room keeps comings and goings straightforward. This is a base for combining diving, beach time and Key West's evening life rather than a self-contained resort where you need a timetable to reach anything.

The address is 621 Caroline Street, in Old Town Key West, United States. Duval Street is within walking distance, and the property sits in the city centre rather than in a remote waterfront compound. That puts the useful parts of the island within easy reach, including the sort of short stroll that is welcome when you are still carrying the day's salt and sand.

Simonton Street Beach is about 0.2 miles away on foot, with white sand, sun loungers and parasols. South Beach and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach are each about 0.9 miles away, while Higgs Beach is roughly 1.2 miles away. Mallory Dock is around 0.3 miles from the guesthouse and Mallory Square about 0.4 miles, so sunset plans do not require a taxi and a complicated briefing.

Key West Aquarium, the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum and the Curry Mansion Museum are all within about 0.3 miles. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is roughly 0.7 miles away. Key West International Airport is about 2.5 miles from the property, making the final leg of the journey relatively short.

The Studio is the room to look at if you are travelling as a couple and want a straightforward base in town. It has an extra-large double bed, air conditioning and a fan, giving you two ways to deal with Key West's warm nights. The city view keeps the setting urban and central rather than pretending you have booked a private island.

A private entrance makes it easy to come and go, while the bath, towels, toiletries and hairdryer cover the unglamorous but necessary part of getting back into human shape. WiFi is available throughout the property, and the room also has a TV with cable channels for the evening when conversation has run out before the drinks have.

The useful extras are in the room rather than hidden behind a complicated service menu: a refrigerator for keeping water cold, a microwave for something quick, and a tea and coffee maker for the early start. An outdoor space, either a patio or balcony according to the accommodation, gives you somewhere to sit with a drink and watch the city settle down.

Breakfast is continental, which gives you a simple start before heading out for the day. There is no elaborate dining ritual to schedule around: coffee, something to eat and then the business of getting to the water. For a diving holiday, that can be exactly the right level of ceremony.

The guesthouse also gives you a tea and coffee maker in the room, a refrigerator and a microwave. Those details earn their keep when you return hungry at an inconvenient hour or want cold water without making another expedition down the street.

Key West's food and drink are close at hand. Koffie House and Duetto are about 0.1 miles away, while Tattoos and Scars Saloon, 22&Co and Bert's Bar are all within roughly 0.1 miles. Greene Street Cigar Company is also around 0.1 miles away. You can therefore choose between eating out in the Old Town and using the outdoor barbecue area at the guesthouse, without turning dinner into a transport operation.

The outdoor swimming pool is the obvious place to spend the part of the afternoon when you have already done enough moving around. Around it, the garden, patio and outdoor furniture give you somewhere to sit, read or simply let the day dry off. The barbecue area adds a more hands-on option when you would rather stay on the property than go back into town.

The surrounding water supplies the active choices. Snorkelling, fishing and water sports are available, and boat excursions can be arranged. Sunset cruises are also part of the offer, which is a sensible way to see Key West without adding another strenuous activity to a day that may already contain several hours at sea.

For a non-diving day, the location does much of the work. You can walk to the aquarium, museums, Mallory Square and the historic sites around Old Town, then return to the garden or pool when the Florida heat wins the argument. The guesthouse also welcomes children of all ages and allows pets, making the accommodation workable for more than one type of travelling party.

Key Lime Cottage is about 2.5 miles from Key West International Airport. Airport transfers can be arranged with the property, either privately or as a shared shuttle, through the hotel. On-site parking is available; the booking conditions should be checked for the applicable parking arrangement before arrival. The property also accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Plan for an afternoon arrival and a morning departure. The published arrival window begins at 3pm in one set of property details and at 4pm in the booking conditions, while departure is listed at 11am and by 10am respectively. Your reservation conditions are the ones to follow. A photo ID and credit card are required at check-in, and there is no age restriction for checking in.

Luggage storage, a concierge and a reception safe are available for the practical gaps around travel. Free WiFi covers the property, and rooms are non-smoking. Children of any age are welcome, although cots and extra beds are not available. Parties and events are not permitted, which suits a guesthouse where the night is better spent out in Key West than turning the courtyard into a nightclub.