Courtyard by Marriott Manado Hotel

You come here for a modern hotel that works equally well for a city stay, a business trip or a few nights around Manado. The property has 200 contemporary guest rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a large convention centre on site, so the atmosphere is more smart urban hotel than remote island hideaway.

English and Indonesian are spoken by the hotel team, making it easy to communicate from check-in onwards. A 24-hour fitness centre, a restaurant, a lobby lounge and room service give you places to eat, sit down or keep your own schedule without turning every evening into an expedition.

The hotel is in Kayuwatu Kairagi II, Manado, on A.A Maramis in North Sulawesi. Manado city centre is about 4 miles away, while Sam Ratulangi International Airport is roughly 5 miles from the entrance. That makes the location particularly convenient when you would rather not spend the first or last day of a trip crossing the whole city.

The setting also puts you within reach of North Sulawesi's wider attractions. Bunaken National Park, beaches and highland landscapes are all part of the region's appeal, while Bitung, an important industrial and business hub, is accessible from the hotel. The property itself includes a garden and terrace, and Sosiru Restaurant looks towards a garden with a volcano in the background.

The room choice is broad enough to suit a solo diver, a pair who prefer separate beds or a family needing more space. Standard rooms with a balcony and garden-view options keep things simple, while the single categories make sense when you are travelling alone and would rather pay for the room you actually use. For two people, you can choose between a double bed and twin beds, which avoids the usual holiday argument before anyone has even unpacked.

Better-equipped standard rooms offer a balcony, private bathroom, desk, hairdryer, bathrobe, slippers and tea. That gives you somewhere to sit with a cup of tea and somewhere to take care of the day's practicalities, even if the desk is mostly used for checking tomorrow's plans rather than writing a novel.

The superior and deluxe ranges add more ways to tailor the stay, including city, garden and mountain views. A superior double or deluxe double can bring air conditioning, television, safe storage, a minibar and tea or coffee-making facilities; selected rooms also include water, toiletries, a shower and a balcony. If you are staying longer or travelling with more luggage, the deluxe suites add a kitchen and dining area, as well as air conditioning, a minibar and a private bathroom. Room service runs around the clock, handy when your body clock has given up negotiating with local time.

Sosiru Restaurant serves the main meals, with breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring a mix of local and international cooking. It is an all-day dining restaurant, so you can keep the food familiar when you need something easy or use the menu to start exploring North Sulawesi without having to leave the hotel. The garden-and-volcano setting gives the meal a sense of place without requiring a dress code or a taxi ride.

For drinks, the listed bar is Lobby Lounge. It serves local and international drinks in a comfortable seating area designed for conversation, a quiet drink or a little business networking. A separate snack bar is also available, while 24-hour room service covers the moments when you have returned too late, too tired or simply too hungry to make a decision in public.

Breakfast is available, including a buffet option. The exact meal arrangement depends on the room booking you select, so check the meal-plan details rather than assuming that every stay follows the same formula.

The outdoor swimming pool is the obvious place to spend the afternoon when you want water without another boat, mask or briefing. There is also a sun terrace, garden and terrace for a slower pace between outings. There is also a spa, sauna, massage and beauty treatments, giving you several ways to deal with shoulders that have spent the day carrying more equipment than dignity usually allows.

The 24-hour fitness centre has a full range of exercise equipment for anyone who still has energy to burn. A tennis court and bicycle hire add more active options, while the concierge and excursion assistance can help organise time away from the hotel. Children have a games room, a play area, a children's pool and a kids' club, so travelling with family does not mean every quiet moment has to be negotiated at the volume of a boat engine.

The hotel also includes a business centre, meeting and event facilities, free parking and an electric-vehicle charging station. Those details matter less for a holiday brochure and more when you are combining diving with work, a conference or a longer road trip through North Sulawesi.

Check-in runs from 2 pm and check-out is at noon. Reception operates around the clock, and the hotel has an elevator, accessible facilities and accessible rooms. The hotel is non-smoking, and pets are not accepted. Couples checking into the same room must present a valid marriage certificate at check-in, so this is one of the practical rules worth knowing before you travel.

Wi-Fi is available for Marriott Bonvoy members, and parking is free. The hotel also offers a concierge, currency exchange, an ATM, luggage storage, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services. Car hire is available, and the concierge can help organise excursions and provide ticket assistance. Payments can be made with cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal or bank transfer.

The airport is about 5 miles away, and airport transfer arrangements can be made through the hotel. Electricity is 230 volts at 50 Hz, with Type C and Type F sockets. If you are bringing chargers, lights and camera batteries for several days underwater, packing a suitable adaptor is less glamorous than packing another pair of fins, but considerably more practical.