Atlantida Mar Hotel

You are looking at a 28-room hotel on three floors, built for a stay where the sea, the town and the practical bits of travel sit close together. The setting suits divers who want a proper base rather than a purpose-built dive lodge: somewhere to eat, cool down, read a few pages and let the legs remember what they have been doing.

English and Portuguese are spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the useful questions without resorting to underwater sign language. The website is also available in German. A garden, terrace, library and lounge areas give you places to slow the pace when the day's plans are done.

The hotel stands at Boavista, on the seafront of Praia da Vitória, in the Azores. You are in Praia da Vitória itself, close to the town centre and directly beside a sandy beach, so a swim or a walk along the shore does not require a taxi, a timetable or heroic organisational skills.

The location also works well if you want to mix diving with island time. The hotel can help arrange excursions, while the surrounding area lends itself to boat trips, visits to other islands, waterfalls, markets and cultural outings. For getting around at your own pace, car hire and bicycle hire are available.

The room choice is unusually broad, from single rooms and straightforward standard doubles to family rooms, junior suites, suites, apartments, studios and cottages. That matters when the trip is not a solo dive mission: you can choose a compact base for one person, a twin arrangement for two friends or a larger option for a family group without treating every room as if it served the same purpose.

Sea-facing rooms are the obvious choice if waking up to the bay matters more than having the lowest-maintenance view. Several double rooms and suites add a balcony, while some of the more fully equipped options combine air conditioning, heating, a fridge or minibar, tea and coffee facilities, Wi-Fi and a private bathroom. Blackout blinds and soundproofing appear in selected rooms, useful if your sleep pattern has been rearranged by early starts, boat engines and the occasional over-enthusiastic gull.

For a longer stay, selected junior suites and suites include a kitchen or kitchenette equipment, microwave, fridge and dining area. Standard rooms cover the essentials with a private bathroom, shower, television, minibar and hairdryer, while the shared-bathroom sea-view dormitory is a more basic option. Room facilities vary by category, so the room card deserves a proper look before you book rather than a hopeful glance at the headline.

The main restaurant, R3, serves lunch and dinner in a modern setting. Its menu covers salads, fish and seafood, as well as meat dishes, which gives you a reasonable spread after a day when the appetite has done more work than the rest of you. The cooking is described as varied rather than tied to one narrow style.

There is also a bar, a snack bar and café service, with coffee and tea available for guests. Breakfast is served as a buffet, and breakfast can also be taken in the room. The meal arrangement depends on the booking selected, so check the details attached to your room rather than assuming that every stay follows the same plan.

For a meal away from the hotel, La Barca is nearby and known for its food. That gives you a local alternative without turning dinner into an expedition, particularly useful on an evening when your wet gear has already supplied enough logistics for one day.

The hotel gives you several ways to spend a non-diving day without forcing a timetable on it. There is an indoor pool and an outdoor pool, along with a spa bath, sauna, steam room and spa facilities. The fitness room and gym are there if you still have energy to spend, although nobody will judge you for choosing the terrace instead.

The direct sandy beach makes an easy plan for a slower morning, while the sun terrace, garden and outdoor furniture provide places to sit with a book or stare at the water with professional concentration. The library is another useful retreat when the weather turns changeable, as Azorean weather occasionally enjoys keeping everyone alert.

For more active days, the hotel offers or arranges access to hiking, fishing, cycling, golf and cultural excursions. On the water, the available activities include kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, jet skiing, fishing, boat excursions and snorkelling. Excursions can also cover waterfalls, markets and other islands, so a non-diving companion has plenty of ways to fill the day.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and check-out is by 12:00. Reception operates around the clock, with a lift serving the three floors. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and the hotel provides luggage storage, concierge assistance, wake-up calls and tourist information.

Airport transfers can be arranged through the hotel, either as a private service or a shared shuttle, with the details to be confirmed when you book. Taxi reservations, car hire and free parking are also available, making the address workable both for airport arrivals and for an island itinerary by car.

Laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services are available, alongside room service, a safe and accessible facilities for wheelchair users. Payment is accepted by Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron and cash. Selected rooms include kitchen facilities, while extra beds depend on the room category, so check the room information if you are travelling as a group.