Anfi del Mar

Some hotels give you a bed and expect you to solve the rest. This one gives you an apartment, a balcony, a kitchen and direct access to the beachfront at Anfi del Mar. That makes it a sensible choice if you like your diving holiday with room to spread out, eat when you want and retreat from the usual resort choreography.

The setting works particularly well for couples who want sea views and for families who would rather have separate living space than negotiate every meal around a small hotel room. There is a garden, a sun terrace and an outdoor swimming pool open throughout the year. The tone is resort-like, but the apartment format keeps the practical side firmly in view.

English-speaking guests are catered for through the property's English-language website, alongside Spanish, German and Norwegian.

You are in La Playa de Arguineguín, on the south coast of Gran Canaria, with Anfi Beach effectively on the doorstep. The property has direct beachfront access, and the sea is part of the view rather than a distant promise in the brochure.

Patalavaca Beach is about 0.7 miles away on foot. Costa Alegre is about 1.5 miles away, while Playa Las Marañuelas and Playa de Puerto Rico are each roughly 1.2 miles from the property. For a change of scenery without making a day of it, the Maspalomas Lighthouse and the Maspalomas Botanical Park are both about 9 miles away by road.

The immediate area is useful after diving. Tapas Tapas is about 50 metres away, El Café around 100 metres and La Posada Tex-Mex roughly 150 metres. A few bars sit farther out, including Kai Club at about 0.9 miles. Gran Canaria Airport is around 25 miles away by road.

The apartment layout is the main reason to choose this address over a conventional hotel room. A fully equipped kitchen gives you a refrigerator, hob, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, coffee machine, kettle and kitchenware. That is useful when you return hungry, damp and no longer interested in discovering what time the restaurant closes.

For two people, the deluxe one-bedroom apartment with ocean view makes the most of the setting. The balcony and sea view give the evening somewhere to happen, while the separate living area, sofa and dining space stop the room from becoming a place where luggage and wet towels take over. It also has a private bathroom and air conditioning for the warmer part of the day.

If you are travelling as a small group or family, the two-bedroom apartment is the practical option. It has two bathrooms, a separate living area and enough space for up to five guests, so the usual post-dive shuffle should be less of a military exercise. Across the accommodation, balconies, soundproofing, fans and air conditioning cover the basics of a comfortable night, while lifts make the upper floors easier to reach.

There is a restaurant and a bar on site, along with a snack bar for the moments when a full meal feels too ambitious. Drinks are also available from vending machines, and packed lunches are part of the food-and-drink services. The precise dining style and meal plan are not the point here; the apartments' kitchens give you a useful alternative when your timetable is dictated by tides, boats and the amount of sand in your shoes.

The kitchen setup is properly functional rather than decorative: refrigerator, hob, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee machine, kettle and dining table. Grocery deliveries are available, and a minimarket on site can cover the small things you forgot to pack. There are also outdoor dining areas and barbecue facilities.

If cooking is not on the day's agenda, you can walk to Tapas Tapas, El Café or La Posada Tex-Mex, all within about 150 metres. The arrangement suits divers who prefer flexibility over a fixed board formula. Some evenings call for dinner out; others call for food, a cold drink and absolutely no further plans.

The easiest non-diving plan is already built in: move between Anfi Beach, the sun terrace, the garden and the outdoor pool without turning the day into an expedition. There is also a separate children's pool, a games room and evening entertainment, so the resort can accommodate a family holiday without asking everyone to share the same pace.

For a quieter recovery day, the Anfi Wellness Centre offers massage, facial treatments, hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, mud baths and body wraps. Couples can book a couples massage, while individual options include head, neck, back, foot and full-body treatments. The centre also has a relaxation area, and the resort provides an open-air bath and hot tub.

A fitness centre and fitness classes are available if you want to move without committing to a walk in the heat. Beyond the property, the activity list includes golf, cycling, hiking, canoeing, windsurfing, water sports and boat outings. Excursions can take in an island, a waterfall, a market or a snorkelling trip. Anfi Tauro Golf Course is about 4 miles away.

Arrival runs from 16:00 to 23:30, and departure is between 08:00 and 10:00. The property needs your expected arrival time in advance, which is worth sorting before a late flight rather than leaving it to the last minute. The minimum check-in age is 18.

An airport shuttle and a general shuttle service are available, and car hire can be arranged. Private parking is available on site, with no reservation required. There is also a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, luggage storage, a tour desk, currency exchange and an on-site cash machine. Wired internet is available throughout the property at no extra charge.

The apartments are reached by lift, and wheelchair-accessible facilities are available. Daily housekeeping is provided. Smoking is not allowed, parties and events are not permitted, and quiet hours run from 21:00 to 09:00. Cash is accepted. The accommodation accepts children of all ages; cots for children aged up to two can be requested, while extra beds are not available.