Albor Suites

In Santa Brígida, Albor Suites gives you an apartment rather than a conventional hotel room. Depending on the category you choose, you have a living area, a kitchen and your own outdoor space: an arrangement that lets the day unfold without tying you to set mealtimes or organised entertainment.

It suits divers who like to keep their usual routines between outings: make a coffee, put your kit away, sit outside overlooking the garden or mountains, then let the evening pass without bar music beneath your window. Families are catered for too, with larger accommodation and several bathrooms in some layouts.

You will find Albor Suites at C/ Segovia 6, in Santa Brígida, inland on Gran Canaria. You are 1.2 miles from Bandama Golf Course, in an area that also suits walking. The sea is not the immediate backdrop here: your base is a hilltop town, not a beach resort on the sand.

For eating out, Basalto is about 0.3 miles away, Rincón El Vinco 0.4 miles away and La Brasa Steak y Tapas Steakhouse about 0.6 miles away. There is a bar roughly 0.4 miles away. You can reach the districts and attractions of Las Palmas by car, with Santa Catalina Park about 9.9 miles away and Casa de Colón museum about 6.2 miles away.

You are not booking a basic room just big enough for a bag: these units are set up as proper apartments. The living area includes a sofa, a dining space and a kitchen equipped with a fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and coffee machine. After a day out, that independence means you do not have to head back out for every glass of water or small snack.

For two, an apartment with garden views or a Superior Apartment gives you room without putting you in a family-sized layout. If you are travelling as a group, the Three-Bedroom Apartment is easier to organise, with two bathrooms. Apartments with a terrace or balcony give you a useful place to get some air, while views are over the garden or surrounding hills.

Air conditioning helps when the heat has settled in, while heating takes over when evenings in the hills turn cooler. A washing machine and tumble dryer are included in the kitchen facilities, making longer stays simpler. You also have a private entrance, wardrobe, hairdryer and flat-screen television with streaming service. Quiet hours run from 10pm to 8am: after that, the house switches to silence.

At Albor Suites, meals are organised around your apartment. The kitchen and kitchenette let you prepare something straightforward, with crockery, dining table, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and coffee machine provided. The sitting room flows on from the same space: you can eat at the table and move to the sofa afterwards without turning the evening into a logistical exercise.

The terrace, patio and outdoor dining area also give you the option of lunch or dinner outside. A barbecue is available for meals that work better over coals than through elaborate cooking. If you want to eat out, several restaurants are within a few hundred metres, including Basalto, Rincón El Vinco and La Brasa Steak y Tapas Steakhouse.

This setup works well for divers who prefer to control their own timetable, particularly when an early outing pushes breakfast back or a second dive finishes later than planned. There is also a bar nearby, about 0.4 miles away.

The outdoor pool, open all year, is the obvious place to take a break. You can go from Gran Canaria's hills to a few lengths in the pool, then settle on a sun lounger beneath a parasol without having to get back in the car as soon as the active part of the day is over.

The garden, terrace, patio and solarium give you several ways to slow down. A picnic area and outdoor furniture extend the time spent outside, while the public bath offers another way to ease tired muscles. You do not have to fill every hour: in an aparthotel, doing nothing can be part of the plan.

Walkers have hiking trails in the surrounding area. Bandama Golf Course is about 1.2 miles away, giving you the option of a day on land without crossing to the other side of the island. For time in the city, Las Palmas and Santa Catalina Park are accessible by car.

Gran Canaria Airport is about 12.4 miles away by road, with a drive of around 19 minutes. Private parking on site is free and does not need to be reserved, which is useful if you hire a car to visit the island's sights or plan your days around different diving areas.

Check-in is between 3pm and 5pm, and check-out between 8am and 11am. You need to provide your arrival time in advance. The reception has a tour desk, useful for arranging a day out on land, and free Wi-Fi covers the whole property.

Children of all ages are welcome. A cot can be requested for babies and toddlers, but no extra bed is available. Check-in is limited to guests aged 18 or over. The property is non-smoking, parties are not permitted and pets weighing up to 8 kg are accepted. Facilities for wheelchair users include toilets with grab rails and an adapted washbasin.