Anfi del Mar

Anfi del Mar is an aparthotel built for days that do not need much organising: wake up, find the beach a few steps away, return to a proper apartment rather than a box, and decide later whether dinner means the restaurant, the snack bar or your own kitchen. The setting is beachfront, with sea views, a garden and an outdoor pool available throughout the year.

The apartment format suits divers who prefer room to spread out, couples who want a balcony and a separate living space, or families who would rather not spend the evening negotiating one small room. English, Spanish, German and Norwegian are represented on the hotel's website, so English-speaking guests can find the practical information in English; the language spoken by the on-site team is not specified.

This is a place with plenty going on around the main business of eating, swimming and sitting down. There is a spa, a fitness centre, a games room and children's facilities, while soundproof rooms, air conditioning and a private apartment entrance help keep the night from becoming an extension of the daytime crowd.

You are in La Playa de Arguineguín, on the south coast of Gran Canaria, with direct access to the seafront. Anfi Beach is a few steps away, which is about as close as a beach hotel can reasonably get without putting the sun loungers in your wardrobe. Playa de Patalavaca is around 0.7 miles away on foot, while Costa Alegre is about 1.5 miles away.

The immediate surroundings are useful rather than remote. Tapas Tapas is around 50 feet away, with El Café and La Posada Tex-Mex also close by, so you have alternatives when the hotel restaurant does not suit the evening. A few bars are within roughly 1 to 2 miles.

For a change of scene, Anfi Tauro Golf Course is about 4.3 miles away. Maspalomas Lighthouse and the botanical park in Maspalomas are both around 9 miles away. Gran Canaria Airport is roughly 25 miles from the property, making the airport transfer a manageable part of the day rather than a second excursion.

The useful distinction here is not a long list of room names but the amount of living space you want around your diving kit, clothes and post-dive collapse. The Two-Bedroom Apartment is the practical choice for a larger group, with two bathrooms and enough separation for five guests. It gives everyone somewhere to sit without turning the sofa into a permanent storage solution.

For two people, the Deluxe One-Bedroom Apartment with Ocean View is the more natural fit. You get the sea-facing outlook, a balcony and a separate living area, so one person can make coffee or watch television while the other remains horizontal. That is not luxury language; it is simply useful when the first dive has started earlier than your enthusiasm.

Every apartment has air conditioning, a kitchen and a dining area, with a refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine, kettle, toaster and kitchenware. A washing machine and tumble dryer are also available, which makes a longer diving stay easier to manage. The apartments include private bathrooms, extra-long beds, a sofa, a desk and a drying rack for clothing.

Soundproofing, a fan and air conditioning give you several ways to make the room comfortable after a warm, salty day. Balconies and terraces provide outdoor space, while sea or pool views depend on the accommodation you choose. Daily housekeeping is available, and upper floors can be reached by lift.

You have a restaurant and a bar on site, along with a snack bar for the moments when a full meal is more ambition than appetite. Packed lunches are available, and drinks can be picked up from vending machines if the return from the beach has left you unwilling to make a formal decision about anything.

The apartments' kitchens give you a second route through the evening. There is a dining table, refrigerator, hob, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine and enough basic kitchen equipment to handle breakfast, a simple supper or provisions brought back from elsewhere. Grocery deliveries are also available.

There is no breakfast format or board arrangement to plan around in the information for the property, so the aparthotel set-up is the key point: you can eat on site, use the snack bar, or make your own arrangements. An outdoor dining area and BBQ facilities add another option when you want to stay outside a little longer.

The outdoor pool, sun terrace and garden give you the straightforward version of a non-diving afternoon: find a lounger, get wet without carrying a cylinder and allow the day to become pleasantly unproductive. There is also a children's pool, a games room and a water-sports facility on site, while the beach is immediately available when pool water feels like a poor substitute for the sea.

The Anfi Wellness Centre covers the more deliberate recovery work. Its facilities include a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, open-air bath and public bath, with massages, facials, mud baths, body wraps and other body treatments available. Couples can book a couples massage, while the spa lounge and relaxation area offer somewhere to sit before attempting conversation again.

A fitness centre and fitness classes are available for anyone who still has energy to spend. Outside the property, cycling, hiking, canoeing and windsurfing are available, and the resort organises excursions including boat trips, island visits, waterfalls, markets and snorkelling. Golf is also available nearby. For families, a kids' club, playground, evening entertainment and entertainment staff keep the non-divers occupied without requiring the adults to invent a programme.

Gran Canaria Airport is about 25 miles away. An airport shuttle and a shuttle service are available through the property, and car hire can also be arranged. Private parking is available on site, with a parking garage, and no reservation is needed.

Check-in runs from 16:00 to 23:30, with your arrival time to be arranged in advance. Check-out is from 08:00 to 10:00. The front desk is open around the clock, and the property also offers luggage storage, a concierge service, a tour desk, currency exchange and an ATM.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots can be requested for children up to two years old, while extra beds are not available. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Smoking is not allowed, parties are not permitted, and quiet hours run from 21:00 to 09:00. Pets are not allowed.

The apartments have free wired internet throughout the property, air conditioning, a lift and facilities for disabled guests. The property accepts cash, and payment before arrival by bank transfer is part of the booking arrangements.