Bull Escorial & Spa

If your ideal dive holiday includes a proper room, a spa for the post-dive aches and enough going on that nobody has to sit staring at the same pool all afternoon, Bull Escorial & Spa has a practical proposition. The hotel combines several pools, a spa, a bowling alley, mini golf and an evening bar programme, so you can keep the day as quiet or as sociable as you like.

English-speaking guests are catered for through the hotel's English-language information, alongside Spanish, French, German, Swedish and Dutch. The setting suits divers travelling as a couple or alone: the beach is close, the rooms have private furnished balconies, and the hotel gives you places to eat, unwind and occupy yourself without turning every evening into an excursion.

You are in Playa del Ingles, Spain, on Avenida de Italia. The hotel sits in a beach setting, with the golden sand just 50 metres away and Playa del Veril around 300 metres from the property. Playa del Ingles Beach is about 500 metres away, while Playa de las Burras is roughly 600 metres away. In other words, the sea is not a transfer problem; it is part of the local geography.

The surrounding area is useful when you want to eat somewhere different. Restaurante Pizzería Bambino is about 50 metres away, Segundo Muelle Playa del Ingles around 100 metres, and Restaurante Columbus roughly 300 metres. Maspalomas Botanical Park is about 1.5 miles away, and Maspalomas Lighthouse around 4.2 miles away. Gran Canaria Airport is approximately 20 miles from the hotel.

The rooms are built around the things that matter when you have spent the day in the water: air conditioning for cooling down, a small fridge for keeping drinks cold, and a private furnished balcony for sitting outside without having to leave your room. Each room also has a private bathroom with a bath or shower, satellite television and free WiFi. A desk is there if you need to sort out bookings, photographs or the inevitable small pile of holiday paperwork.

For two people, the standard Double Room is the straightforward choice, while the high-floor version is worth considering if you prefer to be further up. Both use twin single beds, and the larger standard option gives you more room to spread out your bags and clothes. Travelling alone? The Double Room for Single Use keeps things simple without asking you to pay for space you will not use.

The balconies are furnished, which makes them more useful than a token railing outside the door. You can cool down under the air conditioning, put your feet up with the television on, and keep the evening pleasantly undemanding. A safe is available for an additional charge, and daily housekeeping keeps the room in order while you are out.

The main restaurant serves buffet meals with show cooking, so dinner is not reduced to whatever can be assembled while still wearing flip-flops. Breakfast is included, giving you a useful starting point before heading out for the day. The buffet format also lets you keep the portion sensible when you want to eat well without turning the meal into an expedition.

There is a bar for the evening, with entertainment provided there, plus a snack bar for something less formal. The hotel does not publish a continuous-snacking or late-dinner arrangement, so the restaurant and bar are the places to plan around rather than assuming food will appear at any hour. Nearby, you also have several independent restaurants within a short walk when the buffet has had its turn.

The spa is the serious part of the relaxation offer. Its salt-water cave pool has waterfalls, while the thermal circuit brings together a Finnish sauna and steam baths. Massages, facial treatments, mud baths and body wraps are also available, along with a jacuzzi and solarium. After a day of sun, sea and kit logistics, that is a more convincing use of an afternoon than another compulsory sightseeing plan.

If you still have energy in reserve, there are several ways to spend it without leaving the hotel. The fitness centre covers the basic urge to move, while table tennis, mini golf, billiards and bowling add a little competition. Billiards carries an additional charge. A games room and children's playground broaden the appeal for mixed-age groups, and bicycle hire is available for an additional charge.

There are several pools around the property, plus garden areas and a rooftop hot tub with Atlantic Ocean views. The hotel also offers evening entertainment, so you can choose between a quiet soak, a short game, or a drink while somebody else handles the programme.

Gran Canaria Airport is about 20 miles away. The hotel offers free private parking on site, although spaces cannot be reserved, which matters if you are arriving with a hire car rather than by transfer. Car hire can be arranged through the hotel, and currency exchange is available.

Check-in starts at 16:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You must be at least 18 to check in and should have photo identification and a credit card with you. Cash is accepted as a payment method. Children of any age are welcome, but cots and extra beds are not available, so the room configuration matters if you are travelling with family.

The reception is open around the clock, and a lift serves the building. WiFi is free throughout the property. A safety deposit box is available for an additional charge, and pets are not allowed. Cancellation and prepayment conditions vary with the accommodation option, so read the terms attached to the room you choose rather than relying on a general rule.