Apartamentos El Patio

You are looking at an aparthotel rather than a conventional hotel, with the useful difference that your room comes with a kitchenette and a dining area. That suits a diving trip well: breakfast can be as early or as unceremonious as you like, and a tired evening does not automatically require finding a restaurant.

Apartamentos El Patio is in Los Llanos de Aridane, with a saltwater swimming pool, sun terrace and free WiFi across the property. The atmosphere is geared towards independent stays, couples and small groups who would rather have a base with room to organise themselves than a full resort programme. The hotel's website is available in English, Spanish and German, so you can get the practical information in English before you arrive.

The address is Convento 43 in Los Llanos de Aridane, on La Palma, Spain. You are in town rather than at a beach resort, which puts everyday food and drink within walking distance and leaves the coast as an outing rather than something outside your door.

Several restaurants are around 900 feet away, including La Colonial 25, La Vitamina and El Geco Libero. For a drink or coffee, Bar Punto de Encuentro is around 1,100 feet away, while Nuovo Rami Cafe and Smile Bistro Bar are around 1,250 to 1,300 feet away. Parque Conrado Hernández is around 1,200 feet away for a short leg-stretch.

Puerto de Tazacorte Beach is about 3.3 miles away by car, with a journey of roughly nine minutes. Parque Nacional Caldera de Taburiente is about 3.8 miles away by car, making the property a useful starting point for days divided between the coast, the town and the island's interior.

The studio is the straightforward choice for a couple: a private bathroom, seating and dining space, and a kitchenette for keeping the routine under your own control. Two single beds make the sleeping arrangement clear, while the refrigerator gives you somewhere to keep water and food between dives.

For three people, the one-bedroom apartment is the more sensible option. It adds the breathing room of a separate bedroom and keeps the kitchenette, dining area and seating area available for the rest of the stay. Both categories have a private bathroom, towels, toiletries, a hairdryer and a shower or bath.

There is a fan for warmer nights and heating when the island air turns cooler. A clothes rack and drying rack help with ordinary holiday laundry, while the flat-screen TV, radio and satellite channels cover the quieter part of the evening. Quiet hours run from 21:00 to 09:00, useful information if you want the night to remain properly uneventful.

This is a kitchenette-led stay. You have a hob, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, coffee machine, kitchenware and a dining table, which is enough to handle a simple meal when you return hungry and would rather not negotiate with a menu.

There is also a coffee house on site for the easy option. The surrounding streets give you more choice when cooking feels like unnecessary admin: La Colonial 25, La Vitamina and El Geco Libero are all around 900 feet away, and Bar Punto de Encuentro is around 1,100 feet away for a drink close to home.

The useful distinction is flexibility rather than a board formula. You can make coffee before heading out, eat in your apartment when the day's timing has gone sideways, or walk a few minutes for dinner and a bar afterwards.

The heated outdoor saltwater pool is the main place to slow the day down without going anywhere. Sun loungers, beach chairs, outdoor furniture and a sun terrace give you somewhere to sit, read or dry off, while the solarium adds another option for doing very little. Pool toys are available too, which makes the property workable for family trips as well as adult breaks.

Cycling is available in the surrounding area, and hiking can also be arranged as an off-site activity. The tour desk can help organise what you do beyond the property, while car hire gives you a practical way to reach the beach, the national park and other parts of La Palma.

For families, there is an indoor play area, a children's playground, board games and puzzles, plus a high chair. For everyone else, the appeal is simpler: return to the pool, take the weight off your legs and let the island provide the entertainment.

La Palma Airport is about 13 miles away by road, with a drive of roughly 27 minutes. An airport shuttle is available on request, and a separate shuttle service and car hire are also available. Private parking is on site and requires a reservation, so arrange it before arrival if you are bringing a car.

Plan your arrival between 15:00 and 23:00 and tell the property when you expect to reach it. A photo ID and credit card are required at check-in, and cash is not accepted. Departure is scheduled between 03:00 and 11:30, so an early airport transfer is possible within the published arrangements.

A 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, a tour desk and currency exchange cover the useful bits around travel days. WiFi is free throughout the property. The accommodation is non-smoking, parties are not allowed, and pets are not accepted.