NH Lagos Algarve Resort

If you want a hotel that lets you mix diving with a proper town, the NH Lagos Algarve Resort puts you in the middle of Lagos rather than marooning you beside a single strip of sand. The hotel has an Algarve-themed design, a courtyard swimming pool and wellness facilities, with enough room around the day for a wander, a meal and a quiet drink.

The hotel's website is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch, so you can prepare your stay in the language that suits you. The hotel itself is also set up for practical, low-fuss travel: air conditioning in the rooms, free WiFi throughout the property, a 24-hour reception and luggage storage when your arrival and departure do not quite match the clock.

This is a sensible base for divers travelling as a couple, but it also works for families. You get a town within walking distance, several beaches nearby and a seasonal beach club reached by the hotel's shuttle. In other words, your non-diving companion has options while you are busy discussing whether that fish was really as large as you claim.

Rua António Crisógono Santos places you in Lagos, Portugal, close to the historic centre and the railway station. Lagos train station is about half a mile away on foot, while Jardim da Constituição is roughly 300 metres from the hotel for a short green-space break without turning it into an expedition.

The old town is close enough for an evening walk. The Fortress of Ponta da Bandeira is about 0.7 miles away on foot, Lagos Castle around 0.6 miles, and the Church of Saint Anthony is also within the historic centre. The First European Slave Market, Alfândega de Lagos and the statue of Henry the Navigator give you plenty of reasons to leave the pool before dinner.

You are not sleeping directly on the beach. Meia Praia Beach is about 1 mile away on foot, and Praia da Forte da Bandeira and Batata Beach are each around 0.7 miles away. Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse lies about 1.9 miles away by road, with the caves south of Lagos reached by boat from the area.

Every room has air conditioning, a balcony, satellite television, a minibar and a private bathroom with toiletries and a hairdryer. That combination matters more once your skin is salty, your kit bag is on the floor and the only serious decision left is whether the balcony deserves a chair or the bed wins outright. A tea and coffee maker is also available in the rooms.

For two divers, the larger Standard XL room or a suite gives you more breathing space than the most compact double or twin option. The suite is the one to choose when you want a separate living area rather than simply somewhere to put two wet towels and a pair of shoes. Superior options add a choice of view, including a garden view, which may suit you if the room is part of the recovery plan rather than merely a place to sleep.

Families have pool-view rooms, family rooms, connecting rooms and suites with sofa beds. The connecting layouts make more sense when adults want a little separation from children, while the pool-view options keep the whole group close to the courtyard. Children of any age are welcome; cots are available for children aged up to two years on request, but the policy does not allow extra beds, so check that the chosen room layout fits your party before booking.

Breakfast is a buffet served in Lacóbriga Restaurant, with an American-style spread to get you moving before a morning departure. Breakfast can also be brought to your room, which is useful when an early start makes conversation an unnecessary luxury. Room service is available for other moments when the bed, rather than the dining room, has won the argument.

Páteo Velho Restaurant brings Portuguese cooking to the terrace and has an outdoor grill. That gives the evening a more local direction than a generic hotel buffet, while the terrace provides somewhere to sit without making dinner feel like another indoor appointment. The hotel has three restaurants in total and a bar, as well as minibars in the rooms.

Half-board is available, but drinks are not included. The Duna Beach Club adds a cocktail bar beside its pool when it is open, with the club running from April to October. It sits on 2 kilometres of beach and can make lunch or a drink by the sea an easy part of the day, provided you keep its seasonal opening and beach-club arrangements in mind.

The courtyard pool is the obvious place to park yourself when the day's plans have run out. Sun loungers and beach chairs are available, and there is also a separate children's pool for family groups. The hotel garden and terrace give you somewhere to sit outside without having to make the walk into Lagos every time you want fresh air.

For a more deliberate recovery session, the wellness area includes a sauna, steam room, hammam, hot tub, relaxation lounge and spa packages. Massages are available as well. The fitness centre covers the people who would rather exercise than admit that a second coffee counts as a post-dive activity.

The hotel also offers bicycle rental and billiards. Golf is available within 3 kilometres, while the Duna Beach Club has water sports including kitesurfing and water skiing. Its large pool, sunbathing area and cocktail bar make it useful for a non-diving day, although use of the beach-club sunbeds carries an additional charge. The club also hosts events and gatherings, so it is not purely a quiet corner of sand.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. The front desk operates around the clock, with concierge support, a tour desk and luggage storage for the practical edges of the journey. Car hire can be arranged, and free private parking is available in the hotel's parking garage without reservation.

Faro Airport is about 38 miles away, or roughly a 56-minute drive. Portimão Airport is closer at around 10 miles by road, with a drive of about 18 minutes. The hotel provides a free shuttle to its private Duna Beach Club on Meia Praia during the seasonal operating period; this is a beach-club shuttle, not an airport transfer.

Free WiFi is available in all areas. Children aged 12 and over are treated as adults for the stay, children of any age are welcome, and the minimum age for check-in is 18. Dogs and cats are accepted on request and subject to approval. Cash is accepted, and laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available when your dive kit is not the only thing that needs attention.