Hotel Playa Colibri

Las Ballenas Beach is the main character here, with the hotel laid out directly on the coast and a garden between the accommodation and the wider resort grounds. Hotel Playa Colibri is a beachfront residence in Las Terrenas, with a family-friendly feel, space to spread out and the sort of self-catering set-up that makes a longer diving stay less fussy.

The website is available in English and Spanish, which is useful when you are checking the details of your stay before travelling. Back at the hotel, you can choose between the beach, the pool, the bar or your own patio rather than being funnelled into one grand resort routine. That is a sensible arrangement when your main ambition is to eat, rinse off and sit down.

You are in Las Terrenas, on the Samaná peninsula of the Dominican Republic, at Hotel Playa Colibri's address on Calle Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó. The property sits on the coast of Playa Las Ballenas, with direct access to white sand, sun loungers and parasols. No road-crossing expedition is required to reach the sea.

Las Terrenas town centre is about 1 mile away, giving you access to the town without putting you in the middle of it. Punta Popy Beach is about 0.7 miles away by road, while Playa El Portillo is about 2.4 miles away by road. Samana El Catey International Airport is about 19 miles away by road, with the journey listed at around 46 minutes.

The accommodation is built around studios, apartments and villas rather than standard hotel rooms. That matters when your holiday luggage has grown into a small committee. The kitchens are fully equipped, with a refrigerator, coffee machine, kitchenware and a dining table, while separate seating areas give you somewhere to sit that is not the edge of the bed.

For two people, the One-Bedroom Apartment gives you more room to live around the diving day than a compact studio. The Queen Studio is the simpler couple's choice, with a king-size bed and the same useful basics: air conditioning, a ceiling fan, tiled floors, cable or flat-screen television, free Wi-Fi and a safety deposit box. Some apartments have ocean views, so the category you choose changes the outlook as well as the amount of space.

Travelling with family or a larger group, the Two-Bedroom Apartment or One-Bedroom Villa gives you the more workable layout. Patios, balconies or terraces extend the living space outdoors, and mosquito nets are available. Daily housekeeping, towels, a private bathroom, wardrobe space and a drying rack for clothes round out the practical side of the stay.

The Kiosko Bar & Restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace, from 7:30 in the morning until 11:00 at night. The cooking is varied rather than tied to one narrow style, with tropical drinks alongside the food. Breakfast is included and comes as a continental or buffet service, so you can get something on board before the day gets moving.

There is one named bar: The Kiosko Bar, set on the beach and focused on cocktails. A snack bar is also available, and breakfast can be served in your room. Special-diet menus can be requested, while the kitchens in the studios and apartments give you the option of keeping meals straightforward when restaurant timing does not match your own.

For an evening with a little more ceremony, the property offers a Romantic Dinner service with views across the North Coast. Regular Happy Hours and a DJ add a livelier note, without requiring you to leave the beach to find a drink.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place for a non-diving swim, while the Jacuzzi is better suited to the slow, warm-water version of exercise. Beach chairs, umbrellas and beach towels are available, so you can move from the sand to the pool without having to organise your own furniture. The landscaped garden and sun terrace provide quieter places to sit, and there is a library for anyone who has reached the point where another screen is not going to improve the afternoon.

When you want to leave the property under your own steam, bicycle rental and cycling are available, along with horse riding, hiking, snorkelling and fishing. A tour or class about local culture can also be arranged. These are useful choices for a companion who wants a day with more movement, or for you when the sea has already had enough of your attention.

Evenings can stay low-key with board games and the shared lounge, or become more social with karaoke, Happy Hour and the DJ. Massage and beauty services are available on site, including manicures, pedicures, hairdressing and waxing. The hotel also offers an indoor play area, outdoor play equipment and babysitting services for families travelling with children.

Check-in starts from 3:00 pm and check-out runs until noon. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in. Entry to the property is closed between midnight and 7:00 am, so late-night arrivals and very early departures need planning rather than optimism.

An airport shuttle is available from Samana El Catey International Airport, and a general shuttle service can also be arranged through the hotel. Car hire, a tour desk, luggage storage, currency exchange and an ATM are available on site. Free private parking is available without reservation, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

The 24-hour front desk, room service, packed lunches and grocery deliveries cover the useful edges of a diving holiday, particularly when your day starts early or finishes later than planned. The hotel accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal. Children over one year are welcome; cots can be requested for younger children, while extra beds are not available.