SEA NOVA Friar's Bay Beachfront Properties

SEA NOVA Friar's Bay Beachfront Properties is built around the useful luxuries of a diving holiday: a beachfront position, apartment-style accommodation, air conditioning, and somewhere to sit outside with a sea view. You get the independence of an aparthotel rather than a conventional room, with a kitchen for the days when you want food on your own timetable and a swimming pool looking out towards the water.

The layout also works for more than just couples. Family rooms, a children's playground and outdoor play equipment make the property practical for a mixed-age group, while the larger apartments give everyone a little more room to spread out. There is free WiFi throughout and free private parking on site, so you can keep the logistics straightforward and save your energy for the sea.

You stay directly on the beachfront in Saint Martin, with the property facing the sea rather than merely borrowing the word from its name. The garden, sun terrace and outdoor seating keep the view part of the day, whether you are having coffee or letting the salt dry off before dinner.

Amoureux Beach is about 0.8 miles away by road, while Grand Case Beach is about 2.7 miles away by road. Baie de la Potence Beach is about 1.7 miles away by road, and Nettle Bay Beach sits around 3.2 miles away. Grand Case-Espérance Airport is about 3.4 miles away by road; Princess Juliana International Airport is about 4.5 miles away.

You are also within reach of named places for eating and drinking, including Carroserie, around 2.2 miles away by road, and Tree Lounge Tapas Bar, around 1.7 miles away. O Plongeoir is about 2.1 miles away by road. For a change from beaches and restaurants, Ronald Webster Natural Park is around 8 miles away and Fountain Cavern National Park around 11 miles away.

The accommodation is apartment-led, which changes the rhythm of a diving stay. You can put the kettle on without waiting for breakfast service, keep drinks cold in the refrigerator, and use the dining area when you want a proper meal rather than another sandwich eaten over a suitcase. Kitchens include a stovetop, oven, microwave, coffee machine, cookware and a washing machine. That is the sort of detail that matters when your kit is still drying and your appetite has returned before your enthusiasm for going out.

For two, the Deluxe Suite with Sea View keeps things compact while giving you the view that brought you here. The one-bedroom apartments suit a couple who want a separate living arrangement or a small family who needs more breathing room. If you are travelling as a larger group, the Two-Bedroom Deluxe Apartment adds a second bathroom as well as the extra bedroom, which should reduce the daily queue for the shower after a long day in the water.

Every apartment has a private bathroom, balcony or terrace, air conditioning and a sea view. A ceiling fan, soundproofing and a mosquito net add useful support for the night, while the wardrobe, clothes rack and drying rack help keep a week's worth of holiday clothing under control. Floors are tiled or marble, and the non-smoking policy applies throughout the property.

An à la carte breakfast gives you a straightforward start before you head out, while the apartment kitchens leave you in charge of the rest of the day. You have a dining table, an outdoor dining area and the equipment to prepare something simple or more ambitious, from coffee before an early departure to a proper meal when you would rather stay put.

There is no need to treat every evening as a restaurant expedition. The refrigerator, oven, microwave, hob and kitchenware let you stock up and eat at your own pace, with the terrace or balcony providing the obvious setting if the weather is doing its part. After diving, that can be a more convincing luxury than a complicated menu: food, a chair, and no need to find your keys again.

The outdoor swimming pool gives you an easy alternative to the sea when you want a few quiet lengths without making another expedition of the afternoon. You can then settle on the sun terrace or in the garden, where outdoor furniture and patios make it possible to stay outside without turning relaxation into a formal event.

For a gentler recovery day, the property offers yoga classes, fitness classes, fitness facilities and a personal trainer. Massages cover the head, neck, back, hands, feet and full body, with couples' massages available as well. An open-air bath adds another way to slow the pace. Your legs can also take a day off while you choose a walking tour, hiking, canoeing or snorkelling.

Families get practical extras rather than decorative promises: a children's playground, outdoor play equipment and a high chair. Parties and events are not allowed, which keeps the evening setting firmly on the quiet side. Pets are not allowed either, and smoking is prohibited.

Check-in runs from 16:00 to 20:00, and you need to give the property your arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 07:00 to 11:00, useful if your return flight or boat connection starts early. There is no age requirement for check-in, and children of all ages are welcome; children aged 11 and over are treated as adults for the accommodation rules.

A cot can be requested for children aged up to three, subject to the chosen accommodation and availability. Extra beds are not available. Free private parking is on site and does not require a reservation, while WiFi is free in all areas. The property is an aparthotel with private apartments in a building and detached accommodation, so check the specific option carefully if the layout matters to you.

The airport transfer question is refreshingly simple to plan around: Grand Case-Espérance Airport is about 3.4 miles away by road, and Princess Juliana International Airport about 4.5 miles. Arrange your arrival transport directly with the property or use a hire car; parking is already available when you get there.