Hotel Alexandrina

If you want a hotel rather than a full-on resort, this is the useful distinction. Hotel Alexandrina has 27 rooms and sits in a rural setting above the sea, with a local and international feel rather than a package-holiday production line.

You can come here for a quiet base between outings, keep some food in the fridge, and make use of the kitchen facilities available in several room categories. Air conditioning, fans, Wi-Fi and soundproofing cover the less glamorous but important parts of a diving holiday: cooling down, staying connected and sleeping without every passing sound joining the night.

The hotel is in Diamond, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, at Prospect on the island's countryside side. Its hillside position looks across the Caribbean Sea towards the Northern Grenadines, including Mustique and Balliceaux. That gives you a proper sense of place, rather than a room in an anonymous town strip.

The sea and beach are around 10 minutes away, while the centre of town is about 20 minutes away. Scuba-diving companies and yacht charters are around eight minutes from the hotel, so the location works well if you want diving access without sleeping beside the harbour. The airport is about 15 minutes away by road.

The room choice is less about decoration than about how much self-sufficiency you want. A standard double room with a double bed suits two people who simply need a comfortable base, while the apartment categories and the two-bedroom penthouse make more sense if you want separate sleeping space and room to live around the diving schedule.

Several categories include a kitchen, microwave, fridge and tea-making facilities, which is handy when you return hungry at an inconvenient hour. Air conditioning and a fan give you two ways to cool the room, while a private bathroom, towels, toiletries, hairdryer and wardrobe keep the practical details in place. Safes are available in a number of categories too.

If the view matters, the classic ocean-view room is the obvious choice. A garden-view double room offers a different outlook, while selected rooms add a private entrance, mosquito protection or stronger kitchen facilities. Soundproofing is available in several categories, and Wi-Fi, a television and a desk cover the quieter stretches of the day. Room service runs for limited hours, so it is worth treating it as a useful extra rather than a midnight catering plan.

There is a restaurant and a bar on site, so you can eat and have a drink without turning every evening into a transport arrangement. Breakfast is available, including breakfast served in your room, and the kitchen facilities in some accommodation give you another option when a full restaurant meal feels like unnecessary ceremony.

The dining set-up is straightforward rather than elaborate: restaurant meals, a bar, tea and coffee, and picnic lunches. A shared kitchen and microwaves are useful for flexible eating, particularly when your return from the water does not line up neatly with everyone else's idea of mealtime.

Room service is available during limited hours. The meal arrangement depends on the room booking, so check what your chosen stay includes before assuming breakfast is part of the package.

A pool and an outdoor pool give you somewhere to stretch out when you want water without a mask, regulator or boat timetable. The garden, terrace and outdoor furniture are better suited to the slower part of the day: coffee, a book, or the noble task of doing absolutely nothing for a while.

There is also a fitness centre for anyone who still has energy to spend. The hotel can arrange excursions, including La Soufriere, the Botanical Garden, Fort Charlotte, Owia Salt Pond, Rawacou Recreation Park and the Vermont Nature Trail. Hiking and cultural excursions provide options for a non-diving day, or for a travelling companion who prefers dry land.

The beach is around 10 minutes away, with beach equipment and beach or pool towels available. That gives you a simple change of scene without turning the hotel into an artificial island of loungers and organised entertainment.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is at 11:00. Airport transfers can be arranged through the hotel, and the team can also help organise excursions. Free parking is available if you are driving, while free Wi-Fi keeps the essential admin from becoming a holiday project.

The property has a lift and accessible facilities, along with private or express check-in and check-out. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, as are ironing facilities, luggage storage and concierge assistance. A safe is available, and the hotel is non-smoking.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted, alongside cash, PayPal and bank transfer. The hotel also has a business centre, meeting and conference facilities, which may matter if you are combining diving with work rather than pretending the emails do not exist.