PLACES Dalmacija by Valamar

Sea views, a beachfront position and a promenade leading into Makarska give PLACES Dalmacija by Valamar a straightforward appeal: you can keep your day close to the water without being cut off from town. The atmosphere is built around the outdoor pool, the sun terrace and the bars rather than formal hotel ceremony. You can come back from the coast, find a lounger, and let the rest of the afternoon make its own arrangements.

The hotel has 105 rooms and is geared towards couples as well as small groups who want a practical base by the sea. English is available on the hotel's website, alongside German, Croatian, Norwegian, Polish and Swedish, so English-speaking guests can get to grips with the essentials before booking. There is also free WiFi throughout the property, air conditioning in the rooms and a 24-hour reception when your travel day refuses to behave.

You are in Makarska, Croatia, at Kralja Petra Kresimira IV 41, directly beside a pebble beach. The seaside promenade starts close to the hotel and runs towards the centre of Makarska, which is about a 10-minute walk away. Makarska Beach is roughly 250 ft away on foot, while Ratac Beach is about 250 ft away by road. Biloševac Beach is around 0.3 mi away on foot.

The location gives you more than a strip of sun loungers. St Peter Lighthouse is about 0.8 mi away on foot, Makarska Main Square is roughly 0.8 mi away, and Biokovo Nature Park is around 0.6 mi away. If you fancy a longer outing, Vosac peak lies about 1.9 mi away as the crow flies and Biokovo Mountain about 3.3 mi away. Jež and Don Antonio are within roughly 450 ft, while Bistro Il Golfo is about 500 ft away for another meal beyond the hotel.

The room choice is really a question of how much breathing space you want around the diving bags and the person sharing your holiday. The compact seaside room for two keeps things simple with twin single beds, while the larger seaside option adds a sofa bed for a third guest. For a couple who would rather spread out than perform nightly luggage Tetris, the Cherry on top suite is the more generous choice, with a separate bathroom and considerably more room to settle in.

Every room has a balcony and a sea view, so you can step outside without turning the bed into a lookout post. Air conditioning matters when the Croatian heat has followed you back from the shore; the private bathroom comes with a shower, towels, a hairdryer and toiletries. A wardrobe or closet, bed-side socket, flat-screen TV and free WiFi cover the useful basics. The rooms are non-smoking, and lifts serve the building. Children of any age are welcome, although the property has no extra beds; cots are available for younger children on request.

Breakfast arrives every morning as a buffet on the terrace, where the sea view does some of the work before the first coffee has properly taken effect. The hotel's à la carte restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Mediterranean cooking, pool views and vegetarian dishes. That gives you a proper sit-down option without requiring a walk into town every time your appetite catches up with you.

There are two bars. The pool bar deals in refreshing drinks beside the outdoor pool, while the lobby bar gives you somewhere to sit when the sun has gone off duty. For a change of scene, Il Golfo is a seafood restaurant close to the hotel, with a European menu. Half-board is available, but drinks are not included, a small detail worth knowing before you arrive hungry and optimistic.

The outdoor pool is surrounded by a broad sun terrace with loungers, umbrellas and pool or beach towels. A pool bar sits alongside it, which means you can keep the afternoon pleasantly unambitious: swim, dry off, drink something cold, repeat. The spa adds massages with Mediterranean spices and aromas, and the property also has a fitness room for the days when your legs have recovered enough to be reminded about exercise.

If you want to move rather than melt, the hotel offers bicycle rental, cycling, bike tours, hiking, tennis, aerobics and a games room. Windsurfing and canoeing are also available, with the coast doing the obvious heavy lifting. Live entertainment and evening entertainment provide a livelier option later on, including a nightclub or DJ. The promenade and nearby beaches make a quieter walk just as easy, especially when you have had enough of organised fun.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 10:00. The 24-hour reception, luggage storage and wake-up service are useful when your arrival or departure does not fit neatly around those hours. Private parking is available on site, although spaces cannot be reserved, and an electric vehicle charging station is available. Laundry and ironing services are also offered.

Split Airport is roughly 47 miles away by road, with a drive of about 1 hour 20 minutes. Brac Airport is around 21 miles away by road but involves a longer journey of about 1 hour 40 minutes, while Mostar International Airport is roughly 58 miles away and about 1 hour 40 minutes by car. Makarska's main bus station is about 0.5 mi away on foot. Pets are allowed, and cash is accepted for payment. Free WiFi covers all areas, so you can sort out the next day's plans without hunting for a signal.