Hotel Apoksiomen

Hotel Apoksiomen is a small, town-centre hotel with 25 rooms over three floors, set directly on the seafront in Mali Lošinj. It suits divers who would rather step straight into the life of the town than retreat to an isolated resort once the boat is back in harbour.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Italian, German and Croatian. That makes the practical business of checking in, sorting out a meal or asking for help refreshingly straightforward. The hotel also has air conditioning, free Wi-Fi throughout, a lift and a 24-hour reception, so the useful things are covered without making a performance of it.

You are in Mali Lošinj, Croatia, at Riva lošinjskih kapetana 1, right on the waterfront. The hotel sits in the town centre, placing cafés, streets and the harbour-side atmosphere within your immediate surroundings rather than requiring a taxi every time you fancy a look around.

Several beaches are close by, including Na Kamenu Beach, Sv. Martin Beach and Ostrugova Bay Beach. The location also works well for exploring the island, whether you choose a walk through the area, a cycle ride or a boat outing. It is a town base with the sea at hand, not a self-contained beach complex.

The room choice is mainly about the view and the balcony. If opening the curtains onto the sea matters to you, the sea-view rooms are the obvious choice; the superior sea-view category adds the option of a balcony, while the junior suite combines sea views with balcony space. For a simpler night in town, the standard double keeps things more straightforward.

Every room has a private bathroom, television, minibar and in-room safe. Air conditioning helps take the edge off a warm day, and the rooms are non-smoking. The junior suite also includes toiletries, a small detail that saves one more item from the washbag.

The hotel has three floors and a lift, which is useful when your legs have already done enough work for one day. Room service is available, and the minibar gives you somewhere to keep a cold drink for the return from the waterfront. The sea-view categories are the ones to choose for the outlook; the attic options offer a different position within the building rather than the same balcony arrangement.

Restaurant Apoxx is the main address for eating, with a terrace beside the sea and service covering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its cooking is Mediterranean, with traditional homemade dishes built around fish specialities, fresh ingredients and olive oil. That is the sort of menu that makes sense on an island, particularly when you want dinner to remain recognisably local rather than turn into a second airport lounge.

Breakfast is served à la carte. The restaurant also offers a half-board arrangement, while the hotel bar is there for a drink before dinner or a slower one afterwards. The wine list draws from Croatian regions including Istria, Dalmatia, Međimurje and Slavonia, so there is room to explore beyond the usual single-house option.

The restaurant and bar are accessible to wheelchair users. For a less formal hunger attack, the hotel café covers lighter bites, and free Wi-Fi means you can check the next day's plan without leaving the table.

The hotel offers a swimming pool and a fitness room for the days when you want to move without committing to another full expedition. Bicycle hire, cycling and walking give you an easy way to see more of Mali Lošinj and the surrounding island, while kayaking and boat excursions take the activity back onto the water without turning it into another dive day.

For a slower afternoon, the possibilities include fishing, museum visits and cultural excursions. Wildlife observation is also available, as are island and snorkelling trips. These are useful options when one person wants to keep exploring and the other has reached the perfectly respectable stage of sitting down with a drink.

Entertainment is available at the hotel, and outdoor furniture gives you somewhere to pause between outings. Pets are welcome too, making the address practical for travellers who do not leave every member of the household at home.

The reception is open around the clock. Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, with check-out by 11:00; the express check-in and check-out service may help if your travel day is running on a tighter schedule. Transfers are available through the hotel, and parking is available on site or nearby.

The building has a lift to the upper floors, with accessible facilities in the restaurant and bar. Laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services are available, useful when salt, sunscreen and a week of travelling have started to form their own wardrobe. A safe is provided in the room, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

Payment is accepted in cash, Visa and Mastercard. Pets are admitted, and the hotel can accommodate guests travelling with them. The town-centre setting also means you can manage much of the evening on foot, which is generally preferable to putting on proper shoes for a ten-minute journey.