Aquamare Beach Hotel & Spa

Aquamare Beach Hotel & Spa is built for the part of the day when your logbook is closed and your legs would prefer not to negotiate with another taxi. The setting is seafront, the atmosphere is that of a full-service hotel, and the choice is straightforward: pool, beach, bar or spa, depending on what your body is asking for.

Couples can keep things simple with a sea-view room, a drink at the beach bar and dinner on the terrace. Families have more room to spread out in the Family Suite, while solo divers can choose a single room without paying for space they will not use. There is also a heated indoor pool, useful when the Cypriot sun takes a day off or when you simply want to stop being outdoors for an hour.

The hotel combines a palm-tree garden, a sun terrace, several places to eat and a proper wellness centre. It is not a small hideaway where everybody knows your breakfast order. It is a sizeable coastal hotel with enough choice to make a week of diving easier on the joints.

You are in Paphos City, Cyprus, on Poseidonos Avenue in Kato Pafos. The hotel stands on the seafront, with a private beach area, outdoor space and views that can reach the Mediterranean from selected rooms. In other words, the sea is part of the address rather than a day trip.

Paphos town centre is around 2 miles away, close enough for an evening out without turning it into an expedition. St Paul's Pillar is about 1.7 miles away, while Paphos Archaeological Park and the Medieval Castle of Paphos are each roughly 2 miles away. The Paphos Municipal Baths are about 1.6 miles from the hotel, and Yeroskipou Beach is around 0.7 miles away.

Paphos International Airport is about 5 miles away by road. Free public parking is available on site, so a hire car is a workable option if you want to combine diving with archaeological sites, beaches and the wider island.

The rooms and suites use a classic style, with dark wood, softer colours, air conditioning, satellite television, a minibar, a balcony and a private bathroom with either a bath or shower. The balcony matters here: it gives you somewhere to sit with a drink while the dive computer dries out and the day catches up with you.

For two people who mainly need a clean base between dives, the standard, superior and side-sea-view rooms keep things uncomplicated. A full sea view is the choice when the outlook matters more than squeezing every last bit of value from the room. The Deluxe Double Room adds more space and a king-size bed, which may be welcome after several early starts and a long day in the water.

The Family Suite uses a king-size bed and sofa bed, making it the more sensible choice when two people want separate sleeping arrangements or extra living space. The Executive Suite goes further with a separate sofa-bed arrangement, a sea view and a bathroom. Soundproof rooms and daily housekeeping are available, while the refrigerator and kettle give you the basics for a cold drink or a quiet cup of tea before bed.

The hotel has a lift to the upper floors, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Children of any age are welcome; children aged 13 and over are treated as adults for the accommodation policy, and cots can be requested according to the room option.

Breakfast is a buffet, with Full English and Irish options, and the day starts from 07:00. That gives you a useful early meal before a morning departure, although a dedicated diver's breakfast or packed dive breakfast is not part of the information provided. Kirke Restaurant handles breakfast and lunch, with international cooking and lunch built around ingredients from Cyprus.

Dinner gives you two different moods. Ambrosia Restaurant serves a substantial international buffet and changes the theme each evening, which is handy when you do not want to make a restaurant decision after a tiring day. Sunset Terrace Italian Restaurant moves dinner outside, overlooking the gardens and Mediterranean, and operates from May to September.

There are two bars. Tavernaki Beach Bar is the daytime choice for cocktails beside the beach; Nektar Bar sits indoors and is suited to a pre-dinner aperitif or a post-dinner cognac. A snack bar, minibar, room breakfast and special-diet menus on request add useful flexibility, although the available details do not describe a continuous snack service or a late-dining option.

The outdoor pool comes with a hot tub and a sun terrace framed by palms, while a separate children's pool gives younger guests their own water. Sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and pool or beach towels keep the basic business of doing very little properly organised. The hotel also has a private beach area, so you can move from the pool to the coast without turning relaxation into a transfer.

Planet Spa is the serious recovery option. Treatments include massages, facials, manicures and body treatments, with couples' massage, full-body massage, back massage and head massage among the available choices. The spa also has a lounge, sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi and indoor hot tub. The heated indoor pool is open from mid-November to mid-March, giving you somewhere warm to swim when the outdoor pool is less tempting.

If sitting still becomes medically impossible, there is a fully equipped fitness centre with TechnoGym equipment, Kinesis, free weights and an aerobics room. Tennis, table tennis, a games room, aerobics, fitness classes, yoga classes and live music or evening entertainment provide alternatives for a non-diving afternoon. Bicycle hire and car hire are also available, while cycling and windsurfing are listed as activities away from the property.

The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, express and private check-in or check-out, luggage storage, lockers and a tour desk. Arrival is handled from the afternoon, with reception available until midnight, and check-out is by 12:00. You should give the hotel your expected arrival time, particularly if your flight lands late.

Free Wi-Fi covers the property, and free parking is available without a reservation. Car hire, laundry, dry cleaning, ironing and a barber or beauty shop are available on site. Room service is listed, as are packed lunches, although the practical arrangements should be checked when you book. Medical assistance is available on request, and a minimarket is useful for the small items that somehow never make it into the luggage.

The minimum age for check-in is 18. Guests under 18 must check in with a parent or official guardian, and the minimum age for using the gym, sauna, jacuzzi and steam bath is 16. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted. The hotel is non-smoking throughout, and pets are not allowed.