Best Western Hotel du Roy d'Aragon

Some hotels make you walk towards the harbour; here, the harbour is the setting. The Best Western Hôtel du Roy d'Aragon sits on the old port in Bonifacio, where you can finish a day at sea with a drink on the shaded terrace and watch the waterfront carry on without having to organise another outing.

This is a practical base for a couple who wants the town close at hand, rather than a self-contained resort with every meal and activity behind the same gate. Air-conditioned rooms, soundproofed accommodation, a lift, 24-hour reception and free WiFi keep the useful parts straightforward. After a day in salt water and sun, that matters more than another decorative slogan.

You are in Bonifacio, in southern Corsica, at 13 Quai Jérôme Comparetti on the old port. The hotel is in a pedestrian-only zone, so the last part of your arrival is on foot, with the waterfront and the town immediately around you rather than a car park at the door.

Arinella Beach is about 0.7 miles away, roughly a ten-minute walk. St Antoine Beach is about 1.9 miles away by road, while Cala Sciumara Beach is about 2.7 miles away. For dinner, the choice starts practically outside: Les Voyageurs is about 40 feet away, Glacier le Rocca-Serra about 50 feet away and La Brasserie du Port about 150 feet away.

Figari-Sud Corse Airport is about 12 miles from the hotel by road, around 20 minutes by car. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is a longer crossing of the map, about 50 miles by road and roughly two hours 23 minutes by car.

For two, the port-view rooms are the obvious choice if you want Bonifacio's working waterfront to remain part of the stay. The Superior Double Room with Port View and the Privilege Double Room with Port View both use a king-size bed; some rooms also have a private terrace, so the useful question is whether you would rather have the outlook or simply a comfortable place to sleep.

The Junior Suite with Port View gives a couple more room to spread out, while the family rooms are the sensible move when four people need to occupy the same booking without pretending that a standard double can perform miracles. The Comfort Queen Room with Sofa Bed accommodates three, with a king-size bed, a single bed and a sofa bed.

Every guest room has air conditioning, a private bathroom with a hairdryer, a television, wooden furnishings, a personal safe and a welcome tray. Soundproofing should help when the port is still lively, and the lift saves you from carrying wet clothes and tired legs up the stairs. A desk is available when you need to sort photographs or answer a message, while the free WiFi works throughout the hotel.

Breakfast is served as a continental buffet, with enough range to cover both the quick departure and the slower morning. The local side includes Corsican products such as brocciu fritters, Canistrelli, maquis or chestnut preserves and honey, coppa, lonzo, panzetta, figatellu and sheep's or goat's cheese. Alongside that come the familiar practical choices: scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, yoghurt, cereals, pastries, smoked trout, mozzarella and tomatoes, wraps and wholemeal or cereal bread.

Café du Roy D’Aragon handles breakfast, lunch and dinner on its terrace overlooking the port. It is the sort of arrangement that lets you sit down without turning the evening into a logistical exercise. The hotel also has a bar for cocktails, with the option of an aperitif platter in the evening on request; the platter carries an additional charge.

A coffee house is available on site, and rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast can also be taken in your room, which is handy when an early boat matters more than conversation.

There is no need to manufacture a programme inside the hotel. The shaded terrace, sun terrace and outdoor furniture give you somewhere to sit with a drink, a book or the day's photographs, while the shared lounge and television area cover the less ambitious end of the evening. Sometimes the correct post-dive activity is a chair and a cold glass. Revolutionary stuff.

The wider offer around your stay includes boat outings, kayaking, windsurfing and jet skiing, with snorkelling listed among the excursions. The hotel also connects naturally with land-based days: walking, cultural excursions and trips to an island, a waterfall or a market are part of the available programme. You can keep the pace gentle, or fill the day with another form of getting wet.

Golf is also available in the area, with Spérone Golf Club about a ten-minute drive away. Arinella Beach is close enough for a straightforward walk, while the other beaches call for a car. There is no spa routine to follow here, which leaves you free to decide whether recovery means shade, supper or an early night.

Reception is open around the clock. Check-in starts from 16:00, and check-out runs from 07:30 to 11:00, useful if your departure is tied to a morning boat or an airport run. Luggage storage is available, as are express check-in and check-out, and the lift makes arrival easier with bags.

The pedestrian-only location changes how you handle the car. On arrival, you can use a nearby express public parking area for a short luggage drop-off, then collect an access card for another public car park. The public spaces cannot be reserved and become very busy in summer, so arriving with a plan is wiser than circling Bonifacio with dive bags in the boot. Directions are sent by the property, and an electric vehicle charging station is available.

Children of any age are welcome. Cots and extra beds can be requested, with availability depending on the room selected; family rooms and interconnected rooms are available. Pets are not allowed, cash is not accepted, and the hotel is non-smoking. Free WiFi covers all areas, and the 24-hour front desk is there when travel timings refuse to behave.