Auberge des Glycines

Auberge des Glycines occupies a typical Provençal house on Porquerolles, with an inside patio that gives the place its own pocket of calm away from the square. With just 11 rooms, it suits you if you prefer a small island address with the port, the restaurant table and the village within easy reach rather than a large resort built around a long list of facilities.

The practical side is well covered for a diving holiday. Air conditioning takes the edge off a hot return from the water, while the private bathroom, hairdryer, toiletries and safety deposit box keep the room straightforward. The hotel also welcomes families, and children of any age can stay.

You are at 22 Place d'Armes, on the village square of Porquerolles, in the commune of Hyères, France. The port is only 200 metres away, so arriving by boat does not involve a long island trek with luggage. Sainte Agathe Fort is about 500 metres from the hotel, giving you an easy landmark to reach when you feel like stretching your legs after diving.

Courtade Beach is roughly 0.5 miles away on foot. Argent Beach is about 0.9 miles away, while Oustaou de Diou Cove is around 1 mile away. Breganconnet Cove and Lequin Cove are both about 1.5 miles from the hotel, putting several different stretches of coast within walking or cycling range.

Toulon-Hyères Airport is around 20 minutes away, and the boat connection serving the airport is 6 km from the hotel. Hyères railway station is about 8 miles away on the mainland.

The room choice matters here because the layouts are not interchangeable. For two people wanting a little more breathing room, the Large Double Room or the Superior Double Room makes more sense than the smallest double option. The Superior layout also works when you need a different sleeping arrangement, while the Double Room with Balcony gives you an outdoor perch of your own. Some rooms open directly onto the patio instead.

Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a wardrobe and a safety deposit box. The private bathroom comes with a bath or shower, towels, a hairdryer and free toiletries. That is the useful kit: somewhere secure for your valuables, somewhere cool to recover and no need to pack a hairdryer alongside the dive kit.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and public areas. Non-smoking rooms and tiled or marble floors keep the accommodation simple and easy to live with, while heating is available for cooler evenings outside the summer season.

The table is La Table des Glycines, set in the patio and serving lunch and dinner six days a week. Thursday is the weekly closing day, so that is the one evening when you will need to make another plan. The cooking is Italian and Mediterranean, with the sort of menu that makes sense when you return hungry: truffle pizzas, lobster pasta, wild sea bass grilled with fennel and Provençal aioli.

Porquerolles wines are part of the restaurant's identity, giving the evening a local angle rather than a generic hotel menu. There is also a bar on site, useful when the day calls for a drink before food rather than another expedition across the island.

Breakfast is a buffet served from 08:00 to 10:30, with pastries, bread, jam, cereals, yoghurt, fruit, fruit juice and hot drinks. It is a solid start for a morning on land or at sea, though the published breakfast window is worth bearing in mind if your boat leaves early.

The patio, terrace and sun terrace give you places to sit without having to leave the property. This is the sort of arrangement that works well when you want to dry off, read a few pages or let the day slow down before dinner. Board games and puzzles are available too, which may be more appealing than another screen when the wind gets up outside.

Porquerolles itself supplies the active part. Cycling and hiking are available, and the hotel proposes excursions towards Notre-Dame Beach and Pointe du Langoustier. Courtade Beach is about 0.5 miles away, with Argent Beach and several coves further on for a change of shoreline.

Snorkelling, canoeing and windsurfing are available off site, giving non-diving companions something to do while you are underwater. The island setting also makes a simple walk to the fort or through the village an easy way to spend an afternoon without turning recovery into another workout.

Plan to arrive from 15:00 and give the hotel your expected arrival time, particularly if you are travelling on a later boat. Check-out is by 12:00, which leaves a useful margin on departure day rather than forcing you towards the port at first light.

Wi-Fi is free, and reception can lend laptops. Express check-in and check-out are available, wake-up calls can be arranged and packed lunches are offered for days when the island, rather than the restaurant, is your dining room. Cash and major cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted, along with PayPal and bank transfer.

Porquerolles changes the logistics compared with a mainland hotel: your journey involves the boat connection, and your final transfer should be planned around its timetable. Once you arrive, the port is only 200 metres away. The address is on the village square, so you can reach the hotel without arranging a long island transfer.