Hotel Residence Les Medes

Hotel Residence Les Medes suits divers who prefer an island base with a little room to organise the day their own way. You have air conditioning for the return from the heat, a kitchenette for the practical meals, and a garden with a sun terrace when the only sensible plan is to sit down and do very little.

The feel is more residence than formal hotel. You can eat at the on-site gourmet-style restaurant and use the bar, or keep things simple with the refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine and dining area in your accommodation. There is also a minimarket on site, which is handy when you want breakfast supplies, cold drinks or something uncomplicated after a long day outdoors.

Couples can keep the arrangement easy: beach, harbour, dinner, bed. Families have access to family rooms, board games and outdoor space, while the triple-room layout gives three people a workable base rather than asking everyone to share one large bed.

You are in Porquerolles, France, around 300 metres from Courtade Beach and roughly 400 metres from the harbour where the mainland shuttle boats arrive. That makes the arrival itself part of the geography: you cross from the Giens peninsula, then continue on the island rather than driving straight to a hotel car park.

Argent Beach is about 1 mile away on foot, while Oustaou de Diou Cove is around 1.2 miles away. Lequin Cove and Breganconnet Cove are also within reach for a longer outing, at roughly 1.4 and 1.6 miles respectively. Swimming, cycling and hiking all start with the island rather than a resort timetable.

For mainland travel, Toulon–Hyères Airport is 6 miles away, Saint-Tropez La Mole Airport is 19 miles away and Marseille Provence Airport is 57 miles away. The ferry service from Giens runs regularly, and a water taxi is another way to reach Porquerolles; check the crossing timetable before setting off.

The accommodation is built around self-catering rather than a bare room and a kettle in the corner. Your kitchenette includes a refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, dining table and kitchenware, so you can keep food and drinks to hand and decide for yourself whether the evening needs a proper restaurant or simply something eaten in comfortable clothes.

For two, the double rooms keep the arrangement straightforward, with a king-size bed, private bathroom, air conditioning and a wardrobe. The standard triple room is the practical choice for three, with one single bed alongside the king-size bed. Family rooms are also available, giving larger parties a clearer option than trying to improvise with extra sleeping arrangements.

Air conditioning matters on an island where the day can be warm and active. The rooms also have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. Daily housekeeping keeps the domestic side of the stay from becoming another task, while the drying rack is useful for ordinary clothes and beachwear.

There is one restaurant on site, with a gourmet-style approach, plus a bar for the drink that follows dinner or the slower one that follows it. The arrangement gives you a choice without requiring another expedition across the island every evening.

Breakfast is available each morning as an all-you-can-eat buffet and can be taken on the veranda. It is not included in the room rate, so treat it as a separate part of the booking rather than assuming it is already covered. For a diving day, the veranda setting and buffet format make the first meal less of a ceremony and more of a useful start.

The kitchenette changes the rhythm for the rest of the day. With a refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine and dining area in your accommodation, you can prepare something small, keep supplies cool and eat when your own timetable says so. The on-site minimarket adds another practical option, while several restaurants are close to the residence if you fancy leaving the cooking to somebody else.

Porquerolles gives you plenty to do without turning the hotel into an activity camp. Hiking, swimming and cycling are all available on site, so you can spend a non-diving day moving through the island at your own pace rather than signing up for a programme.

Back at the residence, the garden, sun terrace, outdoor furniture and picnic area provide places to stop. Sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and a solarium cover the important business of sitting in the sun, while table tennis offers a little competition for anyone who has not had enough of judging distance and timing underwater.

For quieter evenings, the accommodation has a dining area and television, and board games and puzzles are available. That is enough structure for a couple or family without filling every spare hour. You can swim, walk or cycle while the weather is doing its thing, then return for a drink, a meal or a chair in the garden.

Arrival runs from 15:00 to 20:00 and departure from 08:00 to 11:00. You need to tell the property your expected arrival time, particularly because reaching Porquerolles involves a boat crossing. A photo ID and credit card are required at check-in, and luggage storage is available if your travel times do not line up neatly with the room.

A shuttle service is available, and the property can help arrange a shuttle-boat service. The ferry from the Giens peninsula runs regularly, while a water taxi is also available. Check the timetable before travelling, then allow enough margin for the crossing rather than arriving at the mainland terminal with the optimism of someone who has never missed a boat.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, with public-area access also available. There are lockers, a safety deposit box, express check-in and check-out, a lift and heating, alongside air conditioning in the accommodation. Cash is accepted, pets are not allowed, and children of all ages are welcome; cots are available for young children, while extra beds are not available.