Maison Del Magra

A 1960s building, renovated in 2024, now carries a modern design with artwork by local artists. That gives Maison Del Magra more character than a standard coastal hotel, without turning the place into a museum where you are afraid to put your kit bag down.

You are staying beside the Magra River in Ameglia, with the sea close by and most rooms looking towards the water. The atmosphere suits couples who want a quieter base between outings, as well as divers who prefer a proper room and a good meal to a resort full of organised noise.

English is not listed among the hotel's staff languages, so do not assume every conversation will run in English. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and the shared lounge gives you somewhere to sit when the room is not quite ready for another horizontal hour.

The hotel is in Ameglia, on the banks of the Magra River, in the Fiumaretta area of Italy. The beach is a short walk away, with golden sand, sun loungers and parasols. Marina di Carrara Beach is about 2 miles away by road, while Punta Bianca Beach is about 4 miles away.

This is a useful base for mixing sea days with excursions. The nearby harbour has ferries to Lerici and the Cinque Terre, while boat hire, with or without a skipper, opens the Gulf of Poets, Palmaria Island and Portovenere without putting you back behind the wheel.

For arrivals by rail, Luni station is about 3 miles away by road and Carrara-Avenza is about 5 miles away. Pisa International Airport is about 39 miles away by road.

Most rooms look towards the sea, and the panoramic terraces face the mouth of the Magra River. For two, a sea-view double room is the obvious choice if the view matters more than extra floor space; the Superior Double Room with Sea View gives you the same couple-sized layout with a more substantial room presentation.

Travelling as three, choose a triple room with a balcony or the much larger Superior Triple Room with Sea View. The latter has a private bathroom, while the standard triple option gives you a balcony and room to avoid the traditional holiday argument over whose bag is blocking the door. Family rooms are available, and children of any age are welcome.

Air conditioning matters when you have spent the day warm, salty and slightly over-optimistic about your energy levels. Rooms also have private bathrooms, towels, toiletries, a hairdryer, a wardrobe or closet and a minibar. Daily housekeeping is included, and the 2024 renovation brings hardwood or parquet floors, modern furnishings and high-design details.

Breakfast is an Italian buffet, with sweet and savoury choices made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. That is the useful sort of start for a diving day: coffee, something substantial, and no need to make an expedition of finding food before departure.

Ristorante Del Magra serves lunch and dinner on its terrace overlooking the river. The kitchen works with local dishes and fresh seasonal ingredients, so the evening meal has a clear sense of place rather than the anonymous international menu found in many coastal hotels.

There is a bar and an on-site coffee house, plus a minibar in the room. A nearby minimarket and drinks vending machine cover the less ambitious moments, when you want something cold without turning the post-dive recovery into a social event.

The beach is close enough for a simple afternoon of swimming, sun and water sports. Sun loungers and parasols are available, while on-site options include snorkelling, canoeing and windsurfing. Charges apply to some activities, so check the arrangement before setting off with nothing but a towel.

When your legs have had enough of fins, the hotel offers yoga classes and a massage chair, along with head, neck, back, foot, hand and full-body massages. Body treatments, manicures, pedicures and other beauty services are also available. This is less about filling every hour and more about persuading tired muscles to stop complaining.

For a more active day out, you can hike, cycle, join a walking or bike tour, or rent a bicycle. Boat hire with or without a skipper takes you towards the Gulf of Poets, Palmaria Island and Portovenere, while temporary art galleries bring a little culture into the gap between the last dive and dinner.

Check-in runs from 14:30 to 21:00 and check-out from 07:30 to 11:00. You need to give the hotel your expected arrival time, and photo identification plus a credit card are required at check-in. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, with luggage storage, a concierge and a tour desk for the practical business of moving around the area.

There is no lift, and upper floors are reached by stairs. That is worth bearing in mind if your dive bag has developed the mysterious ability to gain weight on every trip. Nearby public parking is free, but spaces cannot be reserved.

An airport shuttle and a local shuttle service are available to arrange with the hotel. Pets are accepted on request. Cash is not accepted, and WiFi is free throughout the property. Laundry and ironing services are available when the wetsuit-adjacent wardrobe has clearly lost the argument.