Hotel Rio Sul Mare

Set in the historic centre of Rio Marina, Hotel Rio Sul Mare is a compact three-star base with the sea and harbour at the front door. Most rooms look towards the water, while others face the characteristic town itself, giving you a choice between a blue horizon and local street life.

The hotel suits divers who want the practical bits in place without turning the evening into a resort programme. Air conditioning, a mini fridge, WiFi and room service cover the useful after-dive basics, while the shared lounge and nearby bars leave you free to keep the evening simple. English-speaking guests are catered for alongside Italian-speaking guests, with the hotel's information available in both languages.

The address is in Rio Marina, on the north-eastern side of Elba, overlooking the coast and the port. You are in the town rather than tucked away outside it, so cafés, restaurants and the waterfront are part of the immediate surroundings rather than a driving exercise.

Spiaggia La Torre is within a short walk, and Spiaggia Marina di Gennaro is also close by. Other beaches, including Spiaggia Luisi D'Angelo, Topinetti Beach and Spiaggia di Ortano, spread along the coast for days when you want to change the scenery. The Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano is nearby too, while Orto dei Semplici and the Eremo di Santa Caterina are around 1.5 miles away.

For two, the Comfort Double Room with Balcony is the obvious choice if stepping outside matters as much as the bed itself. Most rooms have sea views, while the town-facing options put Rio Marina's everyday rhythm outside the window. Couples can keep things straightforward with a double room; families have room categories arranged for three or four guests, including a quadruple option with a more flexible bed set-up.

Every room comes with air conditioning, a mini fridge, WiFi, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with shower. The fridge is useful for keeping water cold when you return tired and salty, and the air conditioning gives you a proper chance to cool down before dinner. A wardrobe, clothes rack and bedside socket deal with the unglamorous business of unpacking, charging and finding tomorrow's dry clothes.

There is a lift, daily housekeeping and non-smoking rooms. A cot can be requested for a young child, while extra beds are not available, so the selected room category matters if more than two people are travelling.

Breakfast is Italian and buffet-style, with the option of having it brought to your room. That gives you a practical start on an early morning, particularly when sitting down properly feels more ambitious than putting the kettle on. Packed lunches are also available for days spent moving around the island.

There is one bar at the hotel, plus a minibar in the room. For dinner, the town does the heavy lifting: La Voglia Matta and Osteria Vento in Poppa are about 100 feet away, while Dolcemente Diversi is roughly 250 feet away. In other words, choosing somewhere to eat does not require a taxi, a timetable or a heroic amount of walking in dive footwear.

Room service is available when the sensible plan is to stay put. The nearby Bar Centrale is around 350 feet away for a coffee or a drink outside the hotel, and the harbour setting gives you more evening options than the room's television alone.

The hotel's strongest non-diving advantage is its position. You can walk to the nearby beaches, browse temporary art galleries, or head into the surrounding landscape for hiking and cycling. Bicycle rental is available, and car hire can be arranged for a wider circuit of Elba's beaches and historic sites.

For a slower afternoon, the shared lounge and TV area offer somewhere to sit without retreating straight to the room. Massage is available on site, which is a more useful proposition after a full day than a timetable of forced entertainment. The nearby national park also gives couples an easy change of pace when the sea is not on the agenda.

The hotel is family-friendly in practical terms, with family rooms, babysitting and child services available. Pets are also welcome on request, so this is an address that can accommodate more than the standard two-person dive trip.

Marina di Campo Airport is about 16 miles away by road. The hotel offers free public parking nearby, with no reservation needed, which is useful if you are bringing a car and planning to explore more than the waterfront. Car hire, a tour desk, concierge service and luggage storage are also available.

Check-in runs from 3 pm to 9.30 pm, and the hotel needs your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 7 am to 10 am, so early departures are possible, although breakfast timing should be checked directly if you are leaving at the sharp end of the morning.

Private and express check-in and check-out are available, alongside daily housekeeping. There is a minimarket on site, WiFi throughout the property and room service when your legs have had enough for the day. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.