Bi Hotel

Porto Ercole suits divers who want a proper town around their hotel rather than a self-contained resort with nowhere to go once the kit is put away. Bi Hotel gives you air-conditioned rooms, sea views, a terrace, a lounge area and a swimming pool, with the coast doing most of the visual work outside the window.

You will be understood in English as well as Italian, including by the management. That matters when you are discussing an early start, a restaurant booking or the practical details of getting to the water. The hotel also has a partnership with a nearby diving centre, so diving can fit into the stay without turning the whole address into a dive base.

You are in Porto Ercole, on Monte Argentario in Italy, at Via Panoramica. The hotel sits by the sea, with the centre of Porto Ercole around a five-minute walk away. That puts cafés, restaurants and the small-town evening circuit within reach when you want to leave the hotel without planning an expedition.

The sea is 50 metres away, and the hotel describes a sandy beach with sun loungers and parasols. Le Viste Beach is about 0.7 miles away on foot, with the walk taking roughly 13 minutes; La Piletta Beach is about 0.9 miles away. For a change of scene, Forte Stella is 1 mile away and Torre delle Saline about 7 miles away.

The room choice is mainly about how you want to wake up. A sea-view double is the obvious pick if the view matters to you; the standard double keeps things simpler for two, while the double with an extra bed is the practical option when three people are sharing. There is also a double with a private bathroom, useful when that detail is a deciding factor rather than a box to tick.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom, WiFi, a minibar, a wardrobe, a television and a desk. The minibar is handy for water after a hot day outside, while the air conditioning gives you a better chance of feeling human again by bedtime. Daily housekeeping, a hairdryer, a shower or bath, and soundproof rooms round out the practical side of the night.

Breakfast can be brought to your room, which is worth considering when the morning starts early. Room service is available, although its hours are limited. The rooms are non-smoking, and the terrace and shared lounge give you somewhere beyond the bedroom to sit when you have finished replaying the day's dive in your head.

Il Faro Restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Mediterranean cooking, fresh seafood and local ingredients. Its terrace looks over the sea, and the dress code is casual: no need to arrive dressed like you are attending a yacht launch when all you really want is a plate of something substantial.

Breakfast is an Italian buffet and is included in the stay. Fresh pastries, cheese, fruit and juice make it a useful start before heading out, although no early breakfast service is specified. For a drink afterwards, Bar Centrale is the hotel's lobby bar, serving cocktails, wine and beer. Room service is also available during limited hours, but there is no continuous snacking service to rely on between meals.

You can also walk into Porto Ercole for other places to eat. El Pirata is about 30 feet away, I Bucanieri about 100 feet, and Sandwich Club about 350 feet. That gives you alternatives without requiring a car, which is particularly welcome when your legs have already done their day's work.

The large outdoor swimming pool comes with sun loungers and umbrellas, making it the simplest place to spend an afternoon when you are taking a day off the water. There is no timetable to obey and no performance required: swim, read, or remain horizontally arranged until someone mentions dinner.

For more movement, the hotel offers access to snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, boat excursions and equipment hire. Cycling, hiking and cultural excursions give you options on land, while the surrounding coast provides the setting for a slower wander. Families can use babysitting and a children's menu, so a mixed group does not have to organise every hour around the divers.

Rome Fiumicino Airport is about an hour and a half away by car. An airport transfer can be arranged privately or as a shared service through the hotel on request. Car hire is available, and the hotel has an electric vehicle charging station. Nearby public and street parking is available, although spaces cannot be reserved.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 20:00, and check-out from 07:00 to 11:00. WiFi is free throughout the hotel. You also have luggage storage, a concierge, laundry and dry-cleaning services, room service, a reception safe and daily housekeeping.

Children of any age are welcome, with cots available on request; there are no extra beds beyond the room option designed for three guests. Pets are not allowed, and the hotel is non-smoking. For payment, the hotel's stated methods include cash, Visa and Mastercard.