ToviMar Apartments

Sea views, your own kitchenette and enough room to spread out make ToviMar Apartments a practical base for a diving break in Taormina. This is an aparthotel rather than a conventional hotel room: you can come back with wet hair, a large appetite and no interest in dressing for dinner, then make coffee, open the fridge and settle into the living area.

The team speaks English and French, which removes one small but important nuisance when you are arranging arrival, asking about the local area or organising a day on the water. Apartments suit couples who want more breathing space than a studio, as well as families or friends travelling together. The private entrance, soundproofing and air conditioning keep the emphasis on having your own place to return to, rather than sharing the evening with the entire building.

You are in Taormina, in the Mazzarò area of Sicily, with Mazzarò Beach roughly 0.03 miles away. Isola Bella Beach is about 0.06 miles away, and both bays are reached by steps directly opposite the apartments. Golden sand, sun loungers and parasols are part of the beach setting, while the position puts the water firmly into your daily plans rather than leaving it as a distant view.

The Taormina Cable Car's lower station is around 0.05 miles away, linking you with the town above. The upper station is about 0.7 miles away by road, or roughly 0.7 miles on foot according to the local route data. Spisone Beach is about 0.4 miles away, while Letojanni beach is around 0.9 miles away. For dinner, Ristorante Sant'Andrea, Lido la Pigna and Ai Paladini Lounge Bar are each about 0.02 to 0.03 miles away. The Alcantara River Park lies roughly 11 miles away by road, and the Taormina cliffs and Monte Veneretta area are about 2.4 miles away.

The sensible choice depends on how much space you want around the dive bags and the people carrying them. The two-bedroom apartments give four guests separate sleeping space, a living area and a dining area, with either a balcony or terrace. The largest apartments also offer a sea view; the two-bedroom sea-view option has two bathrooms, which matters when four people are trying to get ready without turning the morning into a small domestic expedition.

For two, the Standard Studio keeps things simpler, with a double bed, kitchenette and private bathroom. It is the compact option for a couple who plan to spend most of the day outside. If you prefer a little more room for breakfast, kit bags and post-dive recovery, an apartment with a terrace or sea view gives you more space to use rather than merely more labels on the booking page.

Air conditioning helps when Sicily has done its work on you, while soundproofing is welcome when you need sleep rather than another conversation from the corridor. The apartments also include a refrigerator, oven, stovetop, toaster, kettle, coffee machine and kitchenware, so cold water and a proper meal are within reach without waiting for a restaurant table. A washing machine, drying rack, iron and ironing facilities make longer stays easier, and the bathrooms include a shower, towels and a hairdryer.

There is no meal plan to build your stay around, so the kitchenette becomes part of the daily rhythm. A coffee machine and kettle cover the first cup, while the oven, hob, toaster, refrigerator and dining table let you put together breakfast, a packed lunch or something substantial when you return hungry and not particularly sociable. The living area gives you somewhere to eat without balancing a plate on your knees.

You can also walk to nearby places rather than turning dinner into another excursion. Ristorante Sant'Andrea and Lido la Pigna are both about 0.03 miles away, with Ai Paladini Lounge Bar at a similar distance. Baia delle Sirene is around 0.4 miles away for coffee or a drink, while Ten House Cocktails and Live Music is about 1.1 miles away. The arrangement is straightforward: self-catering when convenience wins, local places nearby when you would rather leave the washing-up to someone else.

When the logbook is closed, the immediate attraction is the coast itself. Mazzarò and Isola Bella are close enough for a swim, a slow walk or an hour under a parasol, with steps opposite the apartments leading down towards the bays. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat excursions are available locally, and equipment hire makes those options more than theoretical additions to a brochure.

On land, you can hire a bicycle, walk in the surrounding area or arrange a visit to Taormina. Mountain walks are also part of the activity offering, while the Alcantara area gives you a different landscape for a day away from the coast. If the body has had enough, the apartments' garden, sun terrace, patio and outdoor furniture provide the less ambitious alternative: sit down, look at the bay and let the afternoon make its own arrangements.

For a more deliberate recovery session, wellness facilities include a relaxation area, foot bath, sauna, hot tub and massage treatments, including back, neck, foot, head, hand and full-body massage. These are useful options when your shoulders have had a long day carrying more than they strictly needed to.

The apartments are on upper floors, with lift access. Check-in runs from 14:00 to 21:00 and check-out from 06:00 to 10:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time, and photo identification plus a credit card are required at check-in. Luggage storage and private check-in and check-out are available, which helps if your travel plans do not line up neatly with apartment access.

Catania Fontanarossa Airport is about 35 miles away by road, with a drive of roughly 41 minutes. An airport transfer service is available to arrange with the property, and car hire can also be organised. The cable car is the simpler local connection: the lower station is only around 0.05 miles away and takes you towards Taormina without requiring a long uphill negotiation.

Quiet hours run from 23:00 to 09:00, and smoking is not allowed. Children of any age are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested according to the apartment selected. Pets can also stay on request. WiFi is free throughout the property, laundry facilities are available, and Visa and Mastercard are accepted alongside cash for local extras.