InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut by IHG

InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut by IHG is a large city hotel with 442 rooms, suited to a Beirut stay where the sea, the city and a solid set of facilities all matter. You get indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a gym and several places to eat without having to turn the evening into an expedition. That has its uses when your legs have already done enough work for one day.

The look is more considered than merely functional. Rooms use earthy colours, Phoenician art, made-to-measure curtains and recessed lighting, while the wider hotel gives you room to move between the terrace, the pools, the spa and the restaurants. Couples can keep things simple with the seafront promenade nearby; families have family rooms, children's services and a playground to work with.

You are in Minet El Hosn, Beirut, overlooking the Beirut Marina and the Mediterranean Sea. The Corniche seafront promenade is just steps away, so the coast is part of your immediate surroundings even though the hotel is in the city rather than on a resort beach. Ramlet Al Baida Beach is about 1.5 miles away by the direct listed distance, or roughly 2 miles by road.

For city wandering, Place de l'Etoile - Nejmeh Square is about 0.8 miles on foot, with Place des Martyrs around 1 mile away. Charles Helou Bus Station is roughly 1.4 miles away. Monot Street is about a ten-minute drive, while Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport is approximately 6 miles away by the hotel's stated location details.

The room choice is mainly about how much space and outlook you want once the mask is rinsed and the day is over. The Classic rooms keep things straightforward for two, while the Classic King works better if you want more room or are travelling with a third person. Family rooms are also available, giving you a more practical starting point for a mixed-age trip.

For a couple who would rather look at the Mediterranean than another wall, the Premium King Room with Mediterranean Sea View is the obvious direction. Balcony categories add outdoor space and views towards the pool or marina; the twin version makes more sense when two divers want separate beds without giving up the view. The lounge-access rooms add another layer for anyone who values a quieter place to sit between meals and outings.

Inside, air conditioning and heating cover the less glamorous but important part of travel: getting your body temperature and sleep back under control. Soundproof rooms help keep the night from becoming a soundtrack of the city. You also have free high-speed wired internet, a laptop-sized safe, a minibar and a satellite LCD television, with daily housekeeping keeping the practical side of the stay moving.

You have four restaurants on site, which is useful when the appetite arrives before the motivation to go back out. Amethyste Pool serves international food from breakfast through dinner, so you can keep the day around the hotel rather than planning your meals around transport. The wider hotel description also gives the dining offer a Lebanese thread alongside international classics.

Breakfast comes as a continental buffet, with breakfast available in your room if you would rather deal with coffee before conversation. There is one bar, plus a coffee house on site, and room service for the evenings when a proper table feels like unnecessary admin. A happy hour and a cooking class are also part of the activities offered here; the bar covers the drink, while the restaurant side gives you a chance to do something more useful with food than simply order it.

The outdoor pool is surrounded by loungers, giving you an easy place to spend a non-diving afternoon without having to leave the property. When the weather is less obliging, the indoor pool takes over. Outdoor furniture and a terrace add somewhere to sit with a little air around you, while pool and beach towels save you from sacrificing your room towels to the cause.

The spa is the main recovery option. You can book massages, facial treatments, body scrubs, body wraps, manicures, pedicures and other beauty treatments, then move on to the sauna, hammam or Jacuzzi. There is also a solarium and a spa relaxation area. It is the sort of menu that lets you choose between proper treatment and simply sitting quietly in warm surroundings, which is often the more advanced form of recovery.

For a more active afternoon, the fitness centre offers fitness classes, yoga and access to a personal trainer. Table tennis gives you something lighter and less earnest, while a children's playground and babysitting services make the hotel easier to share with family. A shared lounge and television area are available when the correct level of exertion is horizontal.

Check-in starts from 15:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. A 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, concierge service, currency exchange and an on-site cash machine cover the useful arrival and departure details. Car hire is available, and the tour desk can help organise time away from the hotel.

Children of any age are welcome. Cots and extra beds can be requested, with availability depending on the accommodation selected; children aged 18 and over are treated as adults. There is no minimum age for check-in. Smoking categories are available among the room choices, alongside non-smoking rooms, so check the category carefully rather than trusting the room name at a glance.

You have room service, daily housekeeping, laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services. Cash is not accepted for payment at the property, and pets are not allowed. The hotel also has facilities for disabled guests, a lift, air conditioning, heating and wired internet throughout the property.