Lancaster Plaza Beirut

Beirut is not a place that does understatement, and Lancaster Plaza Beirut follows the local rule. This five-star hotel rises above the capital with sea views, a choice of lounges and restaurants, and enough space to make a short diving break feel like more than a bed booked between outings. You are choosing a city hotel with a polished, full-service feel rather than a small coastal hideaway.

The address works particularly well when you want diving by day and Beirut around it. You can return to air conditioning, a proper bathroom, room service and a rooftop drink, then decide whether the evening requires a restaurant, a spa treatment or simply the view. The hotel has 151 rooms and suites spread across 19 floors, so this is a substantial property rather than an intimate guesthouse.

You are in Raouche, on General de Gaulle Avenue in Beirut, with the Mediterranean and the Corniche defining the setting. Pigeon Rocks are part of the view, while Ramlet Al Baida Beach is about 0.3 miles away. The hotel also has direct access to a private beach with sun loungers and parasols, giving you a choice between staying close to the building and heading out into the city.

The immediate area is useful rather than purely decorative. Daoud Basha is just 50 feet away, Beit Wared is about 300 metres away, and Alfred's Bar is about 250 metres away. Beirut's central sights take more planning: Place de l'Etoile is about 2 miles away, Place des Martyrs about 2 miles away, and the National Museum of Beirut about 2.5 miles away. Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport is about 3.7 miles away by road.

Sea views are the common thread here, with both the Mediterranean and the city appearing in the room categories. For two of you, the standard sea-view room keeps things straightforward, while the Deluxe and Premium sea-view rooms give you more room to spread out. The Deluxe and Premium options are also the categories that can take an extra bed, which matters if a third person is joining rather than merely admiring the view from the doorway.

Couples wanting a proper sitting area should look towards a sea-view suite. The Junior Plaza and Executive Plaza suites are built for two, while the two-bedroom family suites make more sense for four people who want separate sleeping space and more than one bathroom. The larger Noble Family Sea View Suite has three bathrooms; that is the sort of detail that prevents a holiday from turning into a queueing exercise.

Every room has air conditioning, soundproofing, a private bathroom with a bath or shower, bathrobes and slippers. There is also a minibar, tea and coffee-making equipment, a coffee machine, a flat-screen television and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. A super-king bed appears in several room categories, and the beds receive particular attention from guests looking for a comfortable night's sleep. Daily housekeeping and room service keep the practical side of the evening suitably unremarkable.

You have several ways to deal with the post-dive appetite without leaving the building. The dining line-up includes Daoud Basha, Prime 18 and Lancs, with Fume Bar and Java Cafe adding places for a drink or something less formal. Lancs occupies the rooftop, so the sensible order of events is clear: shower, lift, roof, drink, then decide whether dinner requires a second lift ride or merely a second round.

A buffet breakfast gets the day started, while breakfast can also reach your room if an early start has made conversation an unnecessary complication. The hotel has a snack bar, a coffee house, a bar and room service, as well as a minibar in the rooms. Packed lunches are available, and special-diet menus can be requested. The restaurants' individual menus and service periods are not set out here, so you will want to check the evening arrangements when planning around a dive schedule.

The food offer includes international and Lebanese menus, giving you both familiar choices and a chance to stay with the country you are visiting. The hotel also runs themed dinner nights, and live music or performances are available. That gives the evening a little more structure than the traditional diver's plan of staring at a menu while still wearing the expression of someone who has just surfaced.

The La Foglia Health Club and Spa provides the more useful kind of post-dive recovery: an indoor pool, a fully equipped fitness centre, a steam room, sauna and jacuzzi, with a relaxation area for the part of you that has no interest in exercise. The Cocos Health Club & Spa also has four private treatment rooms, massages, facials and body treatments. Manicures, pedicures, hair services and other beauty treatments are available as well, so a non-diving partner has more options than simply waiting for your return.

There are two pools in the property: an infinity pool and an indoor pool filled with natural spring water. A sun terrace adds somewhere to sit with a book when the sea has already had enough of you for one day. The private beach has loungers and parasols, while the nearby coastline and Corniche offer a change of scene without turning the afternoon into an expedition.

When you want to leave the hotel properly, walking tours and bike tours are available, and the concierge and tour desk can help organise time in Beirut. Place de l'Etoile, the National Museum and the Nicolas Sursock Museum are within reach by car. For family trips, children of any age are welcome, babysitting is available, and the hotel has family suites, children's meals and a child-friendly buffet.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00, giving you a little breathing room on departure day. The front desk is open around the clock, with concierge service, luggage storage, currency exchange, a tour desk and car hire available. Private parking is on site, with valet parking, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

The airport is about 3.7 miles away by road, making the arrival straightforward by car. An airport shuttle is not listed, so arrange your airport transfer separately or speak with the hotel about the best way to reach the address. The hotel also offers a business centre, meeting and banquet facilities, laundry and dry-cleaning services, and accessible facilities including wheelchair-accessible units, lifts to upper floors and bathrooms with grab rails.

The minimum age for check-in is 18. Children of any age are welcome, with cots and extra beds available according to the chosen accommodation. Cash and Visa are accepted payment methods. Pets are not allowed.