Majestic Byblos Grand Hotel

Majestic Byblos Grand Hotel puts you in the heart of Byblos, with the sort of set-up that works well when diving is only part of the trip. You have a rooftop pool, several places to eat, a proper gym and an old city outside the front door. The day can therefore move from the sea to the table without requiring a military operation.

The hotel has 107 rooms across eight floors and combines practical facilities with a more polished feel. Wi-Fi is free, parking is free, and the team is multilingual.

This is a sensible base for divers travelling with a partner or family members who want more than a chair and a television while you are underwater. The rooftop brings the views; Byblos brings the history.

The hotel stands at 40 Fifth Avenue in Byblos, Lebanon, a few steps from the town centre. That puts the old city, old market and ancient port within the natural orbit of the stay, rather than making every evening dependent on a taxi.

Byblos is also the practical starting point for the town's cultural sights. The Phoenician Castle, the ancient port and the old market are all part of the excursions offered around the hotel, while the beach and Wax Museum are also on the list. The Byblos International Festival adds a seasonal reason to look beyond the hotel walls.

Beaches are part of the local programme, but the hotel does not present itself as a beachfront property. The sea appears most clearly from above: the rooftop pool looks out over the Mediterranean, particularly at sunset and beneath the night sky.

The room range runs from single and twin arrangements to family rooms, studios, cottages and suites. For a solo diver, the single options keep the choice straightforward. Couples can look towards a double room or one of the junior, standard or larger suite categories, while groups of three or four have family and quadruple configurations to consider. The room cards carry the exact capacities and bed arrangements; the useful distinction here is how much space and separation you want around the sleeping part of the trip.

Standard rooms cover the practical basics: air conditioning for the return from a warm, salty day, heating when the weather turns, blackout blinds for a proper lie-in, soundproofing, a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, television, safe, wardrobe and tea and water facilities. A desk is available too, which is handy for sorting photographs or catching up with the outside world before dinner. Toiletries, towels, a hairdryer and an iron are also included among the room facilities.

The deluxe, Grandiose and junior suite categories add more room types to the choice, with balcony options in several of them. Suites also include the same useful night-time comforts, including air conditioning, blackout blinds, soundproofing and a private bathroom. Some rooms list a fireplace as well, an unusual detail in a hotel chosen for the coast rather than the mountains. If the balcony matters to you, select a category that names it rather than treating the word suite as a guarantee.

Breakfast is a buffet, with freshly baked pastries, hot dishes and local specialities to get the day started without having to improvise with a packet of biscuits. Coffee and tea are available, and room service gives you another option when the timetable is tight or the legs have had enough for one day.

The rooftop restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner on a terrace above the building, beside the rooftop pool. Its main practical appeal is the setting: panoramic Mediterranean views, sunsets and open skies give the evening meal a proper change of scenery. There is no cuisine label to steer your choice, so the attraction here is the terrace, the view and the ability to stay on site for all three main meals.

Coffee Shop | Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner indoors or on the terrace. The Lobby Lounge is the place for a drink, light snacks and desserts in an indoor setting. During Ramadan, meal service may be limited.

The rooftop pool is the main after-dive feature: an outdoor heated pool covering 150 square metres, high above the building with panoramic Mediterranean views. Sunset is the obvious moment, but the rooftop also works once daylight has gone, with the hotel describing views of the night sky as part of the experience. It gives non-divers a destination of their own while you are out on the water.

For something more purposeful, the gym is a bright, modern space equipped for cardio and strength training. That is enough for a proper session, whether you want to maintain a routine or simply loosen up after a day carrying bags and equipment around. It is a gym, not a wellness programme, so the appeal is straightforward exercise rather than treatments or classes.

The cultural side is stronger than the list of resort activities. The hotel can point you towards the Phoenician Castle of Byblos, the old city, old market, ancient port, beach, Wax Museum and Byblos International Festival. In other words, a partner or family member can fill a day with local sights rather than spending the whole stay waiting for your next dive.

Beirut airport is around 45 minutes away by car. Airport transfers can be arranged through the hotel, either as a private service or in another form offered at the time of booking. Free parking is available if you are driving, and the hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and cash.

Check-in starts at 2 pm and check-out is by noon. The reception can help with transfers, concierge requests, luggage storage and currency exchange. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, with some services charged separately. Newspapers and a television are available in the public areas, while Wi-Fi is free throughout the stay.

The hotel is wheelchair accessible and has an on-site infirmary, with a doctor available on request. Extra beds depend on the room category, so the selected room matters if you are travelling with a third person. Couples checking into the same room must present a valid marriage certificate at check-in. Enhanced cleaning measures are in place, and bed linen and towels are laundered at high temperature.