InterContinental Barcelona by IHG

Barcelona does not really do quiet corners, and this hotel makes good use of the city around it. You stay close to Montjuïc, with a rooftop terrace above you, a spa downstairs and the sort of facilities that make a city break easier when your legs have done enough for one day.

The hotel suits a couple wanting a polished base, friends travelling on separate beds and families who need a room designed for more than two. English and French are spoken by the team, alongside Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic and Chinese, so practical conversations do not need to become a game of underwater hand signals.

The address is on Avenida Rius I Taulet in Barcelona, beside the Montjuïc exhibition district. The centre of Barcelona is only a short walk away, with Institut del Teatre, Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc and the Venetian Towers close enough to shape an easy first outing rather than a full expedition.

You are in the city, not on a resort coastline. That matters here: the hotel works as a base for combining diving with Barcelona's museums, architecture and evening life, while the rooftop gives you somewhere to look back over the city once the sightseeing is done.

Choose the room around the way you travel, rather than simply taking the first bed offered. Double rooms suit couples, while twin rooms keep things civil when two divers are sharing. A city-view or castle-view room gives the night a distinctly Barcelona backdrop; a garden-view twin keeps the outlook more restrained. For a family group, the quadruple room is the practical option, while club suites with balconies make more sense when a little separation and outdoor air matter.

The useful details are firmly aimed at recovery: air conditioning and heating, soundproofing, blackout blinds, a fridge, minibar, tea and coffee facilities, Wi-Fi and a private bathroom. Bathrobes and slippers are there for the short trip between room and spa, and the safe, wardrobe and desk keep the less glamorous parts of a dive holiday under control. The room categories do differ, so check the individual room card before choosing; the balcony, view and club access are not universal.

Breakfast starts early at 6.30am, with both buffet and à la carte choices. That gives you a sensible way to fuel up before a morning out, or to take the slower route when the day's plans begin later. Breakfast can also be taken in the room, and the hotel has a café, snack bar and pool bar for less formal eating and drinking.

QUIRAT handles breakfast, lunch and dinner with haute cuisine built around seasonal and sustainable ingredients, accompanied by selected wines. It is a more serious table than a post-dive sandwich stop. Sunday brings a brunch combining buffet and à la carte dishes. For drinks, 173 Rooftop Terrace is the place for cocktails and panoramic city views, while Gebre gives you a second bar rather than forcing every evening into the same chair.

The outdoor pool and rooftop pool area give you somewhere to cool down without leaving the hotel, with pool and beach towels available. There is also a terrace, garden and solarium for the particular sport of sitting still, which is occasionally the correct choice after a dive day. A fitness room is available if your idea of recovery involves doing more exercise, although nobody is obliged to admire that decision.

The InterContinental Barcelona Spa focuses on massage and facial treatments, with a sauna, steam room and beauty treatments also available. You can use the concierge and excursions service to arrange time away from the hotel, with Poble Espanyol, MNAC, Casa Batlló, the Sagrada Familia, Santa Maria del Mar and the FCB Museum among the suggested cultural stops. Barcelona supplies the itinerary; the hotel supplies the place to come back to.

Barcelona–El Prat Airport is about 7.5 miles away. Airport transfers and shuttle services are available through the hotel, and car hire can also be arranged. If you drive, parking and a garage are available, with electric-vehicle charging on site; parking is paid. The hotel has a 24-hour reception, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and free Wi-Fi throughout.

There is lift access to the upper floors, wheelchair access and an accessible restaurant. Concierge assistance, ticket support, excursions, currency exchange, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing cover the useful urban-hotel chores. Massage and spa treatments can be booked before arrival. The health club and spa have age restrictions, so check the access rules if younger members of your group are travelling.

The hotel is certified by Green Key. It is a straightforward marker for travellers who want their city base to carry a recognised environmental certification, without turning the stay into a lecture about recycling bins.