Zafiro Menorca

If you prefer a proper apartment to a room with nowhere to put a wet towel, Zafiro Menorca gives you a little more room to breathe. This is a four-star aparthotel in Cala'n Bosch, with modern accommodation, generous gardens and a large swimming pool at the centre of the day.

You can choose the easy rhythm here: breakfast, water, a swim, something cold from the bar, then your own sofa and dining area when the legs have had enough. Families are well catered for, but couples also have room to spread out rather than conducting the usual holiday negotiations over one suitcase. The hotel's website is available in English, Spanish and German, which is useful when you are sorting out the basics before arrival.

You are in Cala'n Bosch, on the south-western side of Menorca, rather than in Ciutadella itself. The setting is resort-based, with the coast close by and the Artrutx Lighthouse about 0.3 miles away on foot. That gives you a clear landmark for an evening stroll and a reason to leave the pool area before dinner takes over.

Cala en Bosch Beach is around 0.6 miles away on foot, while Son Xoriguer Beach is about 1.2 miles away. Cala de Son Vell is roughly 1.5 miles away by car, and Cala Blanca is about 3.8 miles by road. For a change of scene, Ciutadella is around a 20-minute drive away, with several historic sites in and around the old town.

You also have restaurants within walking distance, including Es Far de Artrutx, about 0.3 miles away, and Cafe Venezia and Sa Parrilla des Lago by Toro Negro, both roughly 0.4 miles away. The coast is accessible, but this is not a hotel planted directly on the sand; you will walk or drive to the beaches.

The accommodation works best for divers who like to come back to a small domestic base rather than a sealed hotel room. Every apartment has a kitchenette with a hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, kitchenware and a dining table, so you can make tea, prepare something simple or keep the post-dive meal entirely under your own control. There is also a separate seating area with a sofa, a desk and a private entrance.

The One Bedroom Suite is the straightforward choice if you want space without making the pool the main event. The Pool View version puts the communal swimming area into the outlook, while the Swim Up Suite gives you direct access to the pool. Some apartments also have a private garden, so the useful question is not simply how many people you are bringing, but whether you want your outside space to be private, pool-facing or directly connected to the water.

Air conditioning helps take the edge off Menorca's hotter months, and heating is available for cooler periods. The system is central and operates according to the season, so you should not expect to control the calendar from the wall. Bedrooms have wardrobes, linen and a drying rack for clothing; bathrooms are private and include a shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. A flat-screen TV with satellite channels is there for the evenings when conversation has run out before your energy does.

Caprice is the named restaurant, with buffet breakfast and buffet dinner. That gives you a practical start before heading out and a meal you can take at your own pace later, without having to turn every evening into a restaurant search. Breakfast is buffet-style, and the offer includes a kid-friendly buffet and special-diet menus on request.

By the pool, the snack bar handles the less ceremonial moments: pizza and a drink in the sunshine, which is a perfectly respectable answer when you have spent the day equalising, swimming and explaining to a non-diver why the dive log matters. There is one listed bar, along with an on-site coffee house and drinks vending machine.

Your apartment kitchen gives you the alternative of shopping and eating in, with a dining area ready for it. The combination suits a longer stay particularly well: use the buffet when you want no decisions, the snack bar when hunger arrives ahead of dinner, and the kitchenette when you would rather keep the evening quiet.

The large outdoor swimming pool is the obvious place to spend a non-diving afternoon, with sun loungers, umbrellas and a separate children's pool around it. A water slide adds a more energetic option, while the gardens, terrace and sun terrace give you somewhere to sit without being obliged to perform holiday enthusiasm.

For a slower recovery, the spa includes massage, facial treatments, a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, mud bath and body wrap treatments from Germaine de Capuccini. There is also a fitness centre and yoga classes, although nobody will object if your idea of wellness is remaining horizontal with a book. The games room, shared lounge and evening entertainment cover the hours when the weather or your knees make outdoor plans less attractive.

If you want to move rather than lounge, you can use the tennis court, table tennis, darts, badminton equipment and mini-golf. Cycling, canoeing, windsurfing, horse riding, squash, billiards, snorkelling and golf are also available through the wider activity offer, with some taking place away from the property or carrying an additional charge. Car hire and bicycle rental are available on site, making a short outing easier to organise.

Menorca Airport is about 32 miles away by road, with a driving time of around 53 minutes. Car hire is available at the property, and the concierge and tour desk can help you organise the practical side of your stay. There is also a 24-hour reception, private and express check-in and check-out, currency exchange and luggage storage.

Check-in starts from 3 pm and check-out runs until noon. You need to bring photo identification and a credit card, and you should give the property your expected arrival time. That matters particularly if your flight lands late or your transfer has its own ideas about punctuality.

Wi-Fi is free in the public areas. The apartments are non-smoking, smoking is not permitted at the property, and parties and events are not allowed. Children of any age are welcome; a cot can be requested for a baby up to one year old, while extra beds are not available. The accommodation also offers family rooms, a kids' club, children's play areas and babysitting or child services.