Hotel Eetu Begur, Affiliated by Meliá

Adult-only and set above Aiguablava, this is the sort of hotel that suits a diving holiday with a quieter rhythm: swim, eat, read, and let the day run out properly. Guests must be at least 14, so the atmosphere is aimed firmly at adults rather than family holidays with a timetable attached.

You have a restaurant, bar, café, pool, spa and gym on site, plus gardens and terraces for doing very little without having to leave the property. The team speaks English, Spanish, German, Russian and French, which makes the practical conversations considerably easier when you are tired, hungry or trying to explain what you would like for breakfast.

The hotel is in Begur, at Platja de Fornells in the Aiguablava area. The sea is about 400 metres away, with walkable access to the beach. This is a coastal base rather than a town-centre address: Begur itself is 4.7 km away, while Cala dels Tries, Platja de l'Anastàsia and Aiguablava beach are among the nearby places to explore.

The setting gives you a useful choice. Stay close to the hotel for the pool, gardens and sea views, or head into Begur when you want more of a town around you. Girona is not the local address here; the hotel is in Begur, Spain. The nearest airport is 58 km away.

The room choice is mainly about the view and the amount of breathing space you want around the bed. Couples who want the coast in front of them can look towards the sea-view categories, including the double room with balcony. If garden views suit you better, the superior double room keeps the outlook greener and the mood less exposed.

Air conditioning is available in several categories, while selected rooms also add a television, minibar, desk, safe, toiletries and Wi-Fi. The details vary by room, so check the individual room card rather than assuming that every feature follows you into every category. A private bathroom, shower, towels and hairdryer are part of the practical set-up.

For a diving day, the useful point is recovery rather than decoration: air conditioning for cooling down, a minibar for something cold, and a balcony or view when you want to sit quietly instead of discussing the dive log at once. The hotel has 47 rooms, and the adult-only policy keeps the accommodation geared towards grown-up stays.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with breakfast available as a buffet. That gives you a straightforward start before heading out and proper meals for the return, rather than leaving every evening to whatever can be found down the road.

Lunch and dinner focus on Mediterranean cooking on the garden terrace overlooking the sea. The menu draws on traditional Costa Brava dishes such as stew, rice and fresh fish, which is a more useful description than simply calling it local cuisine. After a day in the water, that means the table leans towards familiar regional food rather than elaborate theatre.

There is one bar, along with a snack bar and a hotel café for smaller appetites. Bottled water and a kettle are also available among the hotel’s food and drink facilities. The exact meal arrangement depends on the booking selected, so look at the chosen room plan before assuming that every meal is included.

The outdoor heated saltwater pool is the obvious place to decompress, set in the gardens and open throughout the year. Bali beds give you somewhere to stretch out in the sun, while the garden and terraces provide the less demanding alternative: a chair, a view and no timetable.

The spa adds massages, facials and a Finnish sauna with space for six people. It is a sensible pairing with a diving schedule, particularly when you want warmth and quiet without turning the afternoon into another organised activity. A solarium is also available.

For a more active option, the hotel has a gym with modern equipment, plus a tennis court, cycling hire, walking and fishing facilities. Golf is available nearby, with a course 3 km away. The hotel can also help with excursions, so a non-diving day does not have to mean staying by the pool from breakfast until dinner.

Check-in runs from 16:00 to midnight, and check-out is at 12:00. The hotel has a lift, accessibility facilities, luggage storage, a concierge service, laundry and a safe. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and room service is listed among the room facilities.

If you are arriving by air, the airport is 58 km away and the hotel offers a transfer service. Car hire is available, while parking and a garage are also provided; reserve on-site parking before arrival. For drivers, the address is Platja de Fornells, Aiguablava, s/n, Carrer Francesc Sabater, 7, Begur.

The hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express and Visa Electron, but cash is not accepted. An adult-only policy applies, with a minimum guest age of 14. The property also has a conference room and accessible upper floors via the lift, useful details if the trip includes more than diving and sun.