Hotel Santa Anna

Family-run and firmly tied to the town around it, Hotel Santa Anna suits divers who would rather spend their evenings among the port, the beach and local restaurants than inside a self-contained resort. You have an outdoor pool, a sun terrace and a rooftop breakfast setting, but the real point is the address: daily life in L’Estartit starts just outside the door.

The hotel’s website is available in English, French, Catalan and Spanish, so you can get through the essential information before arrival. Inside, the useful basics are covered without fuss: air conditioning, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a private bathroom, a flat-screen satellite TV and a 24-hour front desk. Nothing theatrical. Just the sort of arrangement that lets you shower, eat and stop thinking about logistics.

You are in L’Estartit, Spain, at Carrer del Port 46. The port is roughly 300 feet away, while L’Estartit Beach is about 0.1 miles from the hotel on foot. The Medes Islands Marine Reserve is also close by, around 0.1 miles away, putting the harbour side of town rather than a distant suburban strip at the centre of your stay.

Several restaurants sit within a few hundred feet, including Restaurant Meda Gran, Cal Tet and La Xula. Costa Brava is around 0.1 miles away for a coffee, and another bar is about 0.3 miles away. If you are travelling by air, Girona-Costa Brava Airport is around 24 miles from L’Estartit by the listed distance, with a hotel shuttle available on request.

For two people, the double or twin rooms keep things straightforward: a private bathroom, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a television, with extra-long beds available in the bedroom facilities. The smaller economy option is the sensible choice when the room is mainly a place to sleep between dives. Choose a superior room when you would rather have a little more breathing space around your bags and wet-weather clothing.

Travelling with children changes the calculation. The family and connected family arrangements sleep four, while the triple option is aimed at two adults and one child. Children of any age are welcome, and cots are available subject to the selected accommodation and availability. There are no extra beds, so the room configuration matters; check that the beds shown for your party suit you before booking rather than attempting a late-stage game of mattress Tetris.

Every room has air conditioning, which is useful when the Costa Brava has done its warm-and-salty work for the day. Daily housekeeping, a wardrobe or cupboard, a clothes rack and a socket beside the bed deal with the practical side of unpacking. Room service is available when the idea of going back out for dinner has lost its appeal.

The hotel restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with cooking rooted in the local area and built around fresh fish. Classic Catalan dishes are part of the offer, so this is a useful address for divers who want an actual regional meal rather than another anonymous plate of resort food. The restaurant sits on a terrace, and breakfast moves up to the rooftop terrace where you have sea views with the first coffee.

Breakfast is a buffet and covers continental, vegan and gluten-free choices. There is also a bar, a snack bar and an on-site coffee house for the smaller decisions of the day: coffee now, something quick later, or a drink before heading back to your room. Half board includes breakfast and a seafood platter. The restaurant closes during low season, so the dining arrangement is worth checking against your travel dates rather than assuming the kitchen runs all year.

The outdoor pool gives you an easy alternative to returning straight from the beach to the room. Around it, the hotel has a sun terrace, outdoor furniture, a garden and a solarium. That is enough for a proper horizontal afternoon, which is sometimes the most ambitious activity required after several days in the water.

For a change of scenery, the hotel’s activities include cycling and hiking, with horse riding and snorkelling also available. Golf is available within 3 miles. The hotel can arrange or offer excursions involving a boat trip, an island, a waterfall, a market or snorkelling, giving non-diving companions something more substantial than a poolside timetable. Cultural excursions are also part of the programme, and babysitting is available for families who need a little time to themselves.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to midnight, and check-out from 08:00 to 12:00. The reception is open around the clock, with luggage storage, a tour desk, a lift and a wake-up service available. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested, which may help when your transport does not follow hotel-friendly hours.

Private parking is available on site, with reservation required. An airport shuttle can be arranged on request, and a shuttle service is also available through the hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The building has accessible facilities, including wheelchair access, an adapted bathroom layout and lift access to upper floors.

Pets are accepted on request. Cash is accepted as a payment method, and cancellation or prepayment conditions vary according to the accommodation selected. Families should note that children aged 13 and over are charged as adults, while the number of available cots depends on the room option.