Hotel Gri-Mar

This is a straightforward coastal hotel for divers who want the useful bits in place: air conditioning in the room, a private balcony, Wi-Fi throughout the property and enough outdoor space to make the end of the day feel less like a kit list. The gardens, pool and terraces give you room to sit down properly rather than simply dropping onto the nearest chair.

The hotel website is available in English, Spanish, Catalan, French and German, so you can get the essential information in the language that suits you. Hotel Gri-Mar has been open since 1967 and was renovated in 2018; it now has 45 rooms and keeps a practical, relaxed character suited to couples, families and small groups.

You can swim, play tennis or table tennis, order a massage and let the tour desk help with the area. For a diving trip, that means the hotel can handle the quiet hours around your dives without trying to turn every evening into an event.

You are in Llança, on the northern Costa Brava in Spain, with the Cap de Creus natural reserve close by. The sea, harbour and Platja del Port are about 0.3 miles away, an easy distance when you want a walk by the water without making the hotel itself your beach base.

Several other beaches sit along the coast, including Platja Argilera, Platja dels Alguers and Cala De L'Alguer Beach. Platja de La Gola is about 1.4 miles away by road, or roughly a mile on foot. The Llança railway station is around half a mile away, while the Watercolour Museum, J. Martínez Lozano Foundation, is about 0.7 miles from the hotel.

The setting suits a stay built around the coast and the reserve rather than a city break. You can reach the local harbour and beaches without driving, keep the car parked at the hotel, and use the area around Llança for walks, meals and excursions.

Every room has air conditioning, a balcony, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi. That is the useful combination when you return warm, tired and carrying more damp clothing than anyone planned for: cool the room, step outside for air, then get a proper shower before dinner. Rooms also have a wardrobe or cupboard, a clothes rack, bed-side sockets and a television with cable and satellite channels.

For two people, the Comfort Double or Twin Room keeps things simple with two single beds. The Triple Room with Balcony uses three single beds, which is a more practical arrangement for a small group than asking one diver to volunteer for the sofa that does not exist. Families should look at the Family Room, with two single beds and a super-king-size double bed, as the room designed for the most generous sleeping arrangement in the selection.

Travelling alone, you can choose a dedicated single room with its own bathroom. All rooms include a balcony, while selected accommodation comes with a view, so check the individual room card before choosing if that detail matters to you. Daily housekeeping is available, and the property also offers luggage storage for the awkward gap between arrival, departure and the sea.

The property has two restaurants, and its own description puts the emphasis on an open-air restaurant beside the gardens and pool. The kitchen works with fish and seafood from the bay, which gives your evening meal a clear local direction rather than a generic resort menu. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, with breakfast offered as a continental buffet.

There is also a bar and an on-site coffee house for the moments when a full meal is more ambition than appetite. Breakfast can be brought to your room, and special-diet menus are available on request. A packed lunch can also be arranged when your day starts before the normal rhythm of the dining room.

The outdoor setting matters here. You can move from the pool and gardens to the terrace, order a drink at the bar, and stay close to the hotel rather than heading back out in search of food. The available information does not set out a late-dinner service, so early starters should plan the evening rather than relying on a plate appearing at any hour.

The large outdoor swimming pool is the obvious place to spend a non-diving afternoon, with sun loungers, beach towels and umbrellas available. The gardens add space around it, and the children’s play area gives families somewhere to send their younger crew while the adults finish a coffee or recover from the morning.

You can use the tennis court and table-tennis facilities at the hotel, with tennis equipment and court use subject to an additional charge. A full-body massage is available when your shoulders have had enough of carrying bags, luggage and the consequences of an over-ambitious back-to-back schedule.

For a change of scenery, hiking is available at the property and cycling, canoeing, fishing and windsurfing are available in the surrounding area. Kayaking and windsurfing are also part of the local activity offer, while golf and the Cap de Creus reserve give you options for a day away from the pool. The hotel can help with local information through its tour desk, and car hire is available if you want to explore under your own steam.

You can arrive by car and use the hotel's free private parking without reserving a space. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, the building has a lift, and upper floors are accessible by elevator. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are available. A 24-hour reception, concierge service, luggage storage and private check-in and check-out keep the practical side manageable, particularly if your travel day refuses to respect hotel hours.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 20:00, and check-out from 08:00 to 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in. Cash is accepted as a payment method. Children of all ages are welcome, and pets are allowed. The hotel also provides car hire, packed lunches, room service, wake-up service and a vending machine for drinks.

Perpignan–Rivesaltes Airport is about 42 miles away by road, while Girona–Costa Brava Airport is about 45 miles away by road. Airport transfer service is not listed, so arrange your onward transport before travelling. The Llança railway station is around half a mile away, giving you a rail option as well as the hotel's private parking.