ALEGRIA Sun Village

ALEGRIA Sun Village is set up for a straightforward Costa Brava stay with a partner or a group of friends: beach access, a central Lloret de Mar address and enough on site to keep the post-dive hours uncomplicated. The atmosphere is described as calm, fresh and Mediterranean, with modern minimalist décor rather than a grand resort performance.

Two outdoor pools and a chill-out area with sea views give you somewhere to cool off without making an expedition of it. The hotel also has a restaurant, a bar, free WiFi throughout and a 24-hour reception, so the practical parts of the day remain pleasantly simple.

You are in Lloret de Mar, on the Costa Brava, at Turó de l'Estelat 5. The beach is roughly three to five minutes away on foot, depending on which reference point you use, and the town centre is less than five minutes' walk away. Several shops and restaurants are within about 0.05 miles, which is useful when the last thing you want is another taxi after dinner.

Lloret de Mar Beach is the nearest stretch of sand. Fenals Beach is about 1.3 miles on foot, while Canyelles Beach is about 1.9 miles away on foot. D'en Plaja Castle is around 0.3 miles away, and Santa Clotilde Gardens are about 2 miles away on foot for a change of scenery beyond the seafront.

The rooms are compact and practical, with the choice between twin or double sleeping arrangements depending on the category. Couples will probably find the Double or Twin Room the natural fit, while the family and triple categories arrange several beds in the same compact footprint. That makes the family options useful for keeping everyone together, but less suited to anyone expecting a room with space to spread dive bags across the floor.

Every room has air conditioning, a fridge, a furnished balcony and a desk. Views vary between the sea, pool, mountains and city, so the outlook matters when you choose. The private bathroom has a shower, while a seating area, wardrobe, flat-screen TV and satellite channels cover the less glamorous but necessary parts of a recovery day.

Soundproofing is included, which should help when you are ready to sleep rather than discuss the day's last dive. Daily housekeeping, free WiFi and room service keep the room functional, and the balcony gives you somewhere to sit outside without leaving the building.

The hotel has one restaurant and one bar, with breakfast served as a buffet. Half-board and full-board arrangements are available, but drinks are not included with those meal plans, a small detail worth knowing before you assume the package covers everything in the glass as well as on the plate.

There is also a coffee house on site, plus vending machines for snacks and drinks when hunger arrives at an inconvenient hour. Room service is available, and special-diet menus can be requested. The food style is not described in further detail, so the sensible expectation is a practical hotel table rather than a culinary pilgrimage.

For more choice, restaurants and bars begin within about 0.05 miles of the property. Bodega Cristina, STUDIO66 and Di Napoli are all close by, while Rock Bar is around 0.08 miles away.

Two outdoor pools provide the easiest plan for a non-diving afternoon: swim, find a sun lounger and let the day lose its timetable. The pool area includes sun umbrellas, while the chill-out zone looks out towards the sea. There is also a sun terrace and a solarium for the classic Mediterranean option of sitting still with commitment.

The hotel has a gym for anyone who still wants to move, although the more convincing recovery plan may be the open-air bath or public bath. Billiards and board games offer something less strenuous when the weather turns or the legs have had enough. Pets are welcome on request, with restrictions in the restaurant, bar and pool areas.

If you want to leave the hotel without turning the afternoon into an organised programme, D'en Plaja Castle is a short walk away. Santa Clotilde Gardens are around 2 miles away on foot, and Tossa de Mar Castle is about 4.2 miles away as the crow flies, or roughly 6 miles by road.

Girona-Costa Brava Airport is about 13 miles from the hotel, with a road distance of roughly 18 miles and a drive of around 25 minutes. Barcelona El Prat Airport is about 47 miles away in direct distance, or roughly 54 miles by road, with a journey of around 1 hour 7 minutes by car. Car hire is available, and nearby public parking cannot be reserved in advance.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You need photo identification and a payment card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. Cash is not accepted. The 24-hour reception also handles luggage storage, concierge assistance, tour-desk services and private or express check-in and check-out.

Children of all ages are welcome. Children aged 12 and over are treated as adults for the booking, cots can be requested for children aged up to two, and extra beds are not available. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Pets are accepted on request, with a maximum of one pet per room and a maximum weight of 8 kg; they must be kept on a lead in the communal areas.