Apartaments Els Llorers

Apartaments Els Llorers is an aparthotel for travellers who prefer a little working space to a standard hotel room. You have a private balcony, a living area with a sofa bed, and a kitchenette that lets you sort out coffee, breakfast or a late plate without waiting for restaurant hours. That matters when your day has been governed by tides rather than the kitchen clock.

The setting is residential and calm, while the complex still gives you the useful holiday basics: two outdoor swimming pools, a restaurant, a bar, free parking and a small supermarket close by. Families are well catered for, with a playground, a children's pool and a kids' club. Couples get the more important luxury: room to spread out, a balcony, and somewhere to sit that is not the edge of the bed.

The hotel's website is available in English, Spanish, Catalan and French. The property is seasonal, opening from April to October, so check that your dates fall within the operating period before you get too attached to the idea of a spring escape.

You are in Lloret de Mar, Spain, in a residential area about 1 km from the town centre and roughly 1 mile from Lloret de Mar Beach by the practical walking route. The beach is not directly outside your door, but a free daily shuttle takes you there and back. That saves you the familiar coastal calculation involving towels, parking and the increasingly optimistic claim that the walk is 'just around the corner'.

The immediate area keeps a few useful errands simple. A small supermarket is about 50 metres away, while restaurants such as Ca L'Enric, Tribus Restaurant and STUDIO66 are within roughly 0.5 to 0.7 miles. The town's shops and wider choice of restaurants are about a 10-minute walk away. D'en Plaja Castle is also within walking distance, at about 0.8 miles.

If you want to explore further, Canyelles Beach is about 1.7 miles away by road, and Fenals Beach about 2.4 miles. Santa Clotilde Gardens are around 2.7 miles away by road. Girona-Costa Brava Airport is approximately 19 miles from the property by road; Barcelona El Prat is about 55 miles.

The useful distinction here is not the name printed above the door but how you intend to use the apartment. A standard apartment suits a couple who want a separate living area without paying for space they will not use. For a sea view, choose one of the one-bedroom apartments with that outlook; the balcony gives you somewhere to take the first coffee while the rest of Lloret gets itself organised.

Travelling with family or friends calls for a two-bedroom, deluxe or suite apartment rather than relying too heavily on the sofa bed. The larger layouts give a group more breathing room, while the family options are arranged for adults and children. Every apartment has one bathroom, so a group of four or five will need a little morning discipline. Divers, in particular, may recognise the value of not having to negotiate a single bathroom while everyone is trying to leave at once.

The kitchenette is properly useful rather than decorative: gas hob, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, kettle, toaster, dining table and kitchenware. Bed linen and towels are included. Air conditioning helps when you come back warm and salty, while a fan is also available. The living area includes a sofa, seating area and television with satellite and cable channels, and apartments have a private entrance, wardrobe space and a drying rack for clothing.

The main restaurant works from breakfast through to dinner, serving traditional and international cooking in a bright poolside setting. Breakfast is a buffet, with continental, full English or Irish, vegetarian and halal choices, as well as breakfast to go. It is a practical start for a day that may involve a boat, a beach shuttle or simply a long lie-in after too much sun.

Lunch and dinner are served as well, and the bar-restaurant offers varied menus including pizzas. The restaurant runs from 08:30 to 23:00, giving you a reasonable chance of finding food after returning from the coast rather than having to survive on crisps and misplaced optimism.

There is one named bar: the Snack Bar. It is positioned for the pool area, with cocktails, cold drinks and snacks close to the loungers. Vending machines cover drinks and snacks, and grocery deliveries are available if you want to use the kitchenette properly. Packed lunches and special-diet menus are also available, while themed dinner nights, live music and televised sport add some life to the evening without requiring a trip into town.

The two outdoor swimming pools give you the simplest post-dive option: get wet without putting a mask on. Sun loungers, parasols, a sun terrace, outdoor furniture and a garden provide the ingredients for an afternoon spent horizontally. There is also an open-air bath and a solarium for anyone who prefers their recovery with a little more sunshine and considerably less effort.

Families have plenty to occupy younger travellers, including a children's pool, water slide, water park, playground, indoor play area, games room, board games and children's books, DVDs or music. A kids' club and children's meals add some structure for family holidays, while high chairs, strollers and baby safety gates are available. The adults may therefore get ten uninterrupted minutes with a coffee. Treat it as a facility, not a guarantee.

When sitting still loses its appeal, you can use the table-tennis facilities, arcade games, karaoke, live entertainment, bingo and two snooker tables. Walking tours, bike tours, hiking, fishing and tennis equipment are also available, with cycling and tennis taking place off site. Golf is available within 3 km, and the tour desk can help with the practical side of getting out and about.

Girona-Costa Brava Airport is the convenient arrival point at about 19 miles by road, while Barcelona El Prat is around 55 miles away. An airport shuttle is available on request, and car hire can be arranged. If you drive, free private parking is available on site without a reservation. A free beach shuttle runs daily to Lloret de Mar Beach and back.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 23:30 and check-out is by 11:00. You need to tell the property your expected arrival time, and photo identification plus a payment card are required at check-in. A 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, lockers, a tour desk and an on-site cash machine cover the useful bits around arrival and departure.

Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. The apartments are non-smoking, and quiet hours run from 22:00 to 08:00. Children of all ages are welcome, with cots and extra beds available on request. Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted. The property is seasonal, operating from April to October.