Boutique Hotel Los Limoneros

The name is not a random flourish: Los Limoneros sits among the citrus trees around Moraira, in a small boutique hotel with 18 rooms. The feel is quieter and more composed than a large resort, with a garden, terraces, a heated outdoor pool and a restaurant that puts fresh local ingredients at the centre of the evening.

You will be understood in English or Spanish by the hotel team, which removes one of the more tiresome parts of arriving somewhere new. This is a sensible base for couples who want the town and coast nearby, and for families who need more room than a standard double can provide. There is also a private-pool villa for larger groups, though the hotel remains small enough to avoid the usual holiday complex sprawl.

Moraira, Spain, is the setting: a coastal town backed by countryside and close to the Costa Blanca's coves and beaches. The town centre and beaches are about a 10-minute walk away, while the address also puts restaurants, the marina and the seafront within walking distance. You can leave the car behind for an evening without turning the return journey into an expedition.

Playa de l'Ampolla is roughly 0.6 miles away, and Playa del Portet about 0.8 miles away. Cala del Portitxolet, a natural area, is around 0.6 miles from the hotel and about a 10-minute walk. For a wider outing, Peñón de Ifach Natural Park is about 8 miles away, while the Montgó nature area lies around 8 miles in the other direction.

A few local places to eat and drink sit close by, including Royal Buddha Tandoori at around 0.2 miles, Bar Ambiente at around 0.2 miles and the cafés and restaurants around Moraira within roughly 0.4 miles. Teulada railway station is about 4.2 miles away by road, and Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is around 59 miles by car, with a journey of about an hour.

The room choice makes most sense by the amount of space you want when the dive kit, wet clothes and ordinary luggage all arrive back at once. Couples can keep things straightforward with the Deluxe Double or Twin Room with Pool View, while the Executive Suite gives you more breathing room without moving into group territory. The Superior Apartment is the practical family option, with enough space for up to five guests rather than asking everyone to live out of one suitcase.

For a larger party, the Villa with Private Pool is the clear outlier: four bedrooms and four bathrooms, with its own pool and enough room for up to eight guests. That is less about choosing a grand label and more about keeping a group from queueing for the bathroom after a day outdoors. The smaller categories have pool, garden, courtyard or mountain views, depending on the room.

All rooms have air conditioning, free WiFi, satellite television, a fridge, kettle and coffee maker. The fridge earns its place when you return hot and thirsty; the air conditioning does the less glamorous but more useful job of making the night comfortable. A balcony is attached to every room, with views towards the pool or garden, and soundproofing is also available. Upper floors are reached by stairs only, so that is worth factoring into your choice if stairs are not your favourite post-dive exercise.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on a terrace, combining local cuisine with fresh ingredients from the area. Breakfast is continental and included, with service from 08:00. Lunch runs from 13:00 to 15:30, and dinner from 19:00 to 22:00. Tapas and wine pairing are part of the hotel's food-and-drink offer, giving you something more interesting than the standard post-dive sandwich.

There is one named bar: the pool bar. It serves cocktails as well as fresh dishes, so you can stay near the water when a full restaurant meal feels like unnecessary ceremony. A coffee house is also on site, and wine and champagne are available.

Room service runs around the clock, which is useful when the day's timings have not respected the kitchen's timetable. Breakfast can also be taken in your room. Special-diet menus are available on request, and packed lunches are offered for days when you are heading out rather than sitting down to eat.

The large heated outdoor pool is the obvious place to spend a non-diving afternoon, with sun loungers, umbrellas and pool or beach towels available. A sun terrace, garden and outdoor seating give you several ways to dry off without immediately returning to a screen. The pool is large enough to be a proper feature of the hotel rather than a decorative rectangle beside the entrance.

If you prefer to keep moving, yoga classes are available at the hotel. Bicycle hire, bike tours and walking tours provide easy ways to see more of Moraira and its surrounding countryside, while hiking and cycling are also available in the area. Golf is offered at a course within 3 km, and horse riding, canoeing, windsurfing and fishing are available off site.

For a quieter evening, the shared lounge and TV area offer a change from the room, while streaming services and board games cover the less ambitious end of the entertainment scale. There is no need to manufacture a programme every day; the garden, pool and nearby coast already give you somewhere to put the hours between breakfast and dinner.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 22:30, and check-out from 08:00 to 11:00. The reception is open around the clock, with private check-in and check-out available, and luggage storage for the awkward gap between leaving the room and leaving Moraira. The hotel accepts cards, but not cash.

Free public parking is available on site without reservation, which makes a hire car practical for reaching the wider Costa Blanca. An airport shuttle can be arranged with the hotel, either privately or as a shared service. Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is about 59 miles away by road, with a drive of roughly one hour.

WiFi is free throughout the hotel. Daily housekeeping, room service, laundry and ironing services are available, while car hire and grocery deliveries can also be arranged. Children of all ages are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the selected accommodation and availability. Pets are not allowed.