Hostal L'Alba

Orange is the house colour here, echoing the town's sunrises and sunsets, while the family-run character keeps the place on a human scale. Hostal L'Alba has 21 rooms and is aimed at travellers who want a practical base in Tossa de Mar rather than a resort with a timetable for every minute of the day.

The useful part is the combination of simplicity and centrality. You have air conditioning or heating, a private shower room, WiFi throughout the property and a bar downstairs, with the town's food and nightlife close by. The hotel's website is available in Spanish and French, which is useful when checking the practical details before you arrive.

Carrer Giverola places you in the centre of Tossa de Mar, on the Costa Brava, close to the Villa Romana of Tossa and the everyday business of the town. Tossa de Mar Beach is about 0.2 miles away, with Platja Gran reached in roughly 0.3 miles on foot. Platja d'es Codolar and Platja de la Mar Menuda are both within about 0.5 miles.

The old town and Tossa de Mar Castle are around a ten-minute walk away, so a post-dive wander can take you from streets full of shops and bars to the medieval walls without arranging transport. Restaurants and bars are also close: Chesery Swiss Restaurant is about 200 feet away, while Bar Marina is roughly 300 feet from the guest house.

The rooms are compact and sensibly equipped rather than designed for spreading out like a manta ray. Couples can choose a double or twin arrangement, while the family room with terrace gives a group more breathing room and combines twin and double beds. Triple rooms use three single beds, which avoids the usual argument about who drew the short straw on the sofa.

Air conditioning matters when the Costa Brava has done its work, and heating is available for cooler stays. Every room has a private bathroom with a shower, towels, a hairdryer, a wardrobe and a flat-screen TV. Most rooms have a private balcony, while the family room has a terrace; a drying rack is also available for clothing after a day at the beach.

The building has no lift, and the family room is on the fourth floor, so pack with the stairs in mind. Daily housekeeping, room service and free WiFi keep the practical side straightforward, while non-smoking rooms and quiet hours from 23:00 to 08:00 should suit anyone who prefers the night to stay quiet before an early start.

Breakfast is continental and deliberately straightforward: bread, a croissant, orange juice, coffee with milk or an infusion, plus butter and jam. It is the sort of start that gets you out of the door without turning breakfast into a prolonged social obligation.

There is one bar for guests, along with a snack bar, an on-site coffee house and vending machines for snacks and drinks. Room service is available, and packed lunches can be arranged for a day when your dive schedule leaves little room for a proper stop. Special-diet menus are available on request.

The formula is accommodation only, so the evening meal is yours to choose in town. That works well here: Sol and Chesery Swiss Restaurant are only a short walk away, with Botanic Tossa and several bars nearby when you want something more substantial than a vending-machine snack.

There is no resort programme to keep you occupied between meals. Instead, the useful leisure options are in the town itself: the tour desk can help with local plans, and bicycle and car hire are available for exploring beyond the centre.

For a slower afternoon, use the shared lounge and TV area, then walk towards the castle and old town while the light changes over Tossa. Cala Sot d'en Boada is about 0.8 miles away on foot, and Cala Bona is about 1.1 miles away by road. Santa Clotilde Gardens are around 9 miles away by road if you want a longer outing away from the waterfront.

Girona-Costa Brava Airport is about 15 miles away, with Barcelona El Prat around 51 miles away. You can reach Tossa by road from Barcelona or Girona, and bus services run from Girona, Palafrugell, Barcelona, Lloret de Mar and Blanes. The nearest railway station is in Blanes, about 11 miles away by road.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 22:00 and check-out from 08:00 to 11:00. You need to share your expected arrival time, particularly if you will arrive outside reception hours. Entry to the property is closed between 22:30 and 08:00, and quiet hours run from 23:00 to 08:00.

Bring photo identification and a credit card for check-in; cash is an accepted payment method. Children of any age are welcome, cots are available for young children, and there are no extra beds. The minimum check-in age is 18, smoking and parties are not allowed, and pets cannot stay.