Hostal Cruz

A small guesthouse-style B&B in the centre of Tossa de Mar, Hostal Cruz suits you if the room is mainly a place to sleep, shower and leave your bags while the town does the entertaining. The atmosphere is built around a lounge with a fireplace, a breakfast room and outdoor space rather than a long list of hotel facilities.

There are 21 double rooms, with twin and double-bed arrangements, and some rooms have balconies. You can also settle on the terrace or in the garden with a drink or a simple aperitif. The beach, restaurants and bars are close enough that your evening does not depend on an in-house programme.

You are in the centre of Tossa de Mar, Spain, on Av. Pelegrí. The nearest beach is around a five-minute walk away; Platja Gran is roughly 0.3 miles on foot, while Platja d'es Codolar is about 0.4 miles away. Platja de la Mar Menuda is around 0.6 miles from the property.

Vila Vella, Tossa's fortified medieval town, is about 0.3 miles away. That gives you an easy post-dive wander through the old town without turning the evening into an expedition. Bars and restaurants begin within a couple of minutes on foot, with places such as Sol, Chesery Swiss Restaurant and Botanic Tossa close by.

The bus station is around 100 metres away, useful if you are arriving without a car or travelling on to the airport. Girona-Costa Brava Airport is about 25 miles away by the route described for the property, while Barcelona El Prat Airport is considerably farther.

The room choice is really about how you want to sleep, not about resort theatrics. Twin beds make practical sense if you and your buddy prefer separate sleeping space; a double room is the straightforward couple's option. Balcony rooms give you somewhere outside the four walls, while the garden-view option keeps things oriented towards the property rather than the street.

Rooms are compact, so pack with some discipline rather than bringing the contents of the dive locker indoors. You have a private bathroom, towels, toiletries, a wardrobe or cupboard, a clothes rack and a socket near the bed. Some rooms have a balcony, and the rooms use either a window or an exterior balcony for outside light.

A fan is available for the warmer nights. The property is non-smoking throughout, with quiet hours from midnight until 08:00, which matters if you are trying to sleep before an early start. Upper floors are reached by stairs only, so a heavy case will not be having a holiday of its own.

Breakfast is included and served as a buffet in the guesthouse dining room. The emphasis is on variety rather than ceremony: you can make a proper start before heading out, then leave the table without turning breakfast into a morning occupation.

There is no need to plan the evening around the property. Restaurants and bars are within a short walk, including Sol at roughly 100 metres, Chesery Swiss Restaurant at about 150 metres and Botanic Tossa at around 250 metres. For a drink, Bar Marina and Bar Trops are each around 200 to 300 metres away, with Sa Barraca in the same general pocket of town.

The terrace and garden offer space for an aperitif, while the picnic area and outdoor furniture give you another place to sit when you want something less formal than a restaurant. This is a useful arrangement for a simple evening: shower, eat nearby, and get back before the legs remember the day's work.

The hotel's own leisure offer is deliberately modest. A lounge with a fireplace gives you an indoor place to sit, while the terrace, sun terrace and garden cover the outdoor version of the same activity: finding a chair and staying in it for a while.

The beach is close enough for an easy walk, and beach umbrellas are available as an extra. Diving goggles are also available as an extra for a quick look at the water, although the hotel is not a dive centre and the serious underwater arrangements belong elsewhere.

For something more cultural, Vila Vella is around 0.3 miles away. You can walk there through Tossa de Mar rather than schedule an excursion, which is often the right level of ambition when your shoulders have already done their day's work.

Arrival is between 15:00 and 20:00, and departure is between 08:30 and 11:30. You need to give the property your expected arrival time in advance and show photo identification and a credit card at check-in. Cash is accepted for payment.

Private parking is available on site. The bus station is around 100 metres away and has connections towards Girona Airport, making the guesthouse workable without arranging every stage by car. Luggage storage is available, and the tour desk can help with local planning.

WiFi is free in the public areas rather than described as a room-by-room service. The building has no lift, and upper floors are accessible by stairs only. Children are not allowed, cots and extra beds are not available, pets are not allowed, and parties are not permitted. Smoking is restricted to the designated smoking area.