Golden Mar Menuda

You arrive at a small four-star hotel with 55 rooms, set directly beside the sea in Tossa de Mar. The beach is not a shuttle ride or a hopeful line on a map: you have direct access from the hotel, with the Mediterranean, the shore and the old town providing most of the scenery without any help from a slogan writer.

This is a particularly natural choice for couples, though family rooms are available and children of all ages are welcome. The tone is traditional in its seaside setting but modern in its useful comforts, with air conditioning, free WiFi, a lift, a fitness centre and a 24-hour reception. English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Spanish, French, German, Dutch and Catalan, so you can deal with the practicalities in English from arrival onwards.

Hotel Golden Mar Menuda stands on the seafront at Tossa de Mar, on the Costa Brava, with direct access to the sandy Platja de la Mar Menuda. Platja Gran is about 300 metres away, while Cala Sot d'en Boada is roughly 400 metres away. Platja d'es Codolar is around 800 metres from the hotel if you fancy a little more coastline under your feet.

Tossa's centre is only a few minutes' walk away, bringing restaurants, bars and shops within easy reach when you want to eat elsewhere. Tossa de Mar Castle is about 650 metres away, so an evening stroll can include a genuine bit of history rather than another lap of the hotel grounds. Girona-Costa Brava Airport is about 36 km away by road; Barcelona El Prat is roughly 99 km away.

The room choice is mainly about how much of the sea you want to bring indoors. A standard Premium Double Room keeps things straightforward for two, while the partial-sea-view and balcony options suit you if a little outdoor space or a glimpse across the water matters more than squeezing every last drop of value from the booking. The sea-view rooms make the stronger case for couples who intend to use the room as somewhere to sit and look out, not merely somewhere to leave a damp towel.

If you are travelling as three, the Premium Triple Room with Sea View is the practical choice, with a double bed and a single bed. Families also have a dedicated triple option for two adults and one child. Every room has air conditioning, heating, a private bathroom with shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer, plus a wardrobe, desk, flat-screen TV and satellite channels. There is also a refrigerator and coffee machine: useful details when you come back hot, thirsty and not especially interested in a ceremony involving room service.

The important seasonal caveat is air conditioning: it operates from 1 June to 30 September. A terrace, balcony or sea view changes the feel of the night, but the exact view depends on the room category, so choose that feature deliberately rather than trusting the word 'Premium' to do the work.

Sacalma Food & Drink is the hotel's restaurant, working in a Mediterranean style from breakfast through dinner. Breakfast is a buffet and is included in the stay; lunch brings an à la carte menu, snacks and refreshing cocktails, while dinner is served on a terrace with views over the sea and beach. That gives you a simple rhythm for a diving day: breakfast before heading out, something more flexible at midday, and a proper meal with the bay still doing the talking in the evening.

There is one bar, the Sacalma Food & Drink - Terraza Bar. It serves cocktails and operates across the terrace, pool and lounge areas, with live music adding a little movement to the evening. A snack bar and on-site coffee house are also available, and children's meals and special-diet menus on request give the restaurant some practical flexibility. The hotel does not list a continuous snack service or a late-dining option, so plan the post-dive hunger around the restaurant's service rather than assuming the kitchen will still be awake at any hour.

The main outdoor feature is a single swimming pool on the terrace, only a few metres from the beach and linked directly to it. The terrace has areas in sun and shade, with sun loungers, beach chairs and umbrellas; pool and beach towels are available. You can therefore move from sea to pool to lounger without turning the afternoon into an expedition, which is often the correct level of ambition after a full day in the water.

For something more active, the fitness centre has cardio equipment including a stationary bike, step machines and an elliptical trainer. Bicycle rental is available, and the tour desk can help with local tours; cycling, hiking, canoeing and windsurfing are also available in the surrounding area, with some activities arranged away from the hotel. Live music takes place at the terrace bar, while the indoor play area gives families somewhere practical to send younger travellers when the adults have run out of conversation before dinner.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight and check-out from 07:00 to 11:00. You need to provide photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. There is no age requirement for check-in. Cash is accepted, while cancellation and prepayment conditions vary with the accommodation selected.

Private parking is available on site, with reservation required, and the hotel has charging points for electric vehicles. A shared transfer service is available for airport access and should be arranged with the hotel. You also have a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, a tour desk, car hire, currency exchange, a reception safety-deposit box and free WiFi throughout the property.

Children are welcome, with cots available on request according to the room option; extra beds are not available. Pets are not allowed, and parties or events are not permitted. The hotel is non-smoking throughout, and upper floors are accessible by lift.