The Sunset

English-speaking staff make The Sunset an easy base for a diving holiday on Christmas Island. You stay in Flying Fish Cove, with the ocean in front of you, tropical rainforest around you and a white-sand beach directly accessible from the resort.

The feel is practical rather than showy: air-conditioned rooms, free WiFi throughout the property, free private parking and outdoor space for the hours when you have had enough of fins, tanks and being asked whether you saw anything interesting. Families are welcome, and the resort also suits couples looking for a straightforward stay beside the sea.

A swimming pool with a view, sun loungers, parasols and a garden give you several places to stop for the day. The English-speaking team is the point to remember if you want clear communication from arrival onwards.

You are in Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island, Australia, on the coast rather than inland. The beach is directly accessible from the resort, with white sand, sun loungers and parasols ready for time above the water.

Christmas Island International Airport is about 4.1 miles away by road, with the journey taking around 20 minutes. The town centre is around 10 minutes away, while The Dales is about 13 miles from the property. A restaurant, Sukaramai Restaurant, is about 2.7 miles away by road, so you have an option beyond the hotel when you fancy eating elsewhere.

The Christmas Island Recreation Centre is around 4.1 miles away by road. For the rest, the setting does the organising: sea for the morning, rainforest and island excursions for the afternoon, and no need to pretend that a shopping district is hiding around the corner.

The accommodation is best suited to one or two divers sharing a room. The Standard Double or Twin Room keeps things simple, while the Superior Double or Twin Room with Ocean View and the Queen Room with Ocean View give you a reason to choose them when looking out over the water matters as much as having somewhere to sleep.

Every room has air conditioning and a fan, which gives you options when you return warm, salty and ready to dry off. There is also a seating area, a desk, a wardrobe or closet, a flat-screen TV, a DVD player, a radio and a telephone. Hypoallergenic bedding and extra-long beds add useful detail without turning the room into a showroom.

The in-room setup is more useful than a kettle alone: you have a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, kitchenware and an electric kettle, as well as tea and coffee-making facilities. That means cold water after a long day, a quick snack when restaurant timing does not match your appetite, and somewhere to keep breakfast supplies. Private bathrooms include a shower or bath, towels, free toiletries and a hairdryer. Daily housekeeping, luggage storage and private check-in and check-out are also available.

There are no extra beds, while cot availability depends on the accommodation selected. The listed double and twin rooms accommodate two guests, so choose with the actual occupants in mind rather than assuming that every family-room label means room for a full expedition crew.

The accommodation gives you the basics for sorting out food in your own rhythm: a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, kitchenware and kettle in the room. That matters on a diving island, where an early start or a late return can make a small meal assembled at base more appealing than a formal dinner.

Outside, the resort provides an outdoor dining area, terrace seating and barbecue facilities. You can take food into the open air and make the evening as simple as you like. There is no stated meal plan to build your stay around, so the room facilities and barbecue are the practical part of the food picture.

When you want to eat away from the property, Sukaramai Restaurant is about 2.7 miles away by road. It is not a stroll down the promenade, so car hire or another planned journey will make more sense than setting off in flip-flops and optimism.

The outdoor swimming pool has a view, and the sun terrace gives you somewhere to settle with a towel and no timetable. Pool and beach towels, sun loungers and beach chairs are available, while the garden and terraces provide more space when you want to sit outside without committing to another excursion.

The sea is not just scenery here. You can go snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding, with equipment rental available, and boat excursions are also offered. These are useful choices for a gentler day when you still want to be on the water but do not fancy another full diving schedule.

On land, the resort offers hiking, wildlife observation and cultural excursions. National Park tours, bird watching and sunset viewing are among the organised possibilities. Christmas Island’s setting gives you plenty to do without manufacturing entertainment: one day can involve rainforest and birds, another a paddle, and another absolutely nothing beyond the pool and the beach.

For a couple, that mix works particularly well. One of you can head out for an activity while the other claims a lounger, then you can meet up later in the garden or outside dining area. The practical facilities continue indoors too, with free WiFi, air conditioning and a television for the rare evening when the island has beaten you.

Christmas Island International Airport is about 4.1 miles away by road. An airport shuttle is available for an additional charge and can be arranged with the hotel; car hire is also available if you want to reach the town centre, The Dales, the Recreation Centre and other island locations under your own steam.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 18:00, and check-out from 08:00 to 10:00. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested. Luggage storage is available, which is useful when your flight and your room do not line up neatly.

Parking is free and private on site, with no reservation needed. Laundry, dry cleaning, a concierge service, a reception safe and an on-site infirmary are available. WiFi is free throughout the resort.

Children of any age are welcome, and there is no age requirement for check-in. Cots depend on the accommodation selected, while extra beds are not available. Pets are not allowed. Payment is accepted in cash, Visa and Mastercard.