The Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh is built for the part of a diving holiday that happens between the boat and bedtime. You have a private beach, spacious suites with outdoor space, a heated infinity pool and a spa, so the day can slow down without requiring much effort from you. That is no small consideration when your legs have already done their share of work underwater.

The atmosphere suits couples particularly well, but families are catered for too, with a kids' club and babysitting. The hotel team speaks English and Arabic, so English-speaking guests can deal directly with the staff on site. WiFi is free throughout the resort, and private check-in and check-out add a useful touch when you would rather get settled than queue at a desk.

You are in Hurghada, Egypt, at Oberoi 117 in Sahl Hasheesh, directly on the Red Sea. The resort has its own sandy beach, with sun loungers and parasols, so getting from your suite to the shoreline does not involve a road, a shuttle or a heroic sense of direction.

Hurghada city centre is 22 km away, while Hurghada International Airport is 13 km from the resort. For a change of scene, Al Zaeem Cafe is about 1.5 km away, and several restaurants around Hurghada Coral Beach are roughly 2 km away. Sand City Hurghada is 6 km away and Hurghada Grand Aquarium 9 km away. The resort therefore works best if you want the sea and the hotel facilities close at hand, with town visits treated as outings rather than spontaneous strolls.

These are suites rather than simple rooms, and the difference matters when your day includes wet kit, sandy feet and the general sprawl that comes with diving. Every suite has air conditioning, a private terrace or balcony, a walk-in wardrobe, a seating area and a private bathroom with a marble bath and separate shower. There is also a minibar, tea and coffee-making equipment, a flat-screen satellite television and free WiFi. The extra-long beds are a sensible detail for anyone who considers sleep part of the dive plan rather than an optional extra.

For a couple, a Deluxe Suite is the straightforward choice, with room to spread out without turning the stay into a private residence. If a pool outside the garden appeals more than a larger interior, the Grand Suite with Private Pool takes that route. The Royal Suite adds considerably more space and a super-king-size bed. Several suites have their own garden pool, while all retain the private outdoor area that gives you somewhere to sit before dinner without having to join the main pool scene.

The glass-walled bathrooms bring plenty of daylight and include bathrobes, slippers, toiletries and a hairdryer. Daily housekeeping keeps the practical side simple, while room service is available when you want food without changing out of the clothes that have already survived the dive day.

The kitchens cover Indian, Italian and local cooking, with breakfast served à la carte, continental or Full English/Irish style. The wider breakfast choice also includes vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, Asian and American options, while vegetarian, dairy-free and halal dishes can be requested at other meals. That gives you room to keep breakfast familiar before a dive and make dinner more interesting afterwards.

Lunch and dinner are served at the resort restaurants, and the main dining room looks across the beach and the Red Sea. A pool bar handles drinks, light snacks and cigars, which is useful when lunch needs to be brief or when you want something small beside the water rather than another full meal. There is also a bar and a minibar in the suites.

After 18:00, the restaurants ask for smart casual dress and closed footwear. In other words, the day’s board shorts and flip-flops have an official finishing time.

The heated infinity pool is the obvious place to spend a non-diving morning, with the beach close by when you prefer sand to tiled surrounds. Sun loungers, parasols and beach towels are available, so you can settle in properly rather than balancing a book on a damp towel. Snorkelling and water sports are available on site, while tennis gives you a land-based option that involves more movement than walking to the bar.

The spa offers massages, facials, body scrubs, mud baths, body wraps, a hammam, sauna and jacuzzi. There is also a relaxation lounge, plus a fitness centre with yoga and Pilates. A couples massage is available when both of you have decided that discussing buoyancy over dinner can wait.

For something less horizontal, you can join a cooking class, try horse riding or spend an evening stargazing. Live music and performances are also part of the programme, and the resort has a kids' club and babysitting for families who need a little space of their own.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is by 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time. A 24-hour front desk, concierge, luggage storage, currency exchange and a tour desk cover the useful arrival and departure jobs without requiring a separate trip into town.

Airport shuttle service is available to arrange with the hotel, and car hire is also offered. Free private parking is available on site, with valet parking. The resort has free WiFi throughout, laundry and dry-cleaning services, a business centre, an on-site infirmary and a safety deposit box. Cash and Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted.

Children of all ages are welcome. A cot can be requested for children aged 0 to 2, and an extra bed can be requested for children aged 6 to 11; these arrangements depend on the selected suite. Pets are not allowed. If you plan to eat in the restaurants after 18:00, pack smart casual clothes and closed shoes rather than relying entirely on dive-boots-as-eveningwear.