Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort

You get a large resort rather than a small dive lodge: 384 smoke-free rooms and suites, several places to eat and drink, three swimming pools, a private beach and enough on-site activity to keep a non-diving companion occupied. The atmosphere is organised and self-contained, which suits you if you prefer to have the evening sorted without setting off into town in search of dinner.

The Red Sea is the obvious reason to come, but the hotel does not ask you to spend every waking hour discussing cylinders and surface intervals. You can return to air conditioning, a shower, a meal and a choice of bars without turning the day into another logistical exercise. There is also a night entertainment programme, for those who still have enough energy left after the boat has done its work.

You are in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, directly on the beachfront at Ras Um El Sid. Ras Um El Sid Beach is about 0.1 miles away, while Al Fanar Lighthouse is roughly 0.2 miles from the resort. The private beach gives the hotel its own stretch of coast; this is not a town-centre address with the sea somewhere beyond the road.

Sharm El Maya Bay Beach is about 1.7 miles away, and Naama Bay Beach is around 6 miles away. For an evening beyond the resort, Farsha Cafe is about 1.2 miles away on foot, while Fares Seafood Restaurant is roughly 1.4 miles away by walking distance. You have a coffee and shisha cafe only about 50 metres away, so even a short wander need not become an expedition.

The standard rooms keep things straightforward: a super-king bed or twin beds, air conditioning, a flat-screen television with IPTV, tea and coffee-making facilities, a desk and chair, wardrobe space and a private bathroom with shower or bath. A minibar is available for an extra charge, useful for keeping water or a late return drink cold when you come back tired, sandy and slightly overconfident about how much dinner you can manage.

For two divers travelling together, the sea-view rooms make the most sense if the view matters when you draw the curtains. If you are travelling as a trio, the room layouts accommodate up to three guests; families and small groups can also request interconnecting rooms and suites. The Premium Suites add considerably more space and sleep up to four, making them the practical choice when you want a separate sitting area and room to spread out rather than live entirely around the bed.

Daily housekeeping, bathrobes, slippers, towels and a hairdryer cover the ordinary comforts. Non-smoking rooms are available, and the resort also has family rooms and accessible facilities. Check the exact layout before booking if bathroom configuration matters to you, as the room categories do not all offer the same arrangement.

You have four main addresses for dinner. Coast is the buffet restaurant, while Calamari Seafood Market Restaurant handles seafood; Ristorante La Casa Pizza & Pasta takes the Italian route. Breakfast is a buffet with vegetarian, halal and American choices, so the first meal of the day is not limited to one particular style of eater.

Four bars give you more choice than a single lobby counter, and there is also a snack bar, an on-site coffee house and room service. That matters when your appetite arrives before the evening meal does. A minibar is available in the rooms, with charges applying, and special-diet menus can be requested.

The resort also runs themed dinner nights, happy hour and evening entertainment. Live music, performances and karaoke keep the post-dive hours from becoming a simple march from shower to bed, although nobody will judge you for choosing the bed.

Three swimming pools give you a choice of water away from the sea, with one heated in winter. Around the beach and pool areas, you have sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas, a sun terrace, outdoor furniture and gardens. The private beach is the obvious place to stop moving altogether; after a full day underwater, that is a perfectly respectable activity.

The wellness facilities cover sauna, steam room, hot tub and a relaxation area, with massages ranging from full-body and couples treatments to back, neck, head and foot massages. Body treatments, scrubs, wraps and facial treatments are also available. A fitness centre, fitness and personal training cover the more energetic option, while beach stretching and aerobics provide something less formal.

If you are travelling with family, there is a kids' club, indoor and outdoor play equipment, a playground and board games. For a more competitive afternoon, you have tennis courts and equipment, table tennis, darts and billiards. A golf course is within 3 miles, and water sports and snorkelling are available on site.

Sharm El Sheikh International Airport is about 13 miles away, with the journey taking around 20 minutes by car. A limousine transfer is available through the hotel, either privately or in a shared arrangement, so you can organise the airport leg before arrival rather than negotiate it while carrying dive luggage. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation required.

Check-in starts at 3pm and check-out runs until noon. The reception is open around the clock, with luggage storage, lockers, concierge service, a tour desk, currency exchange and an on-site cash machine. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort, including guest rooms and public areas.

Children of any age are welcome, and extra beds or cots can be requested according to the room selected. Children aged 12 and over are charged as adults. The minimum check-in age is 18, payment is accepted in cash, and pets are not allowed. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available when your kit has made the suitcase look as though it has been packed by a small storm.

There is no environmental certification or specific sustainability programme to add to the booking decision here.