Crowne Plaza

I visited in mid-October, when the weather seemed to have a personality of its own: hot one moment, cold a few hours later. Thankfully, room 803, with its sea view, was a lovely place to return to.

Breakfast was a highlight, with plenty of options, fresh juice and a chef ready to prepare eggs just the way you liked them. The Wi-Fi was fast and reliable throughout the hotel, and the staff were warm and helpful.

But the valet deserves an honorable mention. Our rental car developed a flat tyre overnight, and he helped change it to the spare. He even offered to take the damaged tyre for repairs. That is the sort of service you remember.

I also tried the salt room's Halo therapy - it is indeed Halo, if you get what I mean. Sometimes, a little date with yourself is exactly what you need.

The hotel’s location made exploring nearby attractions convenient, and I was pleasantly surprised that communication in English was easy despite my initial concerns about a language barrier. Staff also shared useful local driving advice, including speed limits.

Then came my own moment of confusion: I was about to enter the car from the wrong side. In Nigeria, I’m used to the steering wheel being on the right. Everyone paused, looked at me, and then we all laughed. Travel will humble you in the most unexpected ways.

One thing I would have appreciated was clearer guidance about late checkout. My flight was late at night, but the room was already booked, so an extension wasn’t possible. In fairness, I should have asked earlier; I guess I was too distracted by the view and that calming sea breeze. Still, a little early guidance on the options would have helped.