Dive Hotel

Boutique but friendly beachfront hotel in the laid-back suburb of Coogee, just 15 minutes from Sydney airport

Don't misinterpret the name: this is no 'dive', nor does it feel like a hotel. In fact it's something of a hybrid, with all the style of a boutique beach villa and all the friendliness of an owner-run guesthouse. Perched on a raised walkway facing Coogee Beach, its modern exterior - all large windows and charcoal-grey walls - hides a colonial house within. And there are some lively contrasts. Bright green carpets and shocking pink courtyard walls yield to calm monochromes in the 14 spacious bedrooms. Sleek bathrooms of stainless steel and cerulean-blue glass poke fun at ornate plaster ceiling mouldings and Victorian tiling in the hallway.

Terry and Mercedes, who 'live above the shop', have created a tranquil, laid-back and sociable atmosphere. There's a help-yourself kitchen with coffee and magazines, a sunny little courtyard, and lazy breakfasts (until 1pm) for guests to compare - and sometimes combine - travel plans. After a day's swimming, surfing and Sydney-sightseeing, it's an easy-going beachside haven.

Highs

• Unpretentious, well-priced boutique hotel with nice designer touches
• Coogee beach is on your doorstep: much less crowded than Bondi, and great for swimming or surfing
• An ideal bolthole from busy Sydney, whose centre is just 15 minutes by taxi
• Coogee's village feel makes it seem like you're living here rather than visiting
• All 12 well-equipped rooms have minimalist decor, cleverly designed ensuite bathrooms and kitchenettes

Lows

• Coogee is a nice beach, but it's not Sydney's trendiest nor its most central; you will need taxis and buses to get about
• Further down the road are the inevitable backpackers hostels common to every beach suburb; but you rarely notice them
• Only 2 out of 14 rooms have sea view
• The road outside means these rooms get some noise with their sea views
• Breakfast is continental style only
• The hotel was refurbished 5 years ago so it is getting a little frayed round the edges