Riudor Hotel Benidorm

Hotel Riudor is a bustling beach resort catering to guests 18 or older, especially British tourists. The vibe is lively, with guests gathering for oversize drinks around the pool or at happy hour, singing karaoke, and dancing in the large dining room. Its beige mason exterior with angled balconies and concrete stairs, blue accent tiles, and a neon sign is blocky and dated. The lobby, with gray-tile floors, upholstered tub chairs, and a black-tile, dark-wood, and mirror-accented reception desk also looks as if it's from another decade. The vast restaurant and bar has acoustic-tile ceilings and somewhat tacking-looking crystal light fixtures. The restaurant's tables have salmon-pink tablecloths and simple oak chairs, and the bar has rows of both wicker chairs and tables for dining, or tub chairs upholstered in light blue or pink for drinks. A paved sundeck around the pool is bordered by loungers and umbrellas, and an outdoor bar with a terrace is off to one side. Couples make up most of the Riudor's clientele, but in winter it draws retirees from the U.K. and northern Europe. (Guests like to joke about the number of motorized scooters.) 

The Hotel Riudor is on the Costa Blanca in the southern part of the Valencia region. It's situated in the resort town of Benidorm, with nightclubs, two crescent-shaped beaches, and many hotels, shops, and restaurants. The hotel is an eight-minute walk to Levante Beach or a 17-minute drive to Poniente Beach, which is also about a 90-minute trip on public transit. The Mundomar Marine Park is an eight-minute drive. The winding streets of Benidorm's Old Town are about a 15-minute drive from the hotel, or or a 30-minute trip on public transportation. Terra Natura, a nature park, is a 17-minute drive. The theme park Terra Mitica is a 19-minute drive or 90 minutes on public transportation. Placa del Castell and its vantage point for sweeping views, is a 35-minute drive or close to an hour away by train. The Canelobre Caves are about a 50-minute drive. The Castle of Santa Barbara, dating to the ninth century, is a 40-minute drive or almost two hours away by train. Alicante Airport is a 50-minute drive or about a bit over an hour away on public transportation.

The 165 rooms at the Hotel Riudor are bright with basic, dated decor. Rooms have white, linoleum-tile floors, blond-wood headboards and desks, and cheery accent walls in pops of bright colors like orange, with framed prints of vibrant landscapes. Bedspreads are often tomato red, a color that extends to the drapes and upholstery. Tube TVs are mounted on the wall. Mini-fridges and Wi-Fi are available for a fee, but guests complain that the signal is spotty. Lap-top size safes are also included. Guests have also complained that the air-conditioning is subpar, and outside noise is also a problem. Sliding doors with draw drapes lead to brick-and-frosted-glass terraces with plastic tables and chairs, and views of the pool or surrounding city. Bathrooms, with gray-and-black tile are dated, but some have some Deco-flourishes, and gray-veined marble vanities. They have bidets and tubs with hand-held showerheads. Wall-mounted hairdryers and bars of soap come standard. 

Hotel Riudor's star feature is its large pool with loungers, umbrella tables, and a poolside bar. The hotel also has a large bar and restaurant, serving both Mediterranean and continental cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At night, the hotel provides live music, usually British performers and karaoke. There is also a dance floor. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, but costs extra in rooms. Newspapers and souvenirs are for sale in the lobby as well. The front desk is open 24 hours a day, and staff can sell tickets to area attractions, store luggage, exchange currency, and arrange for car rentals. The property is ADA compliant, but guests have complained about accessibility.