Hotel Rosamar

The international tourists who flock to the circa 1969 Hotel Rosamar find either a cherished, old school resort or a dated, down-at-the-heels property. During the summer months, when the hotel tower and its grounds are brimming with families, hard-partying singles, and retirees, the scene can be lively or chaotic. Set among high rises with views of the sea and mountains, the property is nicely maintained with greenery and crisp cobalt or teak loungers and terraces. The outdoor pool, which includes a bar and snack shop, has sculptural diving platforms and a large, wave-like divider separating the large pool into adult and children's sections. The indoor pool, serene, with rosy stone finishes and tiles, is under a skylight and includes a water feature. Inside the hotel, the decor is a mash-up of showy '70s decor and cozy rec-room furnishings. The lobby is vast and cool with marble floors, and a white, triple-height ceiling with a skylight and cascading plants. But vending machines and seating areas that resemble suburban dens with plaid sofas and ginger jar lamps detract from the aesthetic. There are conical columns, sections of dropped ceilings rimmed with blue-neon lights, and a curved bar composed of a light, burled wood. The sprawling dining room has stainless, steamy buffet trays and inexpensive tables and chairs. When the restaurant is crowded, like elsewhere on the property, it can feel chaotic. 

Benidorm, with its nightclubs and tapas bars, is one of the livelier towns on the heavily visited Costa Blanca. The Hotel Rosamar is on its eastern side, 10 minutes on foot from Levante Beach and near the start of its highest concentration of restaurants and hotels, but a car is needed for visits elsewhere. It's a six-minute drive to reach the water park Aqualandia. The Disco Benidorm tram stop is a seven-minute drive. It takes 11 minutes by car and 31 minutes by train to reach the old town of Benidorm. The Serra Gelada National Park is a 14-minute drive. It's a 15-minute drive or 65 minutes on public transportation to the amusement park Terra Mitica. In 43 minutes by car, one can reach the spectacular Les Fonts d'Algar. It's 42 minutes by car and 65 minutes by train to the Alicante Airport.

Rooms at the Hotel Rosamar are quite plain and spare with an old-fashioned style that can read as drab. The views are the highpoint and these include the city, mountains, and the sea. They're best shown off on rooms with balconies, which are furnished with plastic chairs and tables. Average in size, rooms have white walls and cinnamon-colored tile floors. The headboard, inset with sconces, and some of the furnishings are made of a glossy burled, rose-colored wood. But beds have rather worn bedspreads in sage or earth tones, and there's no artwork to liven up the spaces. The rooms have air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV in a wall niche, and charge for Wi-Fi. Connecting rooms and Family Rooms with bunk beds are available. The bathrooms, which include bidets and wall-mounted hairdryers, are quite dated with ticking stripe wallpaper and white-tiled tub/shower combos covered with fabric curtains. The sinks are set in a curved, white marble counter. Toiletries are covered in plastic, and the lighting is fluorescent, lending an antiseptic vibe. 

There are many, resort-like amenities at the Hotel Rosamar. The property has a huge outdoor pool divided between sections for adults and children and is surrounded by cobalt blue loungers. There's a bar and snack cafe here. The third pool is indoors, with a water feature and a frosted-glass conservatory ceiling; it's surrounded by teak loungers. The indoor pool is next to the spa, a series of rooms that include a hair salon, various treatment offerings, a sauna, and a tiled whirlpool. Inside, the property also includes a large fitness center with cardio machines and free weights, a pool table, ping-pong table, and games arcade. The hotel provides supervised activities for children, water park (added after our visit), and babysitting for a fee. There are several places to eat at the hotel including a large restaurant with a show kitchen that serves three meals a day, buffet style. All-inclusive packages and room service are available. There are also vending machines in the lobby where guests will find a 24-hour reception desk, with a currency exchange, ticket and tour service, car rental, and luggage storage. Computers, fax and copy machines, and meeting rooms are on available. Wi-Fi and parking cost extra. The hotel provides live entertainment each night, including, on occasion, an Elvis impersonator.