Port Benidorm Hotel & Spa

The Port Benidorm Hotel & Spa is a contemporary, all-inclusive hotel with lots of big glass windows that shed natural light over sleek spaces. Wood or neutral-tone flooring and whitewashed walls are livened up by furniture in a plethora of bright colors: the cafe has jazzy lime green and orange chairs and faintly glowing columns, while the minimalist lobby has a sleek teal-lit ceiling cutout and a striking orange lighting fixture. Although there are four elevators with tablets outside to shuttle guests to one of the 18 desired floors, several visitors have complained of long wait times. Outside is a stone terrace surrounded by buildings and little greenery, but it houses a good-sized pool with a kiddy section. The hotel attracts both couples and families looking for a trendy place close to the center of Benidorm.

The Port Benidorm occupies a pretty central location, close to many shops, bars, and restaurants, and just a two-minute walk from the golden sands of Playa del Levante. That said, it’s a 20-minute walk or a similar journey by car to the Parroquia de Sant Jaume i Santa Anna and the Plaça de Sant Jaume, a pretty square in the center of Benidorm’s old town, right next to the Mirador, a historic viewpoint with a tower once used to defend Benidorm. Expect a 50-minute transfer to Alicante Airport, while it’s a 90- to 110-minute transfer to Murcia-San Javier Airport.

The hotel’s 288 rooms are bright and tranquil spaces, with dark-wood floors, white walls, a mix of white and dark-wood furniture, and lovely blue-and-white headboard accents that mimic traditional Spanish tiles. Standard Rooms have a double bed or two singles, a teal leather armchair, and a small corner desk. Although perhaps a perk for couples, these rooms also have a glass-walled bathroom that limits privacy. Fortunately, bathrooms are behind wood doors in Family Rooms, which are larger and substitute the armchair for a teal leather pullout couch. All bathrooms are modern and have a walk-in shower cubicle with a rainfall showerhead, a bidet, hairdryer, and toiletries. A balcony or terrace with a table and chairs comes standard, and some overlook the sea in the distance. Each room has a flat-screen TV with some English channels, tea- and coffee-making facilities, a mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi, and a safe -- which guests have to pay a daily charge to use.

The Port Benidorm Hotel & Spa has a lengthy list of family-friendly amenities. The restaurant serves three buffet-style meals a day, although guests are much less keen on lunch and dinner than they are breakfast. A pool bar and a cafe both serve drinks and light meals throughout the day, and an English pub-style bar offers drinks and snacks well into the evening. An all-inclusive package consists of meals, snacks, and local spirits, but some guests have complained of the alcohol being poor quality. A good-sized kidney bean-shaped pool has a shallower area for kids, as well as a separate water play area and splash pool. Entertainment takes place on the cafe’s stage, and staff organize activities for kids every day during high season. A spa has a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, and treatment rooms for massages and wellness therapies. A small but modern gym is also available. There is secure parking on-site, but it comes at a steep cost, while Wi-Fi is free throughout.