C/ Gerona 45, Benidorm, Spain | (888) 989-6591
Two blocks from the beach and walking distance to restaurants and bars
Clean rooms with flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning
Five pools, including one of Benidorm’s largest
Two buffet restaurants, two snack bars and two lobby bars
A kids’ club and a playground complete with a trampoline
Extensive entertainment program
Non-renovated Pelicanos Rooms are dated and drab (but set to undergo renovations)
Fee for safes, mini-fridges, Wi-Fi, and parking
No fitness center
Basic all-inclusive rate doesn’t offer access to swim-up bar
Not all rooms have a balcony
Sol Pelicanos Ocas is a massive, all-inclusive, family-friendly resort near the beach. The 794 mid-range rooms are hit or miss depending on where they are located: units in the Ocas section have been renovated and feature contemporary decor, while those in the Pelicanos are drab and in urgent need of a facelift (planned for early 2018). Known for its huge lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar, the resort also offers an additional four pools, a kids’ club, and multiple dining options (although food gets mixed reviews). Despite its size, the property lacks a fitness center. In this price range, it's also worth considering the Hotel Helios.
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Scene
Huge family-friendly resort with the largest pool in the city center
Spread out across two large buildings, the 794-room Sol Pelicanos Ocas is one of the three largest resorts in Benidorm and has the biggest pool of any of the hotel's in the city center. Each section has a buffet restaurant, a lobby bar, and a snack bar as well as hundreds of rooms. The five pools are in the central part of the resort, and all guests are free to use the facilities in either building. Common spaces in both areas are generic but contemporary and clean. The main lobby -- located in the Pelicanos section -- is bright and spacious, with several seating areas furnished with wicker chairs and tables, a front desk area with wood panelling, and cream-colored floors with a brown geometric patterns.
Location
Two blocks from the beach and within walking distance of nightlife and restaurants
The resort is located on a busy street lined with high-rises as well as bars and cafes geared towards British and German travelers. It's a three-minute walk from the beach and within a few blocks of the main nightlife area in the New Town. Those looking to explore the Old Town can walk there in about 20 minutes. The Benidorm bus station is a five-minute drive away, and the nearest airport -- located in Alicante -- can be reached by car in about 45 minutes.
Rooms
Some rooms are contemporary and fresh; others are in need of urgent renovations.
The hotel has 794 clean, bright rooms spread across two buildings. All units have similar amenities, including flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning and twin beds, but decor varies greatly. Safes are free in Superior and Family Rooms, but there is a fee for Wi-Fi and for use of mini-fridges in all units. Not all rooms have a balcony. Rooms in the Ocas section were renovated in the mid-2010s and feature generic contemporary decor. White linens, dark bed runners, and white headboards give rooms a fresh feel, while laminate floors and brown accent walls are appealing touches. These units have modern bathrooms with dark walls, walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads or shower/tub combos decorated with gleaming golden mosaic tiling, and black or grey countertops. Some of the Standard Rooms in the Pelicanos building, however, are dated, with drab, basic wooden furniture painted red. Bathrooms in these units have shower/tub combos with plastic curtains and grey tiles. Travelers should note that this building will be closed January 8-March 1, 2018 for renovations.
Features
Five pools, a kids’ club with a playground with a trampoline, and several dining options
The resort's lagoon-shaped main pool and swim-up bar make it a favorite among guests, but those going all-inclusive may want to know that the basic rate does not include drinks at the swim-up bar. Additionally, the hotel has four other pools lined with lounge chairs and parasols, including one for water activities and two for children. Kids are kept busy with a wide array of activities and a playground complete with a trampoline. Each building has a buffet restaurant, a lobby bar, and a snack hut by the pool, although the food in all of them gets mixed reviews. Parking and Wi-Fi are available, but both amenities cost extra. Note that there is no fitness center on-site.
