Best All-Inclusive Hotels in Costa del Sol

The upscale, family-friendly Iberostar Marbella Coral Beach is on a small beach a short walk from Puerto Banus. The beautiful beach club and the inviting pool are probably the hotel’s main draws, but the hotel also features a solid restaurant, a relaxing spa, and several amenities for families. Rooms are big and spotless, with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and furnished balconies. But the shingle beach isn’t the prettiest, and the neighborhood may be a little too quiet for some. Still, this is a great pick for families and couples looking to spend some relaxing days in the sun.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the sandy beach, this family-focused property is a popular spot for tourists as there are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby. Available boards include self catering, bed-and-breakfast, half-board, full-board, or all-inclusive. The bright apartments have kitchenettes plus small dining and seating areas. Some have balconies and most have good mountain or sea views. On-site, there are plenty of amenities to keep guests busy, like two outdoor pools, one heated indoor pool, a game room, and cinema, plus a buffet restaurant, snack bar, two bars, and live evening entertainment.

Though the Gran Hotel Elba Estepona & Thalasso Spa doesn't live up to its advertised five-star rating, it's an upscale property with amenities that appeal to both couples and families. The 204 rooms and suites have a classic elegance and are spacious, plus come equipped with free Wi-Fi, minibars, separate bathtubs and showers, and furnished balconies or terraces -- some with lovely sea vistas. There are three pools, a kids' club, an expansive spa, and a well-equipped gym. A range of dining options includes one buffet and three a la carte eateries, and there are all-inclusive packages and 24-hour room service. Note that some amenities are only offered in high season.

The Iberostar Malaga Playa has 319 guest rooms and 94 one- or two-bedroom apartments. The Moorish-themed hotel sits right on the gray-sand beach, separated only by the lovely Torrox-Costa Promenade. The resort has plenty of all-inclusive options (guests can choose rates that include free breakfast, half board, or full board), and offers activities and sports geared toward families with small children, as well as choices for the senior contingent. The clientele is largely Europeans drawn to the near-perfect, sunny climate.

The 216-unit Marinas de Nerja Aparthotel is right on the beach, across a beautiful lawn dotted with cabanas and sun beds. The hotel is geared to tourists, especially families with kids, and offers an all inclusive option that attracts Spaniards on long weekends or school holidays. Located a 20-minute walk from central Nerja, this hotel has a big pool with lounge chairs and sea views along with an indoor pool and hot tubs. All rooms have convenient kitchens -- including kettles, mini-fridges, and a small cooktop -- and balconies.

The 799-room Hotel Sol Principe is a huge chain resort with gorgeous grounds and plenty of places to drink, dine, and relax. There are two huge pools, several bars and restaurants, a wide variety of activities for all ages (art and cooking classes for kids, spinning and zumba for adults), and Broadway-style entertainment every night. All rooms have balconies and kitchenettes.

Globales Cortijo Blanco Hotel is a mid-range family-friendly hotel geared toward vacationers, many of whom are from the U.K. The 310 rooms are basic and bright, with terraces and colorful accent decor, but the bathrooms are downright tiny. The facilities are much more attractive and include five pools (a boon considering the property is not on the beach), a huge selection of facilities for kids, a tennis court, a volleyball pit, and a handful of restaurants and bars -- all-inclusive food and drink options are also available.

The upper-middle-range H10 Estepona Palace is a beachfront property located a five-minute drive from the town center. The 237 rooms are contemporary but some are more attractive and coordinated than others. All come equipped with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, air-conditioning, and furnished balconies. Notable features for both kids and adults include three pools -- one for kids -- an excellent and expansive spa, seasonal kids' club, and fitness center. The hotel also has four restaurants and bars plus all-inclusive packages, though two are outdoors and only open seasonally.

The 155-room Palia La Roca Hotel-Club is a two-and-a-half-pearl property situated a two-minute walk from the beach and close to restaurants, bars, and shops. Rooms are rather plain and some are worn, but they're clean and have air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs. Rates are all-inclusive and include meals, snacks, activities, and entertainment, but not Wi-Fi. The restaurant serves buffets for all meals, and guests can dine inside or out, though food gets mixed reviews and it can get busy. The pool is large, and there are scheduled activities to keep everyone occupied. During high season, children have their own club with activities.

The mid-range Hotel Puente Real is located on a beautiful beach one-and-a-half miles from downtown Torremolinos. The hotel consists of 371 rooms and 102 apartments with kitchenettes, and offers both all-inclusive and room only options. Decor is basic and most rooms show considerable wear and tear, though rome rooms have been renovated with modern bathrooms. The schedule is jam-packed with activities for kids and parents, with plenty of supervised play for the children, but peak season crowds mean that guests will have to get up early to snag lounge chairs.

The THB Torrequebrada Hotel is a large three-pearl property right on a seafront promenade and less than a five-minute walk from the beach. All 350 rooms have private balconies facing the sea, though the style is an oddly dated blend of country and IKEA-esque styles. This isn't the right pick for those wanting to be near the buzz of Benalmadena's marina, but there's a lot to do on-site, including the attached Torrequebrada Casino. There's also an indoor pool and two outdoor pools on a sundeck overlooking the sea, plus a small spa and a sauna. Optional all-inclusive rates and crowds mean frequent lines for food and drinks.

The 331-room Playabonita Hotel is a two-and-a-half-pearl property on the beach, about a 15-minute drive from the shops and restaurants of Benalmadena. There's not much near the hotel save for more hotels and some restaurants, but there are lots of activities and entertainment on-site, and all-inclusive rates are available. Rooms are dated, and while they include air-conditioning and most have mini-fridges, we spotted plenty of tube TVs. Some feature lovely sea views from balconies. The well-liked restaurant serves buffets for all meals, and there are bars plus kids' and teens' clubs. However, limited free Wi-Fi and the often crowded pool are underwhelming.

This upscale, Polynesian-themed resort  is located near the ocean in a resort complex in Benalmadena. Its family all-inclusive package gives access to a waterpark with waterslides, a wave pool, and a giant pirate ship. The hotel has an entertainment staff and a children’s club with organized activities. Other all-inclusive plans have various dining and drinking options including a buffet restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, and a Polynesian restaurant, as well as a piano bar. The hotel is popular with English guests, and its 328 rooms are spacious with separate living rooms and sea-view balconies. There are a handful of annoying extra fees at the hotel such as fees for Wi-Fi, and towel and inner tube rentals at the waterpark.

This family-focused, three-pearl property has 436 rooms just a five-minute walk from Benalmadena's sandy beach. It’s a popular all-inclusive hotel, and there are a range of restaurants, bars, and shops right outside its grounds; the marina is also a 10-minute walk away. Decor and facilities are basic, but all rooms have air-conditioning, a balcony, and a spacious bathroom; apartments and suites with kitchenettes are also available. The hotel has four pools, including a separate children’s pool and splash pool with water features, playground, and gardens. The buffet restaurant, which gets decent reviews, serves all meals.

This sprawling beachfront resort feels like a tropical oasis, with lush landscaping and towering palms lining the pathways and surrounding the property’s many stately fountains. The family-friendly, all-inclusive resort (its rates are competitive considering the category and location) has a beautiful stretch of beach located 20 minutes east of Marabella's Old Town. It’s quiet and somewhat isolated, with little in reasonable walking distance, which may not suit all travelers. Buffet and a la carte dining are available at two on-site restaurants, and there are two bars as well. The 331 rooms are clean and comfortable, with air-conditioning and optional minibars, but no Wi-Fi. Lush tropical landscaping surrounds the large pool complex that includes two pools and a bar. Among the recreational facilities are beach volleyball and mini-golf, plus supervised children’s activities.

The 260-room Marconfort Beach Club Hotel is an all-inclusive resort property located on Playamar beach in Torremolinos, with pools galore, plenty of activities for the kids, and nightly entertainment. Families with children make up much of this hotel's clientele, and there are playgrounds, mini-golfing, a mini-disco, and a kids’ club. Rooms are simple, clean, and bright, though somewhat outdated, giving off a beach motel vibe.