Hotel Costa Narejos

It’s safe to say that interior design is not the Hotel Costa Narejos’ strongest point, with oddly shaped spaces, bare white walls and quarts floors. Its lobby is furnished with a mishmash of worn couches upholstered in shades of peach and brown, outdoor rattan furniture, and giant potted yucca plants. The hotel’s cafe and buffet restaurant are decorated along the same lines, with orange chairs and orange leather panels on the bar. Outside is a large and sunny pool terrace edged by palm trees, and featuring a large polygonal pool and a separate, shallower pool for kiddies. The hotel is popular among tourists looking to relax on the nearby Playa de las Palmeras, as well as those looking to hit the fairway at the Roda Golf Club.

The Hotel Costa Narejos is well located, in the center of Los Alcazares, close to plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. Playa de las Palmeras is a four-minute walk away, and the calm blue waters of the Mar Menor lagoon are popular for sailing, windsurfing, and various other water sports. The Roda Golf Club is an eight-minute drive away. To the north of the Mar Menor, and a 15-minute drive away are salt marshes and sand dunes, which constitute a nature reserve home to many species of rare birds, including brightly colored flamingos. Farther afield, Cartagena and its dramatic cathedral and Roman ruins are a 25- to 30-minute drive away. Expect a five-minute transfer time to Murcia-San Javier airport, which doubles as a military airbase -- some guests love watching the fighter jets take off, but others report being disturbed by the noise. Meanwhile, Alicante Airport is a 60- to 80-minute car ride.

In keeping with the rest of the hotel, the 191 rooms in the Hotel Costa Narejos are on the outdated side. Standard Rooms are large, with dark-wood floors and flashes of bright orange on headboards, chairs, and bedskirts. They are furnished with two single beds that can be pushed together to make a double, a desk and chair, and a wall-mounted flatscreen TV. All have furnished balconies except for the accessible rooms. Meanwhile, Family Rooms are more dated, with brown faux-marble tiled floors or poorly cushioned sofa beds, but they are also much larger. They have separate living areas with dining tables that seat four and serving hatches that connect to kitchens. These have mini-fridges, sinks, and microwaves, but no stovetops or ovens, making any real cooking a challenge. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and bidets. Free Wi-Fi and safes come standard. 

Outside is a sunny pool terrace with a large polygonal pool and a smaller, separate pool for kids, separated off from the main one by a wooden footbridge. A hot tub, dozens of loungers, and umbrellas are also here. The hotel has a conference suite with five rooms, the largest of which can accommodate 200 people. There is secure car parking for guests, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

A surprisingly large spa is available, with treatment rooms for massages and wellness therapies, as well as hydrotherapy pools, Turkish baths, and steam rooms. There is also a small but decently outfitted gym with treadmills and a cross-trainer, a multi-purpose weights machine, and a punching bag. For food, a cafe serves sandwiches, tapas, and drinks, plus there is a well-reviewed buffet restaurant with a kids' buffet served during school holidays. Most rates include breakfast, and half-board rates are available.