Mercure Benidorm: Mediterranean Style, Modern Luxury

Stepping into Mercure Benidorm for the first time really is a “wow” moment – its lobby is cool and comforting, hushed and stylish – and we feel we’ve been whisked from Benidorm’s buzzing streets into an inviting and tranquil parallel universe. Over the next few days, we lose ourselves in leafy gardens, laze by the glittering pool and do little more strenuous than snooze in our room – a soothing sanctuary with lush garden views – before choosing where to dine next. We’re in dire need of some quiet time away together – and we enjoy every moment of taking a break from reality in our romantic cocoon.

On arrival, we're bowled over by the welcome from staff at reception – friendly without being intrusive, efficient and caring. Over the next few days we realise this effortless service is a trademark of all the staff at Mercure Benidorm. They are unfailingly helpful, taking time to organise a vineyard visit for us and booking our table in Malaspina restaurant with the same smiling courtesy.

The next thing that hits us? The soothing décor ... it immediately draws us in with its palette of soft beiges and creams contrasting with warm browns designed to reflect the colours of sun-kissed Costa Blanca landscapes. It’s the handiwork of sisters Isabel and Beatriz from Madrid-based Studio Burondo, who make clever use of wickerwork and potted plants to combine a laid-back coastal aesthetic with traditional flower-filled Spanish terraces and patios.

And then we step outside, beckoned by a glimpse of the turquoise pool glittering in the sun. It’s surrounded by lush gardens providing welcome shade – and here we find the waterside loungers destined to become our favourite hangout for the next few days!

Also designed by Studio Burondo, our deluxe room at Mercure Benidorm features soothing colours and a spacious layout incorporating a large terrace overlooking the gardens and pool. Its centrepiece is a king-sized bed with crisp white linens, and we’re pleased to find coffee-making facilities and a mini-bar in the fridge. We’re both surprised to discover the unexpected separate living area, where we cosy up on the pristine white sofa to watch TV and stream our favourite movies from the multimedia hub. Everything is carefully thought out in the gleaming white-tiled bathroom, from eco-friendly toiletries to the magnifying mirror for applying make-up and the adjustable head on the walk-in shower.

If you want to splash out on a romantic hideaway for two, we also recommend the rooftop suites – we get a sneaky look around and they all have vast terraces overlooking the gardens.

Foodwise, we drift happily from the generous breakfast buffet – showcasing fruit juices from Costa Blanca orchards and honey from local hives – to the tasty tapas snacks served in the chiringuito bar overlooking the pool, perfect for a late lunch under the sun.

We’ve heard fantastic things about Malaspina restaurant, run under the watchful eye of award-winning Costa Blanca boy, Chef Álvaro Abad. People come from far and wide to sample his innovative cuisine, which celebrates regional dishes and seasonal local produce – so we’re lucky to get a table for Saturday night. The restaurant is chic, softly lit and inviting, and there’s a palpable anticipatory buzz among our fellow diners. We’re thrilled, as Abad excels himself with superlative cooking. We order a bottle of robust Designation of Origin (DO) Alicante red wine and tuck in. Our starters are tomatoes from Altea – they burst with flavour – served with confit leeks, octopus and tuna, and we follow on with Chef’s signature Arroz Malaspina – made to share with rice cultivated in Valencia’s vast freshwater lagoons. We’ve hardly room for dessert but order the tarta de queso (Parmesan cheesecake with prosecco ice cream), and declare it all delicious.

Malaspina is adjacent to the hotel’s circular bar, where we order a glass of cava and sip it under the stars by the pool on our last night. We both agree that the food at Mercure Benidorm is absolutely outstanding – and that we’d love to come back for more!

We adore the hotel’s gorgeous Mediterranean gardens, with its phalanx of centuries-old palms, cypresses and olive trees laid out around the shimmering pool. It’s the work of inspirational landscape designer Álvaro Sampedro, who used native plantings to create a secret hideaway that takes us far away from the bustle of Benidorm’s busy streets. We bag a couple of Balinese-style sun beds and drift off to sleep under the restorative warmth of the sun… accompanied only by the gentle whisper of leaves and the chirp of birds.

We realise that the hotel is also popular with corporate guests – Alicante Airport is only 40 minutes away by car, after all – when the cosmopolitan crowds at breakfast disappear off into the two well-equipped, light-drenched meeting rooms. There’s also a private terrace near the pool that can be cordoned off for private parties, and this afternoon something special happens: we are lucky enough to see a wedding in the peaceful gardens – a magical, warm-hearted affair under the Mediterranean sunshine.

While there’s no actual spa at the hotel, the vibe is so calm and soothing that we are fully chilled within moments of arriving – and even more so after lingering by the pool all afternoon! We’re both up for some extra pampering, however, so we book massages at the treatment centre and are so thoroughly relaxed we sleep like babies in our king-sized bed.

Saturday morning finds us stretching out at a poolside yoga class – a great antidote to aching muscles from the flight, along the well-equipped fitness centre that’s free for all hotel guests to use. And if you’ve a yen for adrenaline-inducing water sports or hiking the steep slopes of Puig Campana to help you reset mentally, everything can be arranged for you by the hotel.

Step outside the hotel and you’re bang in the middle of Benidorm’s night-time action. We have a wander past flashing neon signs in buzzing streets, and catch a colourful sunset over the Med from the panoramic Balcón del Mediterráneo, with its Neoclassical-inspired architecture. Eventually we find ourselves in Calle de Santo Domingo – the resort’s famous “tapas alley” – and spend a happy couple of hours hoovering up croquetas and garlic prawns, accompanied by crisp white Marina Alta wines, in traditional bodegas.

But Benidorm is more than just its nightlife. After Saturday’s yoga session, we seek out Platja de Ponent. A long expanse of golden sand with a calm, family-oriented vibe, it’s about 10 minutes’ stroll from the hotel. We rent loungers, soak up the sun and cool off in the shallow waves before a leisurely amble along the multi-coloured promenade at dusk.

Sunday morning sees us setting out to tour a couple of local wineries on the Alicante Wine Route – a last-minute trip efficiently organised by the friendly front of house team. Needless to say, we buy a couple of our favourite vintages to take back home.

If you’re on a longer trip, we suggest you dig deeper into the Costa Blanca. The staff at Mercure Benidorm will happily sort out visits to charming seaside towns like Altea and Villajoyosa, or arrange hiking and mountain biking excursions into the rugged hills backing the coastal strip.

• Starry-eyed couples hoping for a romantic hideaway in serene poolside gardens
• Gourmets eager to taste Chef Albad’s award-winning modern Spanish cuisine
• Sun worshippers looking to boost their year-round tan on sandy Platja de Ponent
• Corporate travellers combining seamless meetings with downtime in the nightclubs of Benidorm
• Adrenaline junkies keen to try parasailing over the Med from Platja de Llevant
• Adventure-seekers looking for a stylish base to explore the Costa Blanca’s spectacular Serra Gelada Natural Park

• Lounging poolside with a backdrop of tropical palms swaying in the breeze
• Sampling Chef Álvaro Abad’s vibrant and contemporary take on traditional regional dishes in Malaspina restaurant
• Sipping a refreshing (and prize-winning!) Zero Garden mocktail with cucumber, basil, lime and ginger ale at the tree-shaded chiringuito pool bar
• Posing by artist Jorge Parra’s delicate murals reflecting Benidorm’s maritime heritage
• Joining Benidorm locals at the Saturday morning yoga class

Avenida de Panamá 5, 03502 Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Alicante airport and railway station both 40 minutes’ drive