Mercure Benidorm 4 stars

I had read many reviews of this hotel before I stayed there and I was looking forward to staying. We checked in for five nights and had a pleasant experience at the check-in where everything was explained. We had a superior room and glad we made that choice as there was plenty of space indoors and a huge balcony outside. The hotel itself had a small boutique hotel feel about it and that was its charm. Everything was immaculately kept and clean throughout. Our stay was on a bed and breakfast basis. Overall, we enjoyed our stay but we found there were too many negatives to make us want to go back again. Firstly, the pool area. This is totally shaded by both the surrounding buildings and indeed the trees and plants within the building itself. This meant that having a chance to catch a suntan would be impossible at this hotel. The pool area was very nice to look at but not really usable. We tried to use the QR code on each of the tables around the pool to order food service, but this wasn’t working. We had looked forward to having breakfast at this hotel as the review suggested it was one of the highlights. Unfortunately, this was not the case for us. I tend to like an English type breakfast with sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs and mushrooms. The sausage was very poor quality and probably had no pork in it at all. The scrambled eggs were very runny and should’ve been much firmer. I couldn’t see any mushrooms on offer at all. The bacon was very fatty. Even though we stayed for five nights, we only went for breakfast three times in all as it wasn’t worth turning up for the last two mornings. In the room itself, we had few complaints. Except maybe for the TV service. We could only find one English language channel and that was BBC News and unfortunately that wouldn’t work the times we tried. Also it was a bit strange as the TV was facing the bed and in the superior rooms there was a lounge area so we felt the TV should’ve been facing the sofa in the lounge rather than the bed. Or the very least, there could be a swivel system which would allow the TV to be viewed from both the bed and lounge area. We only used the hotel bar on one occasion. It was quiet. We found drinks to be very expensive in the hotel. Benidorm itself is usually very cheap for drinks so there’s plenty of options to drink outside the hotel. In the hotel. 9 euros for a Bacardi & Coke is extortionate and this probably explained why the bar was not very busy all the times we were there. As for the staff, the check-in staff were very pleasant and helpful. The maid service also was good. Our experience of other staff at the hotel was neither good or bad, it just seemed very functional and they were going about their duties without too much thought for customer service or an even friendly smile. This was particularly the case at breakfast, there was little in the way of hellos and welcomes, just what’s your room number? We’ve certainly stayed in much better places where staff say hello and smile at customers a lot more often. I would only recommend this hotel if the negative things we listed were not of value to you, if they were then it’s best to look elsewhere.

Great stay friendly staff clean comfortable 2nd stay

Very clean, brilliant staff and beautiful food and cocktails

Where do I even begin?! Location: Location couldn’t be any better, the hotel is within a 5 minute walk from the beach and a 10 minute walk from the main old town. It is close by to supermarkets, there is one next door to the hotel which sells all amenities you may need and there are all kinds of restaurants and bars on the beach front, all within walking distance! We visited in November where albeit it wasn’t mid summer, but the pool is slightly shaded with other high rise nearby but still was nice to be sat around the pool, you would just need to move around with the sun but it was warmer on the beach front! There is also a pharmacy opposite the hotel. The hotel is around a 20-30 minute walk from the main strip but only €8 in taxi. Food & drink: We stayed B&B, so never experienced the lunch or evening meal but the breakfast! Wow! Something for everyone, whether you want fresh fruit, pastries, yoghurts, cooked breakfast, it’s there and it was so tasty. Even for self catering or room only, there is a lot of restaurants and bars just a stone throw away, even Burger King and popeyes for a quick fast food stop if you’d prefer, these where at the bottom of the street. The room itself: We stayed in room 311. Very modern, bed was extremely comfortable. It was the best sleep my wife and I have had in a while, and a special mention to even the pillows because wow! There’s reviews about no mugs however there is.. they are thermal glasses which seem to be in thing now rather than mugs. Full tea and coffee, with herbal teas available in your room which is topped up daily if you’d prefer. Accessibility: We travelled with my grandmother who has accessibility issues, and the hotel was so accommodating to her, on arrival a mobility scooter was ordered for €50 for 5 days and was there within 3 hours. The hotel is based on a hill, so may be something to keep in mind. Plenty of lifts within the hotel too with no hidden stairs to get places. Safe to say as same sex married couple, we felt safe and comfortable here so much so, whilst there we booked to come back again in January. Get this place booked for a truly luxurious, modern holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the new town!

Lovely clean hotel just 10 minutes walk to the old town centre five minutes walk to the beach close to amenities hotel was lovely and clean. Well presented and well located all stuff are very friendly and all speak good English and a lovely glass of Prosecco on arrival was a nice surprise.