Best Beach Hotels in Torremolinos, Costa del Sol

Hotel Tarik is a 95-room value hotel located across from the beach in the resort town of Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol. Restaurants and bars are in walking distance, but it's about a 20-minute walk from the historic city center. Rooms are simple and have somewhat dated decor, but most have balconies with sea views. The hotel's location on the beachfront promenade is great, and there's also an attractive outdoor pool surrounded by a spacious lawn for sunbathing. Buffet and a la carte meals are available, and the hotel offers bed-and-breakfast and half-board options. Most guests are couples or families with kids. It could be worth considering the Hotel Roc Lago Rojo, located 15 minutes away and offering a bit more charm -- plus a rooftop terrace and hot tub.

The 293-room Hotel Riu Nautilus is a stylish beachfront hotel with phenomenal views, a beautiful pool, and chic, renovated rooms. Restricted to guests over the age of 18, the Riu Nautilus is geared toward couples in search of relaxation. Common spaces are lovely and the hotel has a prime spot on the boardwalk, surrounded by bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, and plenty of summer sports. Guests seeking quiet will find it, but the hotel has a lively bar, and the Torremolinos nightlife is a 10-minute ride away.

Melia Costa del Sol is a mid-range resort that sits on the popular Bajondillo beach in Torrelominos, Spain. The nine-story hotel has clean, spacious, if slightly dated, rooms that are all equipped with sea-view outdoor terraces (except for the ground-floor accommodations). Sitting on the oceanfront promenade, Melia Costa del Sol has extremely easy access to the beach. The hotel has a pool surrounded by sun beds that guests can rent for a fee. There are a buffet restaurant, gastrobar, and lobby bar on the premises.

The 350-room Sol House Aloha Costa del Sol is located on La Carihuela Beach and promenade, and offers a sun, sand, and surf-filled vacation spot with an all-inclusive option available. This upscale hotel has a full range of activities and evening entertainment for guests of all ages, including an extensive kids' program and cooking and dance classes for adults. Common areas and pools have been renovated, but the rooms are more basic. All are spacious and feature terraces (some with gorgeous views), but the decor is a bit generic.

The 70-room Hotel Isabel sits on the promenade at Playamar, one of Torremolinos' beautiful beaches. Fans of sun and sand come here again and again for the views and the relaxing atmosphere. The Isabel is about a 20-minute walk from the city center for those needing a change of scene, but this beachfront resort provides plenty of opportunity for lounging waterside. Just know that rooms are clean but quite basic, and extra fees for in-room safes and fridges may make guests feel nickel-and-dimed.

The 36-room Hotel Don Paquito is a sunny, spotlessly clean boutique property located three minutes from the beach in Torremolinos. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and beach bars around the hotel, and a 15-minute walk takes visitors to the center of town. Rooms are sweet and charming (if basic), with lots of light and balcony views over the treetops to the sea. Guests come back to this hotel year after year -- the best possible recommendation.

The 325-room Riu Belplaya is a mid-range, all-inclusive chain hotel that's a short walk from Los Alamos Beach, but is not within walking distance of Torremolinos. The all-inclusive package includes all food and beverages, and many of the hotel's activities (but Wi-Fi is extra and isn't available in rooms). Meals can be taken in the hotel's two buffet restaurants, or at the poolside bar. The building has an early '70s facade, and the lobby has a dark wood color scheme and old-style furnishings. Most rooms have balconies and partial ocean views, but decor is dated. Along with a petanque court and a bowling green, there's a large outdoor pool and children’s pool, and an indoor pool that is open in the winter. There's also a kids' club with extensive activities.

Sol Don Pablo is an upper-middle-range resort that sits directly across from the beachfront promenade from Bajondillo beach. It shares its features with two neighboring Melia Hotels (Sol Don Marco, Sol Don Pedro), which together make up the Don Hotels Complex, so guests get access to the amenities of three hotels for the price of one. There are eight outdoor pools (two children’s pools) and one indoor pool (for during the off-season), all of which have ample lounge areas and are surrounded by gardens. The two buffets have show cooking, and there multiple bars, including a pool bar -- just note that some venues may close in the off season. Other features of note include a small mirrored fitness center and a full-service spa with Roman bath, sauna, and whirlpool. Sol Don Pablo is the largest and one of the more family-friendly options in the complex, offering entertainment and activities for all ages.

The 205-room Hotel Pez Espada was built in 1959, and was the first hotel on the beach at Torremolinos and the first luxury hotel on the Costa del Sol. In the 1960s and '70s, the Pez Espada was frequented by such celebrities as Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, Sean Connery, and Frank Sinatra, after whom Frankie's Bar was named. The property's heyday is certainly behind it, and today it's a mid-range hotel with clean but basic rooms. Elements of the glamorous, vintage vibe persist, and there are large, airy public spaces, as well as an intimate feeling in the lounges and bars, despite their size.

The Bajondillo Apartments, a 650-unit mid-range aparthotel complex on Torremolinos' famed Paseo Maritimo and beautiful Mediterranean beach, has the added bonus of being just a few blocks from central Torremolinos with all its shops, restaurants, and bars. Peaceful, with a large central pool, the Bajondillo is no-frills, and its rooms are worn and haphazard in their decor. Kitchenettes are so small that cooking could pose a challenge, but as a base for an outdoor beach-centric holiday, the Bajondillo works.

Son Don Pedro sits a short distance from the beachfront promenade that lines Bajondillo beach. It shares its features with two neighboring Melia Hotels (Sol Don Marco, Sol Don Pablo), which together make up the Don Hotels Complex, so guests get access to the amenities of three hotels for the price of one. There are eight outdoor pools (two children’s pools) and one indoor pool (for during the off-season), all of which have ample lounge areas and are surrounded by gardens. The two buffets have show cooking, and there multiple bars, including a pool bar -- just note that some venues may close in the off season. Other features of note include a small mirrored fitness center and a full-service spa with Roman bath, sauna, and whirlpool. Sol Don Pedro is the second-largest and one of the more family-friendly options in the complex, but it's also the farthest from the beach.

The two-pearl Apartamentos Plazamar is a beachfront property with dozens of restaurants and bars nearby. The 14 rooms are on the small and dated side, they're well-equipped and comfortable. Each room has a furnished balcony-- some offering sea views -- a kitchenette with two-burner stoves, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and a flat-screen TV. This is definitely a no-frills establishment, as the only feature is an al fresco restaurant and bar that faces the water. There are no pool or entertainment option, so guests tend to be low-key couples. Families should consider the beachfront Hotel La Barracuda, which has a pool and more kid-friendly amenities. 

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 338-apartment Sol Timor Apartments property is located on La Carihuela Beach, and its lovely promenade. The hotel could definitely use an update in its furnishings and design, and the rooms offer few frills, but they do have fully-equipped kitchenettes. There's a mini-club for kids, offering arts and crafts, pool games, and evening entertainment, but it's only offered during the summer months. For adults, there are water sports, dance and zumba classes, darts, tennis, and more. Overall, it's a solid budget property if you're willing to overlook the wear and tear.

The 180-room Hotel Roc Lago Rojo is located by the beach and La Carihuela, known for its outstanding fresh fish and seafood. The hotel is quiet, suitable for tourists and business travelers, although there's no free Wi-Fi and there's a fee to use the Internet corner. The hotel also lacks such extras as tennis courts and spa facilities (although massages are available in high season) that many other area hotels offer. The hotel seems to attract a mostly middle-aged crowd who come to chill by the beach or pool, stroll the promenade, and relax in a location that combines sun and sand with picturesque Spanish streets.