Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Torremolinos, Costa del Sol

Centrally located in Torremolinos, Arcos de Montemar is a two-and-a-half-pearl hotel offering 51 dated but sufficient guest rooms. All rooms are decorated the same and have air-conditioning, reliable free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, but the mini-fridges and safes are only available for rent. Also note that not all have balconies. The small hotel doesn't offer much in the way of on-site amenities, but there are a small outdoor pool, buffet restaurant serving free breakfast, and a bar. The beach is a quick five-minute walk away, as are bus stops for transport to nearby cities. Travelers looking for a bit more features may prefer the beachfront Hotel Pez Espada.

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 two-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Carmen Teresa is a charming family-run property in a mostly quiet, residential area. It has a convenient location a five-minute walk from the beach, as well as countless bars and restaurants, plus a nearby train stop heads to Malaga Airport. Being situated on a busy street can sometimes lead to traffic noise, however. The 40 guest rooms are simply styled and minimally furnished in neutral tones, and come with furnished balconies, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. Mini-fridges and safes are available, but they must be rented at an additional cost. Limited features include an outdoor pool, lovely garden, and buffet breakfast plus snacks throughout the day. Hotel Sol Principe offers a similarly convenient location in Torremolinos, and many more on-site amenities. 

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.

This upper-middle-range resort is conveniently located across the street from Bajondillo Beach and the beachfront promenade. It shares its features with two neighboring Melia Hotels (Sol Don Pedro, Sol Don Pablo), all of which make up The Don Hotels Complex, so guests get access to the amenities of three hotels for the price of one. There are eight different pools available with ample lounge areas, two buffets with show cooking, and multiple bars (including a pool bar). Other features of note include a small mirrored fitness center and a full-service spa with Roman bath, sauna, and whirlpool. Sol Don Marco is the quieter, more tranquil out of the three hotels that make up the Don Hotels Complex, with terraces in each room and partial sea views.

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 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 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.

The 414-room Marconfort Griego Hotel is neither pretty nor classy, but it is located right in the center of the Torremolinos, and a short walk from an array of stunning beaches. Its main restaurant and pool are unremarkable, rooms are no-frills, and guests complain of overcrowding and noise. But if you’re looking for a cheap beach stay, the Marconfort Griego is an adequate option.

This boxy, bright 374-room Hotel Roc Costa Park is a decent mid-range, family-friendly property for a beach-town stay. The hotel is equipped with multiple attractive, adequate pools, restaurants, and bars, but to reach the beach or town center, guests will have to drive or take the free shuttle bus. Rooms are plain and basic, but typically spacious and often with lovely views. Beach vacationers who want direct access to the Mediterranean may want to consider the nearby oceanside Hotel Isabel.

The 799-room Hotel Sol Principe is a chain hotel with an all-inclusive option on Playamar Beach. It has two huge pools and a wide variety of activities for guests of all ages. There are several bars and restaurants, and Broadway-style entertainment every night. The hotel offers many fun options: A creative playground that should appeal to kids, programmed activities, and the family sports program. Rooms have stunning views.