Pros

  • Great location, a two-minute walk from Benalmadena’s beach
  • Convenient downtown setting, close to lots of shopping and nightlife
  • Contemporary, bright rooms with desks, flat-screen TVs, and AC
  • All rooms have furnished outdoor spaces -- many with sea views
  • Family Rooms with pullout sofas provide good amount of privacy
  • Well-reviewed restaurant, particularly the breakfast buffet
  • Rooftop terrace with Balinese beds
  • Pool set in deck with plenty of loungers
  • Game room with pool table and air-hockey table
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Cons

  • Pool is on the small side
  • Bathrooms are less modern than the rest of the hotel
  • Hotel does not have a gym or a spa
  • Steep fee required to use the parking lot
  • Guests with mobility issues may have problem reaching roof terrace
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Bottom Line

The three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Ibersol Alay is a clean-cut and contemporary hotel with minimalist stylings and funky splashes of color. The hotel is ideally located for access to Benalmadena’s beach, shopping, and nightlife, as it's a two-minute walk (if that) from both the beach and a large mall. Bright and breezy, the 247 rooms are attractively outfitted in modern decor, and many offer sea views from furnished balconies. Guests enjoy the food served at the hotel’s restaurant, particularly its breakfast buffet, and the chill-out bar up on the roof. On the downside, however, there are no gym or spa, and the pool is on the small side. If this is a deal-breaker, the comparable Hotel & Spa Benalmadena Palace has two good-sized outdoor pools.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Alay

Scene

A clean-cut and contemporary hotel with a sunny rooftop terrace

The Hotel Ibersol Alay is a clean-cut and contemporary place decorated with a minimalist drama that comes from lots of bright whites and funky splashes of color. Guests traverse a bridge into the lobby, which is a cavernous space with a low ceiling held up by columns, and banks of floor-to-ceiling windows letting ample natural light into the room and providing views over the gap that the bridge crosses. The restaurant is decorated similarly, with rows of gleaming white tables and chairs, set around a granite-topped buffet. The sports bar, by contrast, is less sophisticated, with a warm wooden floor and seats in a flowery fuchsia fabric. Outside, guests will either be by the small pool, or up on the roof where there's another bar and various seating. Unfortunately, travelers with difficulties climbing stairs should note that the latter's terrace is only accessible by stairs. The property attracts tourists, both couples and families with kids in tow, looking for a modern place in an excellent beachfront location.

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Location

Minutes away from both Benalmadena’s beach and nightlife

The Hotel Ibersol Alay is ideally located for access to Benalmadena’s beach, which is barely a two-minute walk away, as well as the area's nightlife and shopping. Puerto Marina Shopping, a large mall, is over the road from the hotel, as is Sea Life Benalmadena aquarium. The hotel’s location, both downtown and by the beach, puts it within a five-minute walk of plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. Farther afield, the golf course at Torrequebrada is a 15-minute drive away, while Malaga is 25 minutes. Expect transfers to Malaga Costa del Sol Airport to take 20 minutes by car.

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Rooms

Bright, minimalist rooms with terraces, but outmoded bathrooms

Much like the shared areas downstairs, the hotel’s 247 rooms are bright and decorated in a cool, minimalist style consisting of white walls, blond-wood floors, grayish-brown painted wood furniture, and splashes of color in artwork and floral- or geometric-print bed runners and throw pillows. Double rooms are a decent size, and have either a double bed or two singles, as well as a desk, armchair, and wall-mounted flat-screen TV. They have furnished terraces that either overlook the sea or the pool. Family Rooms are set up to provide a good degree of privacy for adults and kids alike, with a double bed, and a pullout sofa around a sharp corner so it is difficult to see one from the other. They also have a dining table with four chairs, and a terrace. All suites overlook the ocean, and have separate bedrooms and living rooms with a couch and two armchairs, plus a larger terrace. Bathrooms are a bit of a letdown with old-fashioned brown tiles, a shower/tub combo, and a bidet, but they're well-maintained. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, AC, safe, toiletries, hairdryer, minibar, and free Wi-Fi.

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Features

Buffet restaurant and two bars, one of which is on a rooftop terrace

The Hotel Iberostar Alay offers a decent list of amenities, though don't expect a gym or spa here. Guests generally enjoy the food served at the all-day buffet restaurant, particularly singling out the breakfast for praise. In addition, there are two bars that serve drinks and snacks throughout the day and into the evening: a casual-feeling sports bar showing soccer games, and a chill-out bar on a roof terrace with fake grass and Balinese beds. The small pool is set in a terrace behind the hotel, meaning it can sometimes be in the shade. But, there are plenty of loungers and umbrellas for when its sunny. The kids’ area has arcade games, lounge space, and pool and air-hockey tables, although they do not organize any activities. Secure underground parking is available for a very steep price. Wi-Fi, however, is free throughout the hotel. 

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Things You Should Know About Hotel Alay

Also Known As

  • Hotel Alay

Address

Puerto Marina Avenida Alay 5, Junto a Puerto Marina, Benalmadena 29630, Spain

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Alay

Scene

A clean-cut and contemporary hotel with a sunny rooftop terrace

The Hotel Ibersol Alay is a clean-cut and contemporary place decorated with a minimalist drama that comes from lots of bright whites and funky splashes of color. Guests traverse a bridge into the lobby, which is a cavernous space with a low ceiling held up by columns, and banks of floor-to-ceiling windows letting ample natural light into the room and providing views over the gap that the bridge crosses. The restaurant is decorated similarly, with rows of gleaming white tables and chairs, set around a granite-topped buffet. The sports bar, by contrast, is less sophisticated, with a warm wooden floor and seats in a flowery fuchsia fabric. Outside, guests will either be by the small pool, or up on the roof where there's another bar and various seating. Unfortunately, travelers with difficulties climbing stairs should note that the latter's terrace is only accessible by stairs. The property attracts tourists, both couples and families with kids in tow, looking for a modern place in an excellent beachfront location.

See More Scene

Location

Minutes away from both Benalmadena’s beach and nightlife

The Hotel Ibersol Alay is ideally located for access to Benalmadena’s beach, which is barely a two-minute walk away, as well as the area's nightlife and shopping. Puerto Marina Shopping, a large mall, is over the road from the hotel, as is Sea Life Benalmadena aquarium. The hotel’s location, both downtown and by the beach, puts it within a five-minute walk of plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. Farther afield, the golf course at Torrequebrada is a 15-minute drive away, while Malaga is 25 minutes. Expect transfers to Malaga Costa del Sol Airport to take 20 minutes by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Bright, minimalist rooms with terraces, but outmoded bathrooms

Much like the shared areas downstairs, the hotel’s 247 rooms are bright and decorated in a cool, minimalist style consisting of white walls, blond-wood floors, grayish-brown painted wood furniture, and splashes of color in artwork and floral- or geometric-print bed runners and throw pillows. Double rooms are a decent size, and have either a double bed or two singles, as well as a desk, armchair, and wall-mounted flat-screen TV. They have furnished terraces that either overlook the sea or the pool. Family Rooms are set up to provide a good degree of privacy for adults and kids alike, with a double bed, and a pullout sofa around a sharp corner so it is difficult to see one from the other. They also have a dining table with four chairs, and a terrace. All suites overlook the ocean, and have separate bedrooms and living rooms with a couch and two armchairs, plus a larger terrace. Bathrooms are a bit of a letdown with old-fashioned brown tiles, a shower/tub combo, and a bidet, but they're well-maintained. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, AC, safe, toiletries, hairdryer, minibar, and free Wi-Fi.

See More Rooms

Features

Buffet restaurant and two bars, one of which is on a rooftop terrace

The Hotel Iberostar Alay offers a decent list of amenities, though don't expect a gym or spa here. Guests generally enjoy the food served at the all-day buffet restaurant, particularly singling out the breakfast for praise. In addition, there are two bars that serve drinks and snacks throughout the day and into the evening: a casual-feeling sports bar showing soccer games, and a chill-out bar on a roof terrace with fake grass and Balinese beds. The small pool is set in a terrace behind the hotel, meaning it can sometimes be in the shade. But, there are plenty of loungers and umbrellas for when its sunny. The kids’ area has arcade games, lounge space, and pool and air-hockey tables, although they do not organize any activities. Secure underground parking is available for a very steep price. Wi-Fi, however, is free throughout the hotel. 

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Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.