Hotel Mac Puerto Marina Benalmadena

The hotel is an attractive four-story white building, with a terra cotta tiled roof. Inside, the lobby is a large, airy space with cream marble flooring, leather sofas, and potted plants. The atrium fills the area with natural light. Outside, the grounds are well maintained and there are attractive wooden steps and walkways connecting the different areas of the property. This is a large hotel, and the vibe isn't exactly personal or utterly contemporary. Most of the common spaces are huge and slightly dated (think: heavy drapes and lots of maroon), from the buffet restaurant to the pool area. The hotel attracts a mixture of guests from couples and families to groups of golfers keen to try out the local courses. Many guests are on holiday from the U.K.

The hotel is ideally located for accessing the Benalmadena Marina. It’s set off the Plaza de la Goleta, just a stone's throw from the waterfront. There are a large variety of bars and restaurants lining the marina and cuisine from seafood to steakhouses are just on the hotel's doorstep, within a minutes’ walk. There are plenty of other attractions within easy reach. It’s a two-minute walk to the stores in the Puerto Marina shopping mall, and the Sea Life Benalmadena center is just a five-minute walk. There are also a number of operators providing boat trips and excursions from the marina. Malaga International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

Room categories at the Hotel Mac Puerto Marina Benalmadena are Double with Terrace, Double with Pool View, Marina Room, and Junior Suite. The double rooms can accommodate two adults and a child, or three adults, and have a traditional decor with shades of peach and blue. From the granite floors to the striped bedspreads and chunky, mid-tone furniture, rooms in this category look basic and dated. Marina Rooms sleep two adults and have a balcony with a pool view. Decor in these higher category bookings is generally more stylish, with shades of silver and muted blues plus light wood veneer furniture that's fitting for a hotel on this slice of Spain's Mediterranean coast. The Junior Suites are very spacious and have a separate living room with a sofa bed. Fresh fruit and a bottle of cava is provided in the suites upon arrival. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and a minibar with some free drinks provided. Safes are available for a daily fee and deposit. TVs in the rooms have satellite channels; some are flat-screen while others are old tube-style sets. Bathrooms are basic and spacious, but clean, and have a shower/tub combo, toiletries, and a hairdryer. There are decent-size granite vanities and toiletries are provided.

The Hotel Mac Puerto Marina Benalmadena has a buffet restaurant which is open for breakfast and dinner. A wide range of freshly cooked dishes are available and at breakfast there's an egg and pancake station where they are cooked to order. Lunch is served either in the restaurant, or next to the pool, depending on the weather. Room service is available during limited hours and half-hoard options are available. The restaurant receives mixed reviews and can be expensive, especially compared to other local establishments nearby. For drinks, there’s a cozy lounge bar, or a casual pool bar where cocktails, beers, wine, and spirits are served as well as soft drinks. There are two rectangular pools at the hotel, including one children’s pool, and a large terrace with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, though there is a deposit required for pool towels. Parking is available on-site, but there's a daily fee for it. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.