Pros

  • Down the street from Benalmadena Marina, near shops, restaurants, and bars
  • Outdoor pool, hot tub, and indoor pool
  • Sunbathing lawn with plenty of lounge chairs
  • Rooms have furnished balconies, some with sea views
  • Buffet restaurant, outdoor bar, and piano bar
  • Regular nightly entertainment
  • Sauna plus a few pieces of cardio equipment
  • Free breakfast plus all-inclusive rates available
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Cons

  • Dated rooms with worn furnishings
  • Fee for minibars, safes, kettles, and pool towels
  • Noise can be an issue due to bustling location
  • Wi-Fi costs extra outside of computer corner
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Bottom Line

The Hotel Palmasol is a budget property that's conveniently close to Benalmadena's lively marina, with lots of dining and nightlife options. It has an indoor and outdoor pool, along with two bars and some breezy terraces, but the whole property is dated and in need of TLC. The 269 rooms all have balconies and flat-screen TVs, and while some bathrooms have been modernized, everything from furniture to decor is old and worn. Breakfast is free, but fees for every other little thing (Wi-Fi, kettles, towels, etc.) can add up. If being right by the marina is paramount, the Palmasol may fit the bill, but travelers should consider the nearby, though there are more modern rooms available at Hotel Mac Puerto Marina Benalmadena -- it's a mixed bag there, but rates are lower.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Palmasol

Scene

Old and outdated budget hotel for those wanting to crash near the bustling marina

Popular with tourists from the U.K., especially mature couples who want the convenience of being near the marina, the Hotel Palmasol is an older hotel that needs a little TLC. It's hard to miss the property, thanks to bright-blue balconies that wrap around the building, and the first impressions here aren't bad. The lobby is pleasant and simple, with white marble tiles and oversized contemporary rattan couches. However, the budget nature of the hotel comes into play with tacky jewelry cases, racks of travel brochures, and halls filled with vending machines. The off-white, coin-operated, massage chairs also feel gimmicky at best. There's an abundance of pleather and worn furniture throughout the hotel's other indoor common areas, though most guests are here to pass the time out under the sun. With that in mind, the pool is nice enough, though queues do form for chairs in the morning in high season. All in all, with all-inclusive options, the hotel draws plenty of satisfied guests year after year, though there are far nicer options in the area, especially for those who don't mind being away from the marina. 

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Location

Near Benalmadena Marina, close to shopping and nightlife

Hotel Palmasol is just down the street from the Benalmadena Marina, which serves as the nightlife hub for the town. Plenty of bars and restaurants line the marina, and cuisine from seafood to steakhouses are just on the hotel's doorstep. 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 five minutes away on foot. There are also a number of operators providing boat trips and excursions from the marina. For those arriving in the region by plane, Malaga International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

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Rooms

Simple, dated, sometimes worn rooms with furnished balconies; fees to use most amenities

The hotel's 269 rooms have tiled floors, deep-cream walls, and pink accents, but there isn't much to be excited about for a stay in them. The furnishings are dated, with visible wear on heavy-use areas like chairs, bedside tables, and desks. The color schemes and light oak details all combine with accents like old bedspreads and curtains to give everything a worn-out dorm-like aesthetic. Most rooms have two beds and mirrored wardrobe closets. Flat-screen TVs come standard, but it costs extra to use the safes and even the kettles. All units have small private balconies with white plastic tables and chairs, and some rooms have sea views. Junior Suites have two double beds and add separate living rooms with sofa beds and mini-fridges. The bathrooms have a more modern look than the rooms, with white-and-gray tiles, bidets, and either large walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. Noise can be an issue at the hotel given it's location near all of the buzzing nightlife in town.

See More Rooms

Features

Indoor and outdoor pools, buffet restaurant, two bars, nightly entertainment, and free breakfast

This all-inclusive property has fairly predictable features, though they keep most of the hotel's guests -- many of whom are repeat customers -- happy. The hotel has a broad sunbathing lawn surrounding the outdoor pool; the space is partially shaded by palm trees and has plenty of lounge chairs. Queues aren't unheard of in the morning, as guests line up to claim seats. The kidney shaped pool has a sun deck with umbrellas, a small kids' pool, and tiled rainfall showers for rinsing off. There's also an outdoor hot tub in a separate area under a wooden awning, and a small indoor pool. The hotel's fitness center is more of a collection of cardio equipment crammed into an alcove, and there's a sauna as well. Other features include a lounge with a pool table and a stage that hosts nightly entertainment (which gets mixed reviews), along with an internet corner with free Wi-Fi (which costs extra everywhere else). There's also a piano bar as well as an open-air terrace with breezy white curtains and a relaxing lounge area with cushions and pillows under a thatched roof. There's one restaurant, where meals are served buffet-style in an aging dining room. Breakfast is included, and all-inclusive rates are available. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Palmasol

Scene

Old and outdated budget hotel for those wanting to crash near the bustling marina

Popular with tourists from the U.K., especially mature couples who want the convenience of being near the marina, the Hotel Palmasol is an older hotel that needs a little TLC. It's hard to miss the property, thanks to bright-blue balconies that wrap around the building, and the first impressions here aren't bad. The lobby is pleasant and simple, with white marble tiles and oversized contemporary rattan couches. However, the budget nature of the hotel comes into play with tacky jewelry cases, racks of travel brochures, and halls filled with vending machines. The off-white, coin-operated, massage chairs also feel gimmicky at best. There's an abundance of pleather and worn furniture throughout the hotel's other indoor common areas, though most guests are here to pass the time out under the sun. With that in mind, the pool is nice enough, though queues do form for chairs in the morning in high season. All in all, with all-inclusive options, the hotel draws plenty of satisfied guests year after year, though there are far nicer options in the area, especially for those who don't mind being away from the marina. 

See More Scene

Location

Near Benalmadena Marina, close to shopping and nightlife

Hotel Palmasol is just down the street from the Benalmadena Marina, which serves as the nightlife hub for the town. Plenty of bars and restaurants line the marina, and cuisine from seafood to steakhouses are just on the hotel's doorstep. 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 five minutes away on foot. There are also a number of operators providing boat trips and excursions from the marina. For those arriving in the region by plane, Malaga International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

See More Location

Rooms

Simple, dated, sometimes worn rooms with furnished balconies; fees to use most amenities

The hotel's 269 rooms have tiled floors, deep-cream walls, and pink accents, but there isn't much to be excited about for a stay in them. The furnishings are dated, with visible wear on heavy-use areas like chairs, bedside tables, and desks. The color schemes and light oak details all combine with accents like old bedspreads and curtains to give everything a worn-out dorm-like aesthetic. Most rooms have two beds and mirrored wardrobe closets. Flat-screen TVs come standard, but it costs extra to use the safes and even the kettles. All units have small private balconies with white plastic tables and chairs, and some rooms have sea views. Junior Suites have two double beds and add separate living rooms with sofa beds and mini-fridges. The bathrooms have a more modern look than the rooms, with white-and-gray tiles, bidets, and either large walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. Noise can be an issue at the hotel given it's location near all of the buzzing nightlife in town.

See More Rooms

Features

Indoor and outdoor pools, buffet restaurant, two bars, nightly entertainment, and free breakfast

This all-inclusive property has fairly predictable features, though they keep most of the hotel's guests -- many of whom are repeat customers -- happy. The hotel has a broad sunbathing lawn surrounding the outdoor pool; the space is partially shaded by palm trees and has plenty of lounge chairs. Queues aren't unheard of in the morning, as guests line up to claim seats. The kidney shaped pool has a sun deck with umbrellas, a small kids' pool, and tiled rainfall showers for rinsing off. There's also an outdoor hot tub in a separate area under a wooden awning, and a small indoor pool. The hotel's fitness center is more of a collection of cardio equipment crammed into an alcove, and there's a sauna as well. Other features include a lounge with a pool table and a stage that hosts nightly entertainment (which gets mixed reviews), along with an internet corner with free Wi-Fi (which costs extra everywhere else). There's also a piano bar as well as an open-air terrace with breezy white curtains and a relaxing lounge area with cushions and pillows under a thatched roof. There's one restaurant, where meals are served buffet-style in an aging dining room. Breakfast is included, and all-inclusive rates are available. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink 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.