Hotel Agir

From the outside, Hotel Agir looks deceivingly fancy, with a mirrored glass column going right up the middle of the six-floor property. In short, it looks like the upscale hotel it positions itself as -- but inside, it has a look and feel that's decidedly mid-range. The lobby is a simple, modern space with brightly hued chairs and turquoise accent walls. Additional seating can be found on each floor next to the elevators. Most guests here are tourists -- families, couples, and groups of friends alike -- and like most properties in the area, the hotel attracts a primarily British, Irish, Dutch, German, and Belgian clientele. 

Hotel Agir Benidorm is located in the heart of Benidorm, a former fishing village turned resort city on the Costa Blanca, full of high-rise hotels and a steady stream of beach vacationers from elsewhere in Europe. The hotel is located right on Avenida Mediterraneo, a busy thoroughfare just one block north of the popular Playa de Levante on the Mediterranean Sea. It's a 12-minute walk to Casa Museo de Benidorm, while Playa de Poniente is an eight-minute drive east of the hotel (or a 20-minute walk). The Balcon del Mediterraneo -- with lovely sea views -- and the adjacent Plaza Santa Ana are a 12-minute walk away. Further afield, La Cruz de Benidorm (or Benidorm Cross) is a lovely hilltop with a cross and excellent views of the city -- the journey takes about 20 minutes by car, plus a short walk up a hill. Factor in about 45 minutes by car to get to the Alicante Airport or railway station. 

The Agir offers a total of 76 rooms in two categories: Double Rooms and Junior Suites. Travelers can also rent Double Rooms for single use at discounted rates. Both rooms and suites have simple decor. The standard Double Rooms have cream-colored marble floors and basic wooden furniture and headboards, while Junior Suites are a bit more modern and stylish, with white tile floors, fuchsia wall accents, and black-and-white patterned upholstered chairs. 

All rooms come with flat-screen TVs with satellite cable (though no English-language channels), safes, air-conditioning, and terraces. Junior Suites add coffeemakers and minibars. Bathrooms in both room types have hairdryers, free basic toiletries, and shower/tub combos, but Junior Suite bathrooms are more contemporary and add bidets and jets in the tubs. Past guests report that the beds and pillows are particularly comfortable, but there have been complaints of noise and maintenance issues in rooms.

The hotel has a reasonable number of features for a mid-range, mid-size hotel. There's a spa spread out over the sixth and seventh floors with two whirlpool tubs, a sauna, and a steam room. Treatments include facials, massages, waxing, and detoxifying body wraps. There's also a well-equipped fitness center with a variety of cardio machines and weight-training equipment that leads out to a small patio area with city views and a few lounge chairs for sunning. The small outdoor pool has lots more lounge chairs, as well as views over the city. 

Dining and drinking options include the GastroBar, which serves cocktails, coffees, and tapas and has both indoor and sidewalk seating. On the fifth floor, Arroceria Agir Restaurant serves lunch and dinner a la carte, and a buffet breakfast (included in some rates) indoors or on a terrace. Half-board rates are available. There's not much in terms of business facilities, but Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.