Hotel Madeira Centro

Hotel Madeira Centro is a 21-story property with a blue-and-white facade and a modern design. Inside, the lobby has a bit of a corporate vibe with its high ceilings, smattering of potted plants, and minimal seating areas. There is a TV room with dated, colorfully upholstered chairs for guests to congregate, as well as the outdoor pool and variety of restaurants and bars. Furnishings at the main restaurant and Planta 20 Bar are also in need of an update, though the cafe and pool areas have a much more contemporary look. Most guests here are tourists, and the property's kid-friendly amenities and large Family and Triple Rooms make it a good option for those with little ones in tow.

Hotel Madeira Centro is located in the heart of the Alicante city of Benidorm, a fishing-village-turned-resort city full of high-rise hotels and a steady stream of beach vacationers from elsewhere in Europe. The hotel is located just off Avenida Mediterraneo, a busy thoroughfare that runs parallel to the Mediterranean Sea. There are plenty of shops and eateries in the immediate vicinity, and a McDonald's is right next door. It's a four-minute walk to the beach and an eight-minute walk to Casa Museo de Benidorm, while Platja de Poniente is an eight-minute drive east of the hotel (or a 15-minute walk). 

The Balcon del Mediterraneo -- with lovely sea views -- and the adjacent Plaza Santa Ana are a 10-minute walk away. Farther 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 15 minutes by car, plus a short walk up a hill. Factor in about 45 minutes by car to the Alicante Airport or railway station. Underground parking is available for free at the hotel, but spots are limited.

The Hotel Madeira Centro offers a variety of room configurations, some with balconies, plus a Presidential Suite. Rooms are designed to sleep up to three or four people, and along with Triple Rooms, the property offers Family Rooms with sofa beds that are large enough for a child to sleep on. Decor is consistently bland and dated across room types, with simple gray flooring, blue chairs, sofas, and bedding, blue-and-white striped curtains over large windows or glass balcony doors, and furniture with a mix of dark- and light-wood finishes. Art is kept to a minimum -- most rooms have just a couple of framed watercolor prints on the walls. Bathrooms are more impressive with marble floors and countertops, and they come with shower/tub combos, heated towel racks, basic toiletries, and hose-style hairdryers, plus makeup mirrors.

The Madeira Centro has a solid set of amenities, including an outdoor pool with lots of lounge chairs and parasols for shading, plus many more sunbeds on a solarium deck, which also has a whirlpool hot tub. There's also a heated indoor pool under an atrium-style cover, though it's much smaller and only has a handful of lounge chairs. Other features include a sauna, a colorful playground area with a slide and a couple of play structures, a ping-pong table, and a massage room. There are also a hair salon and fitness center with a good selection of modern cardio and weight-training equipment. Wi-Fi is free throughout.

Guests can opt for buffet meals at Fuchal Buffet Restaurant or dine at the snazzier a la carte Belvedere Restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, which -- unsurprisingly -- offers great city views from huge curved windows. There's also a ground-floor cafe -- Porto do Moniz -- with indoor and outdoor seating as well as a bar on the 20th floor of the hotel, with wonderful city views from an Astroturf-covered terrace. Room service is also available.