MedPlaya Hotel Regente

The style at this hotel will look familiar to those who've spent any amount of time in the budget and mid-range tourist towns along Spain's coast. There's nothing woefully wrong with the property, it's just not remarkable by any stretch of the imagination and interiors run from plain to dated. The hotel's main entrance is off a narrow side street that's not overrun with crowds, but commotion from the surrounding area is still noticeable, especially on the frequent and lively Benidorm party evenings. The drop ceilings, office-style furniture, and limited decor all give the hotel's common areas a fairly straightforward, functional look, one that characterizes most of what's on offer at this hotel. In any event, most guests here are in town to party, so the style isn't meant to make a lasting impression. The hotel draws mainly couples, groups of English tourists looking to party, and -- with its kid-friendly perks -- families.

Hotel Regente is on a narrow street, a block off one of Benidorm's main avenues, where small shops and vendors line the sidewalks. The surrounding area, known as New Town, is popular with English tourists and is filled with restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and other hotels. Levante Beach is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel, and there are several other sandy beaches within a 10-minute drive. Aqualandia water park is a 15-minute walk inland. Alicante Airport -- the closest to the hotel -- is at least a 45-minute drive from the hotel.

The 195 rooms are fairly typical of lower-middle-range hotels in Benidorm, with small private balconies furnished with plastic chairs and tables. Decorated casually, rooms have colorful, cheap furniture, with red-striped curtains and orange accent walls. All have twin beds (pushed together), and larger rooms add sofa beds. The look might be fresher if the salmon-colored bedspreads were left off in favor of duvets, though bland floral artwork also manages to contribute to the dated effect. We spotted some slipshod paintwork in the corners and edges of some rooms when we visited as well. Small desks with wooden chairs come standard, along with wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Wi-Fi is only available for a fee, but aside from air-conditioning, other amenities are scarce (there are no coffeemakers or mini-fridges). Bathrooms have marble vanities, bidets, and shower/tub combos with plastic curtains. Hairdryers are provided. Given the party-seeking clientele, it's perhaps not surprising that noise can be an issue here. 

The Hotel Regente is not abundant in frills and extras but offers enough for an affordable beach vacation. The outdoor pool has a deep end for adults and a shallow kiddy pool joined by a narrow channel (like a very short lazy river). Water features include a bubbling grotto and a mushroom water fountain for kids. It's all surrounded by a large sun deck with loungers and thatched shade umbrellas. There's also a small outdoor play area with colorful equipment, including a slide and seesaw, but no dedicated kids' club. Seasonal activities such as petanque, darts, archery, and ping-pong are available. The bar opens into a hall with rows of seats facing a stage that hosts nightly shows, including musical tributes, magicians, and acrobats, along with karaoke. There's also a lounge with a small mounted TV and a smattering of tables and chairs, which seems like wasted space here. The buffet restaurant serves Mediterranean and international fare, with extra seating on a huge outdoor terrace that spills onto a second sundeck filled with loungers. Breakfast is not included in standard rates, but it's not especially expensive. Wi-Fi is free in the public areas of the hotel.