Villa Del Mar Hotel

A set of sliding glass doors open onto a small, contemporary lobby that has black walls, a backlit front desk, and a funky white lamp hanging from the ceiling. In one corner, a small trolley offers welcome drinks of sangria and cava; on the opposite side of the space, white couches give a spot to rest next to floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea. The hotel doesn’t offer entertainment or activities during the day (a rarity in Benidorm), making this boutique a more relaxing option than other livelier beachfront properties. 

The hotel is located right across the promenade from Poniente, a long sandy beach that's more popular with locals than touristy Levante Beach. There are several casual cafes, bars, and shops along the promenade, and Old Town -- an area full of dining, drinking, and shopping options -- is just a block away. Though generally quiet, this area offers easy driving access to New Town, a bustling neighborhood a 10-minute drive away, where guests will find a wide array of nightlife options. The main bus station in Benidorm can be reached by car in about eight minutes. The nearest airport is in Alicante, a 45-minute drive away.

The hotel has 108 exterior-facing rooms, all overlooking either the pool or the promenade and the sea, but none have balconies. The white-and-blue color scheme is cute and beachy, while dark-wood furniture gives rooms a contemporary edge. Several large photos of traditional Santorini architecture decorate the walls. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes (though there's a fee to use them), electric kettles, and air-conditioning. All but the Promo units have sofa beds, and all but Promo and Standard Rooms have hydromassage showers. Sea View Rooms are arguably the best units at Villa del Mar, with double-jetted tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic sea views. 

The highlight at the Villa Del Mar is the rooftop deck, complete with a bar serving drinks and snacks, several lounge chairs and Bali beds, and wonderful sea views. The pool is small and better suited for a quick dip than for swimming laps, but it has five submerged lounge chairs and plenty more seating on the deck around it. The pool is covered by a glass and metal structure in the winter months, making it possible for guests to use it year-round. There's also a kids' pool with a couple of slides and a rope bridge, but it is mostly shaded, and it's located in the back of the hotel, so it isn’t as appealing as the main pool. The hotel has a bar with nightly entertainment and a solid restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine for all three meals, a small gym with basic but up-to-date equipment, and an underground parking garage. The spa is small but pleasant, with a hydrotherapy area, a sauna, a steam room, treatment cabins and salon services. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the property.