Benidorm East by Pierre and Vacances

The hotel has a free bus to the beach every 10 minutes and back, which is handy if you don’t want to tackle killer hill. The timetable is at reception, though if you’re fit, the walk is enjoyable. It also seems quite disability-friendly, with ramps in place of stairs and another ramp in the indoor pool area. I brought my mum and brother for five nights at the end of the season, and we had a lovely time. There’s a little shop on site, an outdoor pool and bar, an indoor pool, a gym, and a sauna, though the sauna was out of service. There wasn’t much entertainment at the hotel then, but there’s plenty to do around the area. The place itself is clean and well put together. Staff were friendly, polite, and welcoming, and several spoke a little English, which helped. The beds were comfortable, the baths clean, there were English TV shows, a fridge, and lovely fitted wardrobes. No kettle, coffee, or milk, which was a letdown for a four-star hotel. The cleaners were a bit of a downfall. They made the beds and changed towels, but the mirrors weren't cleaned the whole time. I spotted a small blonde hair on one while getting ready for a night out. The floor wasn't swept or vacuumed either, so the sand we brought back from the beach stayed there throughout our stay. Breakfast is a hard no for the hot food, which I wouldn’t recommend touching. Coffee, fruit, pastries, and yogurts were all good, and they had a lovely bottle of Cava to help yourself to, which made the dry sausages go down a bit easier, lol. It runs from 7:30-10:30, and let's be honest, we're in Benidorm, so I missed it more times than I made it. Don't bother when you can get a full English for 3-5€. Still, I'd definitely come back and recommend it to anyone thinking about visiting Benidorm. Thanks for having us.

We had a nice little break with my son from 21/1-24/1. Staff were welcoming and helpful, and the rooms were a good size and clean. There was work going on outside around the pool, but even with a room overlooking it, there wasn't much noise. We didn't enjoy the food, and two small plates for 32 euros seemed like a lot. A vodka and coke was 11 euros, which I thought was extortionate. Still, we had a good stay and may be back in a few weeks.

My daughter isn't even two, and she was sweating and sleeping terribly because of the heat. The air conditioning was so weak it felt like hot air, and I couldn't sleep at all. Then, at around 2-something in the morning, they cut the electricity. Absolutely insane. This is genuinely the worst hotel I've ever stayed in. I could overlook the hotel's age, the tiny parking lot, and the restaurant food being mediocre at best, with only plain water served free.

The hotel is great and the staff are great too. Just be aware it's uphill coming back from the main beachfront. On the plus side, there’s a free shuttle bus running down and back for much of the day.