Flash Hotel Benidorm

We’re already booking another stay. For the price, this is a great hotel, and being child-free made it peaceful for adults. It’s right by all the action, close to where they film the Benidorm series, with Solana around the corner and Neptune across the road. There are loads of drinking spots nearby and the beach is about a two-minute walk across the road. The pool area is spacious, with plenty of beds and no scramble or arguments over sunbeds. The pool bar is close by, inexpensive and really friendly. The hotel itself is new and very comfortable. Our room was spacious, with a big bathroom, and the beds were exceptionally comfortable. We slept well every night. The shower wasn’t great for washing all over because it’s fixed high up and has little pressure. The views are great from a front-facing room, though I can’t say how they are at the back. Food was okay, typical holiday fare without surprises, but breakfast was very nice. The beans taste so much like Heinz.

The best part was the food. The chefs were amazing, friendly and helpful, and the dishes were delicious, beautifully prepared and presented, with a great range for different tastes. The entertainment was hit and miss. Two acts were phenomenal, but most were corny or cheesy. A lot of things in the rest of the hotel were disappointing. The room was small, with two small double beds pushed together, and was sold to us as a family room. Nine weeks before arriving, we requested a low floor and a walk-in shower because of my disability. We were given room 11 on the 11th floor, with a bath and overhead shower. Staff said our request depended on availability, yet we met people who had booked only four weeks earlier and got the room type they’d asked for. Reception staff were acceptable but not especially friendly. Alexander was the exception: professional, efficient, kind, and someone who does what he says. He speaks several languages and, in my opinion, should be in management. His service was far better than some of the managers'. The room phone was filthy with dirt and thick dust. When I asked about the missing duvets, reception said the hotel doesn’t have any, which is bizarre. There were no USB ports, no iron or ironing board, no vanity mirror over the desk, and no room service. Tea and coffee were provided only on arrival and weren’t replenished. The beds were very old and had no mattress protectors, while the pillows were in bolster cases that were much too big. The toilet had a sticker saying it had been disinfected, and it was clean, but the rest of the bathroom wasn’t. The shower screen was absolutely filthy, and the taps were dirty, stained and corroded. They weren’t cleaned all week. The air conditioning was exceptionally weak, although a tradesman told us it was running at full power. The balcony door was broken and wouldn’t shut or lock. The pool had restricted hours, so there were no early morning or evening swims, and the water was so cold that swimming was physically impossible. Either the heating system was broken or there wasn’t one. We didn’t sunbathe because the loungers were filthy. A lot of the dining room crockery smelled like dirty dishwater. Management denied there was a problem, so I bought my own cup and glass and checked every plate and bowl carefully.

The dining room team really made our holiday. They went the extra mile to make sure we were looked after, and the food was top-notch. The Flash Hotel felt so welcoming, like a home away from home. A huge thank you to everyone for making our stay special.

The food was the one real letdown. Some ingredients were okay, but others weren’t, and everything came out lukewarm. The soup was the warmest thing I ate during the week. I’d happily return, but only on a room-only basis. The location, cleanliness and staff were all perfect.