Medplaya Hotel Flamingo Oasis

This was our first time here, as we usually stay at a sister hotel in the group. Our room was very spacious and clean, with a large toilet and a great shower. There’s plenty of space around the hotel too, and the outdoor area gets lots of sun, even in February when we visited. The food was to a high standard, with a good selection that included vegetarian options. We were all-inclusive, and the drinks on offer were good. You can pay to upgrade the drinks or room. The hotel is at one end of Benidorm, but buses to the old town stop just outside, and there’s a taxi rank there too. We’d come again.

The head chef was genuinely kind about our food allergies, explaining what was safe and cooking special meals for us twice. Most of the other staff were rude, though, especially when we mentioned allergies. I became violently ill on day three and still couldn't manage full meals more than a week later. I can't tell whether it was the food or a bug going around, but I saw no one wiping down the handrails or lifts. If it was a bug, it's odd that the other three of us stayed well, but I've never felt that ill in my life. The room looked fine at first, and I was impressed when we arrived, but the beds felt like concrete blocks and the sofa was covered in stains. It was cleaned only every few days. The cleaner on our floor seemed to spend the day in an empty room looking busy. The lifts also stop for floors 24 and 25 first, where guests pay extra to stay, so waits could be long. The restaurant setup was awkward unless you had a club room. You had to get out at ground level, cross reception, then take another lift or use the stairs. Club members could ride straight there in the regular lift and enter with a fob, which made it especially unhelpful for anyone with mobility issues. Dirty cutlery, glasses and stained mugs were common, and sometimes there were no cups or glasses at all, followed by a long wait. That's not what I'd expect at a four-star hotel. The outdoor pool wasn't heated, so we didn't use it. The small indoor pool was dated and missing tiles, and there were no towels available. The sauna cost an extra €5, which also felt at odds with all-inclusive. When our son was sick, my husband tried to order room service, but the room phone didn't work. After he pressed a few buttons, security came to the room. Reception eventually took the order by calling the phone, and my husband said he'd pay by card. When the food arrived, the delivery woman rudely insisted on cash. He told her to take it away, then had to go to reception to withdraw cash and pay there. Most hotels let you charge food to the room and settle at checkout; this was absurd. We enjoyed Benidorm because of the people we were with, but we won't return to this hotel. I'd suggest looking into how many guests have reported getting sick. If I'd checked beforehand, I'd have booked somewhere else.

For the price, this is a really nice hotel. The cocktails were very good, and the food was okay, though there wasn't a huge choice. One of the receptionists was so friendly and suggested places to visit and restaurants. I can't remember his name. A toilet brush in the room would be a useful addition, but otherwise everything was good 🙂

There's a Lidl right across from Flamingo Oasis, with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby, and the location is a real plus. Service was great, with no queues for drinks or food. The hotel itself could use an update, though. Breakfast had very little to choose from and wasn't anything special. Dinner was a bit better, but they ran out of beef on Sunday. Would I stay again? You do get what you pay for.