Hostal Alcina

We were unsure about the room after reading the reviews, but ended up having an amazing stay. The relaxed atmosphere was lovely, and the staff were warm and helped us a lot. We’d happily come back if we get the chance. Love from Taiwan :) One small thing, the shower let water spill onto the floor so easily it felt like a water park 😂

The location made things easy: the beach, restaurants, several supermarkets, and the bus stop are all close. Breakfast was in a nice area, and we liked sitting outside in the morning. We also had a really good dinner at the restaurant one evening. The pool is across the street; ask reception for the code to get in. There was loud music from the street and nearby hotels on several nights, but with the balcony door shut the room stayed pretty quiet. It’s affordable, too. We stayed six nights, and breakfast got dull: it was simple, didn’t vary, and was served for only an hour. There was rarely anyone at reception, and no bell, so we had to go find the staff. Wi-Fi worked only in common areas, and nobody at reception told us the password, so we had to ask. Our room had no air conditioning, though it may have been unclear on the booking website whether it was included. At least the fan worked well. The bathroom door was damaged and wouldn’t open all the way, perhaps only about 60 cm, so getting in and out meant squeezing through. One pillowcase had a hole that looked like a cigarette burn. There was no soap or shower gel, either. I’d recommend it if you’re watching your budget and are fine with a simple place, as long as a good location and the facilities here matter to you.

We’d stay here again for the value and the location. It’s on a main street with lots of bars and restaurants, under five minutes from Eroski supermarket, five minutes from the bus stop, and a 15-minute walk to the beach. We spent two nights in a clean room with air conditioning and a balcony over the street. The beds were comfortable, and although the pillows were too flat for us, there were two spare blankets in the wardrobe that we used as extra pillows. Everything looked fairly new and fresh. The receptionist was friendly and helpful when we arrived and left. We didn’t need anything during the stay, so the reception not being staffed all the time wasn’t an issue. On our last day they kept our bags for free, which let us spend a few more hours in town without luggage. We declined the room cleaning and fresh towels offered on day two because the room didn’t need cleaning. There was enough toilet paper, with extra rolls and clean towels on a shelf by reception whenever needed. The shower was roomy with great water pressure, but the soap dispenser was empty. We had our own shower products, so it didn’t matter much. The TV remote didn’t work, possibly because the batteries were flat; we used the buttons on the TV itself, though we only watched for an hour after arriving. We heard other room doors opening and closing, but not people talking, which is often an issue in hotels. We didn’t use the pool, have breakfast, or eat at the restaurant. We did have coffee there on our last day. Service was quick and polite, but most tables were still dirty, with food and liquid marks left behind even after plates were cleared. In the hour we sat there, no staff cleaned them.

The pool was the best part for us: it’s included in the price, well maintained, and has a bar. You can also order restaurant food to the pool. We found the evening meals very good, especially the pizzas, and my wife liked the carbonara. We were there as a family, two adults and a three-year-old. For what we paid, it was worth it. The room was basic, like other budget Spanish hotel rooms, with a street-facing balcony where we relaxed in the evenings. We knew there’d be no air conditioning, so brought three rechargeable camping fans for the beds. A large fan was provided too. It was still hot, but bearable enough to sleep. The room was cleaned almost every day, with the bed made and fresh towels. It’s a friendly, family-run business. Reception isn’t always staffed, but they also run the hostal, apartments, pool, and restaurant, so there’s usually someone to find if you need help. I’ve gone into detail because reviews can make you wary before you arrive, and I wanted to be honest. We had a great stay for a fantastic price.