La Zenia

The room was not bad, and the hotel is well located. The host was courteous and available, especially when dealing with the air conditioning, which guests can’t control. My arrival and welcome were close to zero. I turned up unexpectedly hoping to book one night and waited an hour at the hostel for the owner, who wasn’t there. I sent a message but got no reply. Another guest who was there helped me speak to him by phone through an intermediary. I understand there may not be many people at the hotel, so he can’t always be there. Still, when I told him I’d been waiting an hour, he chose to take the customers who had booked first. He spoke to me very badly because he didn’t like me pointing out the delay, and he hadn’t said anything beyond “hello.” He even told me to leave the hotel after I’d waited that long. He did say “I’m sorry” during the conversation, but getting angry and speaking badly to me was disappointing. The hotel may be nice, but the welcome and personal touch weren’t up to scratch, which is a real shame. I can’t say I wouldn’t recommend it, since it’s pretty good overall, and this was my experience. Listening and communication could improve.

Getting there from Alicante bus station can mean a wait at Torrevieja, so try to get a ticket straight to La Zenia. The place is a converted house or villa with four rooms: 8 beds, 6 beds, 4 beds, and a double. It seems geared mostly toward booking the whole house. As a hostel, it has some pretty odd rules, shown in the photos. The no-alcohol rule feels a bit over the top, especially with a BBQ area, since I think barbecue food and a beer go together. A rule against excessive drinking would make more sense. They do charge for damage or an excessive mess, which seems fair. Lockers and sun loungers each cost €1 a day, and check-in is only from 3pm to 8pm unless you pay extra.

We had a lovely five-night stay and would happily come back. The owner and the other guests were really friendly, and the house is beautiful, with a pool, terraces, and a big garden. Zenia Boulevard is only about a five-minute walk away. The beach takes 25-30 minutes on foot, though it feels more like 15.

The outside chill-out spots and pool are beautiful, and the rooms were really clean. Such a nice hostel, with a very kind host. La Zenia has lots of shops, and the beach is less than a 10-minute walk away.