Hotel Polamar

We loved the Indian restaurant opposite the hotel, and there are plenty of other places nearby too. The beachside restaurants were the most expensive, while those nearer town cost less. There’s a bus station about a 10 min walk away, and the bus to Alicante cost 3 euros and dropped us in the centre. Just remember that the return bus leaves from the bus station. The hotel itself is right on the beach and ideally located. It was clean, our room was lovely and cleaned each day, and all the staff were friendly and helpful. We only ate breakfast there, with plenty of choice, mostly continental. The outside area was closed during our stay, but we expected that out of the main season. There are also Burger King, McDonald’s and dominos pizza nearby, and I think I saw a KFC too.

You’re basically paying for a tent with a sea view. It was noisy, and we could hear the neighbours. The receptionist on the night shift was extremely rude and didn’t seem to care about anything, just chatting with her friend across the lobby.

We were glad to see Polamar had opened again, so we went to the top floor bar for two drinks, a margarita and a caprihinia. Both arrived in whiskey glasses, and they put sugar around the margarita glass instead of salt. The margarita was the sourest, most undrinkable drink we’ve had in eight years in Santa Pola. My Caprihinia was mostly ice, gone in two sips. At 12 euros each, no thank you!

There was a loud TV in the 5th floor lounge. I asked the other guests if they minded me turning it off, and they were happy for me to do that. Then the barman angrily switched it back on, saying, “It Is My TV.” Not very customer friendly.