Ask someone what comes to mind when they hear the words “Benidorm accommodation” and chances are they will picture a large hotel overlooking the sea.
And there is a good reason for that. Benidorm has an enormous choice of hotels, from simple and affordable places to high-end resorts with rooftop pools, restaurants and everything you could possibly need under one roof.
But that is only part of the story.
One of the things that makes Benidorm such an interesting holiday destination is the sheer variety of places where you can stay. You can arrive with a motorhome and spend your holiday on a campsite, rent a simple apartment for a few nights, book a family-friendly resort or stay in a spectacular high-rise apartment with panoramic Mediterranean views.
All of them are Benidorm.
Camping in Benidorm: much more than a pitch and a tent
Camping may not be the first thing people associate with Benidorm, but there is a surprisingly strong camping scene around the city.
For some visitors, it is simply the most practical way to travel. Bring your own motorhome or caravan, find a pitch and enjoy the freedom of having your own space.
But modern campsites around Benidorm can be considerably more comfortable than the traditional image of camping might suggest.
Many offer bungalows and mobile homes, swimming pools, restaurants, shops and plenty of facilities, making them almost self-contained holiday resorts.
It is a particularly attractive option for longer stays, families and travellers who prefer having more space and independence than a standard hotel room can offer.
And there is something rather appealing about being able to spend the morning by the pool, drive into Benidorm for lunch and still return to a quieter campsite in the evening.
The classic Benidorm hotel
Of course, hotels remain at the heart of Benidorm’s accommodation offer.
The city has built much of its reputation on hotels, and there is an extraordinary range to choose from. Benidorm’s own tourism information highlights its wide selection of hotels across different categories, alongside campsites and tourist apartments.
There are smaller, traditional hotels where the atmosphere is friendly and familiar. There are large resorts with several hundred rooms. There are family hotels with entertainment programmes and children’s facilities, adults-only properties, all-inclusive options and hotels designed around wellness and relaxation.
Location can make just as much difference as the star rating.
A hotel close to Levante Beach puts you right in the middle of the action, while accommodation around Poniente can feel noticeably more relaxed, particularly towards the western end of the beach.
And then there is the Old Town, where smaller hotels and boutique properties offer a completely different experience.
In other words, choosing a hotel in Benidorm is not simply a question of deciding how many stars you want.
It is about deciding which version of Benidorm you want to wake up in.
Apartments: the freedom of having your own place
For many visitors, a holiday apartment makes more sense than a hotel.
You have a kitchen, a living room, more space and, very often, a balcony or terrace. For families or groups of friends, that extra space can make a huge difference.
Benidorm has a particularly large selection of tourist apartments, ranging from very simple studios to modern properties with several bedrooms, communal swimming pools, underground parking and impressive sea views.
The difference between the cheapest and most sophisticated apartments can be enormous.
You might find a compact studio where the main purpose is simply having somewhere comfortable to sleep after a day at the beach.
Or you could end up in a large apartment with a spacious terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, a communal infinity pool and facilities that would not look out of place in a five-star resort.
The Poniente area is particularly interesting in this respect. Modern residential developments have transformed parts of the western side of Benidorm into a very different environment from the image many people have of the city.
There are now plenty of apartments where the beach is literally outside the front door.
And then there is luxury…
This is where Benidorm can surprise people.
The city has a reputation for affordable holidays, package tourism and large hotels. But spend a little time looking at the newer developments around Poniente and the picture changes rather quickly.
Luxury apartments in Benidorm can come with floor-to-ceiling windows, huge terraces, private or rooftop pools, gyms, spas, underground parking and uninterrupted sea views.
Some of the newer high-rise developments take full advantage of Benidorm’s location between the mountains and the Mediterranean.
The Intempo building is perhaps the most obvious example. Apartments on the higher floors offer views that stretch far beyond the city, while the building itself has become one of the defining landmarks of modern Benidorm.
There are also luxury apartments in developments such as Sunset Waves and Sunset Cliffs, where resort-style facilities and contemporary interiors are very much part of the experience.
And this is not just marketing language. Current accommodation listings include properties with private hot tubs, sea views, rooftop pools and beachfront locations, while high-end long-term rentals in Poniente can reach several thousand euros per month.
For those who want a genuinely premium stay, Benidorm has no shortage of options.
Boutique stays and the Old Town
Not everyone wants a glass tower and a resort pool.
Some visitors would rather stay somewhere with a little more character.
Benidorm’s Old Town is ideal for this. Its narrow streets, small squares, restaurants and traditional atmosphere feel a world away from some of the city’s larger resort areas.
Here you can find smaller hotels, guesthouses and boutique-style accommodation where the experience is more intimate.
It is also a good choice for people who want to walk everywhere. The beaches, Old Town restaurants, tapas bars, Balcón del Mediterráneo and harbour are all close by.
You may not get a huge resort swimming pool.
But you might get a rooftop terrace with a view over the Mediterranean instead.
Sometimes that is a better trade.
So, what is the best place to stay in Benidorm?
There really isn’t one answer.
That is precisely the point.
A family travelling with children may be happiest in a resort with a large pool, entertainment and easy access to the beach.
A couple might prefer a boutique hotel in the Old Town.
A group of friends could choose a spacious apartment close to Levante.
Someone travelling for several weeks might choose a campsite with a bungalow or motorhome pitch.
And someone celebrating a special occasion might decide that nothing less than a high-floor apartment overlooking Poniente will do.
The good news is that you don’t have to choose a different destination for each of those holidays.
You can find all of them in Benidorm.
One city, many different holidays
Perhaps this is one of the most underestimated things about Benidorm.
The city is often described in very broad terms: beaches, skyscrapers, nightlife and hotels.
But look a little closer and it becomes clear that there isn’t really one Benidorm.
There are several.
There is the lively Benidorm of Levante.
The more relaxed atmosphere of Poniente.
The traditional Old Town.
The family resort experience.
The campsite.
The modern apartment complex.
And the increasingly sophisticated world of luxury accommodation high above the Mediterranean.
From a pitch for a motorhome to a penthouse with a panoramic sea view, the choice is remarkably wide.
So perhaps the better question isn’t “Where can I stay in Benidorm?”
It is:
“Which Benidorm do I want to experience?”
And that is a much more interesting question.
Leave a Reply