Hotel Alone

Hotel Alone suits a straightforward beach break with enough going on to keep a non-diving day from turning into a logistical exercise. You have a tropical swimming pool, a water slide, a hot tub, a terrace and a garden, while the beach is close enough to reach on foot rather than requiring a military operation with the car.

The feel is practical and family-friendly, with entertainment for adults and children including games, dances and parties. That makes it a better fit if your ideal evening includes a little noise and activity rather than a silent retreat with only the air conditioning for company.

You also have access to the facilities at the Tropic Hotel directly opposite, including two outdoor pools and a tennis court. In other words, you are not limited to the facilities attached to your own building.

The address is Avenida Marina Baixa, 23, in Cala de Finestrat, Spain, rather than in central Benidorm. The hotel sits roughly 0.4 miles from the beach, with Cala Finestrat Beach around 0.5 miles away on foot; Poniente Beach is about 0.7 miles away by walking distance.

That places you close to the coast without putting you in the middle of Benidorm’s busiest streets. Benidorm itself is about 1.2 miles away along the coast, while the Centro Comercial La Marina–Finestrat rail station is around 0.9 miles away on foot.

For small provisions or a change of scene, Bar Rte. Mítico is about 700 feet away, and Guiomar Obrador y Café is roughly 750 feet away. You have nearby restaurants too, including Vips and New York 1 at around 1,200 to 1,300 feet, with Gino’s Pizza a little farther on.

Every room has a private balcony and air conditioning, which matters when the day has involved salt, sun and a wetsuit that refused to become lighter on the walk back. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and the rooms also have a private bathroom, shower, television and telephone.

The smaller double and twin arrangements are the sensible choice for a couple who wants a base near the coast rather than a room designed for lingering all day. Family categories use two double beds, giving groups a clear sleeping arrangement, although the rooms remain compact; choosing the right occupancy matters more here than chasing the largest label on the booking screen.

For three adults, the dedicated triple arrangement is the more natural fit. A family travelling with a child can choose one of the family room configurations, while a cot is available for a baby on request. There are no extra beds, so the booked sleeping layout needs to do all the work. Non-smoking rooms and a lift add a little practical sense to the stay.

Breakfast comes as a buffet, which gives you the useful freedom to build a proper plate before heading out rather than negotiating with a single pastry and a strong coffee. The hotel restaurant, Mitico, serves lunch and dinner with Mediterranean cooking at its centre.

There is one pool bar for the drink-and-recovery part of the day. Its position keeps refreshments close to the swimming pool, so you can move from the water to a shaded drink without turning the afternoon into an expedition.

The hotel also has a terrace, and the restaurant works with homemade dishes. There is no stated all-inclusive or half-board formula to build the stay around, so you can treat the hotel restaurant as the main option or walk out to nearby cafés, bars and restaurants when you fancy a change.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to put the afternoon on pause, with sun loungers and beach chairs available for the serious business of drying off. The water slide adds a more energetic option, while the hot tub gives you somewhere to sit when swimming has become an unnecessary second workout. The pool and hot tub operate from May to October.

You can use the garden and terrace for a slower hour, or book a massage when your shoulders have had enough of carrying dive kit and holiday luggage. There is also a solarium, although the Costa Blanca is unlikely to need much help from it.

If you want to keep moving, tennis is available at the Tropic Hotel opposite, and billiards is another option at the hotel. Golf is available within about 1.9 miles. The children’s playground, games, dances and parties make the place particularly workable for mixed-age groups, while the nearby beach offers sand, loungers and parasols for a simpler day outside the pool area.

Check-in runs from 14:30 to 16:00 and check-out is by 12:00. The front desk is open around the clock, with a wake-up service, tour desk and car hire available when you need help arranging the non-diving parts of the trip. Packed lunches are also available, a useful detail when a full day away from the hotel makes a sit-down meal impractical.

Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is about 33 miles away by road. You can hire a car through the hotel, and private parking is available on site; availability and charges apply according to the arrangement. Visa and Mastercard are accepted, as well as cash.

Laundry is available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Pets are allowed on request, with a maximum of one dog per room and a maximum weight of 15 kilograms. Children of any age are welcome; children aged 13 and over are treated as adults, and a cot can be requested for a baby.