Hotel Tropic

Hotel Tropic is a small three-star hotel with 20 rooms in Cala de Finestrat, set in a quiet area close to the resorts around Benidorm. You get the useful things in one place: an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, air conditioning and a balcony for every room. No grand promises, just a practical base for days divided between the coast, the water and a proper meal.

The atmosphere suits you if you prefer to come back from the beach, rinse off, sit by the pool and decide later whether the evening needs more ambition. The hotel also gives you access to facilities at Hotel Alone, directly opposite, including a tropical swimming pool, hot tub and playground. An entertainment team runs activities, games and shows for adults and children, so you can join in or simply let the noise pass by while you enjoy a drink.

The address is Relleu, 3, in Cala de Finestrat rather than central Benidorm. Cala Finestrat Beach is about half a mile away on foot, roughly a ten-minute walk, while Poniente Beach is about 0.8 miles away on foot. The hotel is described as a short walk from the beach and well connected by road to the neighbouring resorts.

You have a few places to eat and drink nearby without turning dinner into an expedition. Bar Rte. Mítico and Guiomar Obrador y Café are around a quarter of a mile away on foot, while Moja y Pica is roughly 0.4 miles away. Vips, Gino's Pizza and New York 1 are all within about 0.3 miles on foot.

For a change of scene, the Centro Comercial La Marina - Finestrat rail station is about 0.9 miles away on foot. Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is about 33 miles away by road, with a driving time of around 38 minutes.

The rooms are compact, so choose with the number of bodies in mind rather than relying on optimistic luggage geometry. The double or twin option works for two adults who want a simple base, while the larger triple and quadruple categories make more sense for families or groups sharing the room. The room cards give you the exact layout; the practical point is that the bigger options are still designed around two double beds rather than separate bedrooms.

Every room has air conditioning and a balcony. That matters on the Costa Blanca: you can shut out the heat, cool down properly and step outside without having to leave your room in search of air. Heating is also available, and the rooms have a private bathroom with towels, a hairdryer and a toilet.

A flat-screen television, desk and free WiFi cover the basic evening requirements, whether you want to catch up on messages or do absolutely nothing more demanding than sit down. Family rooms are available, children of any age are welcome, and cots and extra beds are not available, so the existing bed arrangement deserves a careful look before you book.

The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Spanish cooking and traditional home-made options. Breakfast is a buffet and is included, which gives you an uncomplicated start before heading out for the day. There is no need to build the morning around finding a café first.

The hotel has one bar, including a poolside bar for the hours when your idea of a sophisticated afternoon is a cold drink within easy reach of the water. The restaurant and bar keep the main routine on site: eat, drink, swim, repeat. A buffet shaped like a boat adds a slightly eccentric detail to the dining room, because apparently even the furniture deserves a holiday.

Packed lunches are available when you need food away from the hotel. The restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, but no continuous snack service or late dinner arrangement is specified, so plan accordingly if your day runs on a timetable of its own.

The outdoor swimming pool is the main place to settle after a hot day outside. There is also a sun terrace and solarium, giving you the classic choice between lying in the sun and moving three metres to find a slightly better patch of it. The pool and jacuzzi operate from May to October.

For something less horizontal, the hotel has a sauna and massage service, while snooker offers a slower-paced indoor distraction. Massage and sauna access carry an additional charge, but they are there for the evenings when your legs have had enough of sightseeing and your shoulders would prefer professional assistance.

You can also use the facilities at Hotel Alone opposite: a tropical swimming pool, hot tub and playground. Live music and performances are part of the programme, and a golf course lies within 2 miles. The local area also puts several beaches, parks and Benidorm's central sights within reach by car or on foot, depending on how much enthusiasm remains.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. There is no minimum age for check-in, and cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted. A 24-hour front desk, wake-up service, tour desk and car hire service cover the useful logistics of a stay, while laundry is available for an additional charge.

Private parking is available on site, but spaces are limited and cannot be reserved. In other words, treat it as useful rather than guaranteed. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and a lift serves the building. Pets are welcome; one dog per room is allowed, with a maximum weight of 15 kilograms, and additional charges may apply.

The hotel offers family rooms, but there are no cots or extra beds. Children aged 13 and over are charged as adults. If you are travelling with a larger group, bookings of more than three rooms can follow different policies, so check the conditions attached to your chosen accommodation before committing.