Sahara Sunset

Sahara Sunset is an aparthotel built around the practical idea that you may want more than a bed at the end of the day. The Moorish-inspired architecture gives the resort its identity, while the apartments add the useful bits: a kitchen, a dining area, a sitting area and a private balcony. You get room to spread out, which matters when a holiday involves more than one person and more than one set of luggage.

The atmosphere is centred on the large swimming pool, with apartments arranged around it. You can spend the day outdoors, retreat to your own apartment when the sun has had enough, or walk down to the nearby beaches and coastal paths. Couples and families are both catered for, with family apartments, a kids' club, a playground and evening entertainment adding a livelier side to the resort.

You are in Benalmádena, on Spain's Costa del Sol, at Avenida Rocío Jurado. The resort has direct beach access, with Santa Ana Beach about 0.1 miles away and Bil Bil Beach also roughly 0.1 miles away. That puts the sand within easy reach without making the beach the only reason to leave the property.

Parque de la Paloma is about 0.2 miles away, giving you a nearby option for a walk when sitting by the pool has run its course. Several restaurants are close by, including Maracas Beach Bil Bil, Mint Leaf and Merendero Los Cangrejo. Bars such as L.A. Bar, Café-Lounge Puerta de Europa and Potters Lodge are also within walking distance, so you are not tied to the resort's own food and drink arrangements.

Málaga Airport is about 5 miles away. Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel railway station is around 0.7 miles from the resort, while Málaga Bus Station is about 10 miles away.

The main reason to choose Sahara Sunset over a conventional hotel room is the apartment layout. Even the studio has a kitchen and dining area, while the one- and two-bedroom apartments give you separate living space and more room for a longer stay. The two-bedroom option is the sensible pick when you are travelling as a group or simply prefer not to negotiate every evening around one sleeping area.

Every apartment has a private balcony, air conditioning, heating, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi. You also get a proper kitchen with a fridge, oven, microwave, stovetop, toaster, kettle and kitchenware. That gives you somewhere to keep cold drinks, make a quick breakfast or put together something simple when you would rather not go out again. A sofa and seating area make the apartment usable after dinner, not merely somewhere to drop your luggage.

Comfort is helped by the private setting and the apartment scale, with wardrobes, linen, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer already covered. The beds have been well received for comfort, but the resort is not presented as a silent adults-only retreat: the pool, family facilities and evening entertainment are part of the picture.

You have a restaurant and a bar on site, with the Casbah Café handling the useful post-pool combination of drinks and snacks. Its cocktails come with exotic flavours, which is a slightly more interesting proposition than the standard orange squash and lager routine. The resort also has a minimarket, so small provisions do not require a full expedition.

The apartments make self-catering straightforward. A dining table, fridge, oven, microwave, stovetop, toaster, kettle and kitchenware let you keep meals simple or make more of them when you have the energy. Grocery deliveries are available, and special-diet menus can be requested at the restaurant. Nearby restaurants add choice when you want someone else to deal with the washing-up, while the kitchen remains useful for breakfast, snacks and the occasional meal at your own pace.

The large outdoor pool is the obvious centre of the resort, with a sun terrace and outdoor seating for the days when you want to do very little in a structured way. There is also an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a steam room and a hammam. The spa offers massages, facials, mud baths and body wraps, with a relaxation area for the part of the treatment where you are expected to stop looking at the clock.

A fitness centre is available if you still have enthusiasm left after a day out, while table tennis provides a less serious contest. Live music and evening entertainment bring activity into the later hours. For families, there is a kids' club, children's playground, children's meals and mini golf. Outside the resort, you can arrange horse riding, fishing, snorkelling, tennis or a round of golf within 3 kilometres.

You can also use the tour desk for local culture tours, and car hire is available on site. For a quieter day, Parque de la Paloma is close enough for a walk, while the beaches give you the option of a simple change of scenery without committing to a full excursion.

Arrival is handled from 16:00 to midnight, and you leave by 10:00. The property needs your expected arrival time in advance. Check-in is for guests aged 18 or over, children of all ages are welcome, and a cot can be requested for a child under two. There are no extra beds, so the apartment's stated sleeping arrangement matters when you are planning the group.

Free public parking is available nearby, although spaces cannot be reserved. An airport shuttle and car hire are available, and the reception operates around the clock with luggage storage, concierge assistance, a tour desk and currency exchange. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms. Cards are accepted, but cash is not.

Smoking is not permitted, pets are not allowed and parties or events are not accepted. A refundable damage deposit is taken on arrival by card and returned after the apartment has been checked. The resort also runs an ongoing improvement programme. In particular, essential water-system works are planned at one end of the resort from 11 January to 18 February 2027, with possible construction noise during weekday working hours.