Hotel Sol Pelicanos-Ocas, Benidorm, Spain

With 3 stars, the Hotel Sol Pelicanos/Ocas is situated in a great location in Benidorm, on Spain's Costa Blanca region.

Just two streets away from the fabulous sandy Levante Beach with its plethora of watersports, the Sol Pelicanos is built on level ground making it an ideal holiday getaway for the elderly and infirm as well as families.

Convenient for the Square where all the night clubs are, it is also very close to the popular Piccadilly Bar (the original euro a pint bar) and Mariano's Restaurant, which serves the best chicken and chips ever (sit-in or takeaway).

Hotel Sol Pelicanos/Ocas is actually two sister hotels within the one complex, and they run a Flintstones theme for the children. They actually have two children's clubs - the Bam Bam Club for 5 - 8 year olds and the Cool Club for 8 - 13 year olds. Judging from what I've read, it would be advantageous for your children to speak Spanish if they intend to join those clubs.

Like all Benidorm hotels, the Sol Pelicanos/Ocas is not exclusively for British or other English speaking visitors. They cater for Spanish families too. This is a great opportunity for your child to learn Spanish through playing with the other children.

If you would like to stay at the Hotel Pelicanos/Ocas, they can be found at Calle Gerona 45 - 47, Benidorm 03503 and their telephone number is 0034 965 855058.

The Hotel Sol Pelicanos/Ocas is familiar to British television viewers as the location where the TV comedy series Benidorm was filmed. In which case viewers saw the huge swimming pool with centre bar that was featured many times. In actual fact, this is only one of an amazing 5 swimming pools within the complex.

There are 2 in the Sol Ocas - 1 for adults and 1 for children, and 3 in the Sol Pelicanos - 1 for adults, 1 for children and the 3rd a "Tropical Lake" in keeping with the Flintstones theme.

This is the one shown on the TV series as it has a swim-up bar in the centre and 3 whirlpool baths.

The hotel offers extensive palm tree filled gardens and sun terraces and sun beds, and an outdoor pizzeria.

During the day, both hotels offer entertainment in the form of competitions, sports, contests and workshops, while in the evening there are shows, dancing and professional entertainment provided by the Sol Melia entertainers.

Daytime:

• archery
• table tennis
• rifle shooting (min.age 13)
• pool games
• keep fit

The children have a play area as well as a kids' clubs (peak season only).

The hotels also offer an internet cafe, and the the Sol Pelicanos has a newsstand and souvenir shop.

For an extra charge there is a private doctor on 24 hour standby. Those arriving from the UK can also receive free emergency care at the nearby Benidorm medical centre on production of a European Health Insurance Card (E111) available free from your local DSS or can be ordered online.

The Sol Pelicanos has 476 rooms spread over 14 floors and accessed by 5 lifts, which the Hotel Ocas has 318 rooms over 11 floors served by 2 lifts (elevators).

All rooms have:

• centrally-controlled air conditioning peak season only (July - September)
• heating (in winter)
• telephone
• TV for news and sports
• en-suite bathroom
• 2/3 beds
• cots available except where room is fully occupied as there is then no room for a cot
• single rooms are available
• family rooms that sleep 2 adults and 2 children
• private balcony
• security/safety box (paid for at reception)

While all facilities are shared between the two hotels, dining isn't, and so you must eat at the hotel you are booked into.

All meals are served buffet-style and Christmas day and New Year Gala meals are included when you stay on a package deal through one of the major tour companies.

As of late, the meals in the Hotel Pelicanos/Ocas have been severely criticized as being bland, tasteless and lacking in variety. However, now that people have complained, this should be improved upon.

Luckily, as stated already above, these hotels are right next door to Mariano's who serve a delicious range of foods at reasonable prices, so you should never go hungry.