Hotel Sol Pelicanos / Ocas Reviews

This was my 4th visit to Benidorm although it had been 16 years since my last visit. Overall not alot had changed except I hadn't realised how much of a concrete jungle the place is. Maybe I didn't really take much notice before due to been in my teens wheras this time I came with my family. Benidorm is a great place for kids as there is plenty to do, I would describe it as Blackpool with lots of sunshine !

The hotel is in the Rincon de loix area of Benidorm (new town). It is in a superb central location and situated approx 10 minutes stroll to the beach. There are 2 hotels in the complex and our rep informed us of our hotel (Pelicanos) on arrival. Checked in no problem however I was disappointed that we were not allocated 2 rooms next to each other despite requesting this via email prior to departure. When I questioned this I was told that the larger rooms that sleep 4 are at the front of the hotel and the smaller rooms (not alot of difference really in size) are on the other corridor. We were all on the same floor however but I felt this could have been advised prior to departure by the hoel instead of advising that they would try and accomodate our needs. The smaller room that slept 3 had got a pool view as requested. It looked out onto the Ocas pool. Due to where the Pelicanos pool is situated you don't really get a view of this from the hotel unless you are right at the far side and on one of the higher floors (14 floors).

The main reason I chose this hotel was due to the fantastic pool at the Pelicanos and I wasn't disappointed. Fabulous pool, spotlessly clean with lots of shaded areas and sunbeds. Beds are also not allowed to be reserved as the pool attendant goes round each day at around 9-9.30ish and collects any unattended towels. We found this out on the first day when we all went to breakfast together. We then went to breakast in 2 seperate parties leaving someone to guard the beds ! The kids loved the pool and there was a kids club there as well as poolside entertainment. There was a smaller pool at the Pelicanos as well which you could take inflatables into as they are not allowed in the main pool. The hotel put a massive inflatable in this pool on our last day and the kids thought it was great as they were all jumping and climbing on it. The pool at the Ocas is alot smaller and we didn't bother going there as it pales in comparison to the one at the Pelicanos.

The food in the hotel was excellent as far as Spanish hotel food goes. I found the food was better than I got when staying in a 4 star hotel. There is plenty of choice, yes it does get a tad competitive if you are there for 2 weeks but I couldn't fault it really. There was always something for the kids. Everynight there was pizza, chips, chicken and they would add chicken nuggets or burgers etc. It was good quality food and there was a full english breakfast every morning as well as freshly cooked pancakes and omelettes. We didn't have any other meals other than the half board as it was more than substantial. The only thing we found is that as it is a buffet service the later you go the busier it gets and it can be like a rugby scrum towards the end of the evening. After the first night we ate earlier and found it to be alot more relaxed. There are only a limited amount of tables that seat larger parties of 4 or more and they were round the edges of the dining room. Again, eat earlier rather than later if you need a larger table. There wasn't alot of waiters and we did find that unless you cleared your plates away yourself you would be surrounded by dirty dishes as they just could not clear and set the tables fast enough.

The rooms are basic but spotlessly clean with air con and we got fresh towels every day and beds made up. Although we were at the front of the hotel and on a busy road we could not hear a thing when the patio doors were shut although the walls are not very thick and you could hear people talking in the adjacent rooms. The good thing is that you don't have to check out until 12 noon on departure day and you also get a coutesy room free of charge to shower and change in. They are service rooms at the back of the hotel which are used by hotel staff.

Good places to go - Aqualand and Terra Mitica. Don't bother staying for the firework display at Terra Mitica though as I thought it would be over the lake as it is at Port Aventura in Salou but it's not and not half as good. Still a good day out though, I couldn't understand why there were no queues. We did go on a Monday so maybe the spanish kids had gone back to school.

Overall we did have a good hoiday and I would definately go back to the Pelicanos/Ocas however I'm not sure I would go back to Benidorm. The evening entertainment in all the bars is tribute bands that do the same acts in the same bars night after night. None of them are that good bar a few comedians but there is only so many times you can watch them. We must have seem Abba-Esque about 5 times and we didn't enjoy them the first time we saw them. Beware - Sticky Vicky is still doing the rounds !

Back to Benidorm for the 3rd year.
New Hotel though, we stayed at the Pelicanos thanks to reviews read on this site. We were not dissappionted.
The Hotel was spotless and the meals were for everyone.
The pool area was the highlight for us, having kids we needed to be able to obtain sunbeds, this was easy, the Hotel employed an English Lady who walked around the pool area checking for 'booked' sunbeds. People would leave their towwels then go and have breakfast...bad idea, the lady would lift their towels and take them away. We thought this was a great idea. This way it was a if your not fast your last basis!

The resort is full of entertainment and we went to alot of shows that we had not seen in previous years. Once of the best was in Bar La Rue, the lady-men hijack you in the street and ask you to come the following night, we were a wee bit apprehensive but once we were there we enjoyed it. We told our friends about it and they liked it too.
Our flight was a bit later this year, so we asked if we could pay for a room for the day and this was no problem, it cost 18euros but was well worth it just to have a shower and freshen up before being picked up.
We will go back to benidorm again at New Year

What a superb hotel this is.
I came here on my honeymoon with 30 members of family and friends and had a ball.
Hotel rooms clean and tidy with maid service every day.
I have been to Benidorm before and the nightlife is great.
The pool at the hotel with 3 jacuzzis and a swim up bar is great and the food also. Only problem was the sunbeds of a morning. If you put your towels on your bed before 09:30 and go for breakfast the little hitler by the pool removes them. This meant having breakfast alone some mornings.
We found the Triangle pub great fun with karaoke for the kids and a disco too. The DJ in there Gavin is good fun.
This is my 3rd visit to Benidorm and this by far the best hotel we stayed in.
We did eat out a few nights though.
Rays Chippy Brilliant
Tony Romas Ribs Brilliant
Indian Restaurant in the old town FANTASTIC.
All excellent eating places but can cost quite dear if you have a few kids with you. If you dont like watching comedians and fun acts dont go.
If you dont have a great time here you wont have it anywhere and probably live in a field and have no friends.
Cheers Barry

We are a family of 5 and had two rooms - we didnt know which hotel we would be located until arrival at the reception. We were placed in the Ocas.

HOTEL - Both hotels were spotlessly clean in all areas. The managers go round checking that the public areas are clean. ROOMS - Both of our rooms were spotless and cleaned every day. The towels were changed everyday.
FOOD - The food was very good quality - plenty to choose from - there was at least something that you could choose from even if you are a fussy eater. You do have to eat in the restaurant of the hotel you are allocated to but that was no problem to us. At breakfast you could ask the chef to either make you an omelette or a fried egg and they were more than happy to do so.

FACILITES - You could use the facilites of both of the hotels and there were plenty of them - Price for a pint of beer is 3 euros
POOLS - Fabulous there is no more that can be said about them - you cannot use lilos or inflatables in the lagoon pool but you can in the others.

SUNBEDS - if you leave your towel on a bed unattended in the morning it will be taken off by the hotel staff - to be honest we found this probably to be the fairest way of doing it but obviously everyone has a different opinion - we didnt have a problem as we went down at about 8.30 to 9.00 and got our beds
ENTERTAINMENT - During the day there was sports activities going on the hotel staff who organised this were very energetic, enthusiastic and tried to include everyone but were not too pushy if you didnt want to join in - they were marvellous and never stopped - I cant really comment on the evening entertainment as we didnt stay at the hotel but there was a mini disco every night and other entertainment provided. A really good idea they have is a touch screen so you can check all the day and evening entertainment programmes and where they are held.

RESORT - In our opinion there is something for all ages in Benidorm. You can visit all different types of bars according to your taste, there are plenty of eating places again to suit all tyoes of requirements. The prices to both eat and drink in Benidorm are superb. The beach and promenade are beautiful and make a lovely place to have either an early morning or evening stroll - the only downside of sitting in bars is the Asian women selling the flashing badges etc, as they seem to come round constantly but to be honest if you just politely say no thanks they are not too pushy

SUMMARY - Benidorm is a great resort for anyone of any age - I would highly recommend the Hotel and we would definitely go back there again.

Pelicanos is excellent, the food top class, although its so cheap in Benidorm you can eat out a few times as well. Only criticism is the sun-loungers, you have to be on a bed by 9:45, or you won't get one, the pool is probably the best in Benidorm, so it's essential you make the effort. And don't think you can put a towel on and leave it, a lady takes your towel off it you are not in attendance. Would recommend this hotel every time.
PS. Don't go to Ray's Chippy just along the road, waited an HOUR for our meal to come, Chinese recommended, Wendy's, on the road behind the hotel is great and cheap.

The hotel we found to be very good. The rooms were clean and the maids were very friendly and helpful. The entertainment was plentiful and as we were half board found the food to be excellent.

There are many local restaurants and bars if you do not go full board. We actually ate out a couple of times at Marianos which is just to the left of the hotel. We found this to be very good and cheap. Also John and Josephs is very popular as food and drinks are probably the cheapest in town.

There are many pubs near the hotel which are very nice. The Triangle, White Horse, Fawlty Towers play cheap affordable Bingo for good prize money and you can have a really good night out with cheap drinks. One to avoid is straight over the road from the hotel called Cosmopolitan. The Bingo is expensive. Measured drinks (unheard of in Spain)at double the cost of anywhere else. If you complain they tell you that you are not the kind of people they are looking for. The people who run this bar are very unfriendly. Apart from that one place we had a brilliant time and will return to Benidorm in the very near future.

Arrived at hotel and was pleased to be allocatd Pelicanos. Sister hotel Ocas was very quiet and could not find a bar. The rooms are very small with four beds squeezed in and not much wardrobe or drawer space for four. They were cleaned every day. The pool was fantastic plenty of sunbeds but still very busy.

The hotel entertainment was different. Our two 11 year olds thought it was in their words crap and we could only agree.

The hotel is in an excellent position just a few minutes to the beach and shops and bars all around but no disturbance at night. Benidorm itself had plenty to offer to all ages but be careful with younger children as there is a lot of the adult variety and touts will try to get you in even when it is not suitable.Benidorm island and the water and theme parks are a must.

NOW FOR THE FUN BIT -FOOD
The meals at the Pelicanos are like nothing i have eaten before that is if you can find a clean cup,plate,glass or cuttlery.
Breakfast was fine if you like toast, you cook it youself otherwise watch out for undercooked sausages, scrambled egg, pancakes and eggs that ran all over the plate. Free coffee from the machine was disgusting but buy it in the bar and it was fine.
Lunch/Dinner was an experience. Veal,pork,lamb,chicken,rabbit all tasted the same if it wasn't for the labels we wouldn't have had a clue. Next day was veal or rabbit stew. Guess what was left over from the day before? There was quite a selection of different foods but finding anything edible was impossible. I am not a fussy eater but i do have standards. Desserts were as bad. Green,red and orange jelly all tasted the same as did the different coloured mousses. And so it continued for four days when we could take no more and ate out. (Apparently this continued for the full 14 days but some poor people had not budgeted to pay for most of thier meals and had to keep returning).

So for me and my family benidorm is not a bad place for a holiday but you wouldn't get us back to The Sol Pelicanos unless it was self-catering

Just arrived back from staying for 14 nights in pelicanos, fantastic weather, great location, plenty of restaurants, shops, and places to visit. The hotel itself was great, although the maid service in the room was a little poor at times, sometimes they didnt empty bins, and the floors were not cleaned and they didnt change the beds for over a week. The rooms were not a bad size for four, 2 single beds and 2 fold up beds. Quite basic but all we needed as we dont spend much time in the room.

The resturant had a good selection of food for both adults and children, although it was a busy time of year and the glasses and cutlery always needed an inspection before being used. The staff in the restaurant itself were not helpful at all but it didnt spoil our holiday. The entertainment in the hotel both night or day was not up to much and neither was the kids entertainment. We stayed in the hotel for the enteraintment for about 4 nights and then ventured out into the night life, only wish we had done that upon first ariving in benidorm, the kids were made welcome in all the pubs and the shows were great for them, but beware because bad language is used in most bars from about 10pm. Big let down was the kids club at the hotel, you are charged 10 euros per child per day for the kids to take part in the clubs and our daughter went once and she said it was rubbish, they said you get a free gift, it was the tiniest tube of toothpaste, and a tacky cheap toothbrush, we were not impressed, neither was our daughter. Thankfully she didnt want to go again, it would have cost a fortune if she had wanted to go everyday for the 2 weeks of our stay. (didnt mention the charge in the brochure)

The pools and the receptions of the two sister hotels were spotless, cleaned everyday but your not allowed to put out your towels before 10am, if you do youll find that they have been collected and throwed onto the table tennis tables, so be prepared to get up early and have breakfast, in order to get a sunbed. The Pelicanos pools are great, large shapely pool, with 3 jacuzzi pools, a bar to swim up to and 3 eyecatcing water fountains, plus a separate round pool and a small round kids pool.

The beach is cleaned every night and srolling along at night is like taking a walk around a shopping centre, very busy, and very pleasant.

Just remember to hire the safe in the room, met a family who didnt hire a safe and had quite a lot of money stolen in english and euros from their room. Also beware of the beggers and the pick pocketers around the resort, although we didnt experience any problems we were told about them several times during our stay.

We would go back to benidorm in the future, as it is home from home and lots to do for all ages. Visit Mundamar and also the Aqualandia, not that cheap but well worth a trip for all and a taxi only costs 4 euros to get their.

BIG WARNING. The prices in the hotel for drinks, crisps and food are double the price that you pay in the local restaurants and bars. My advice would be to go out every night and dont stay in the hotel for the entertainment and drinks.

Only back one week from the Pelicanos and really, really miss it. We were there last year and I have to say that it was even better this year. The entertainment team work there backsides off to keep everyone entertained and I have to say, in our case, they succeeded, they are all sooooooooo friendly. The entertainment starts at 11am and there is something on right through until 11.30pm.

There are 5 pools in the hotel and they are all spotlessly clean. The restaraunt in the Pelicanos is spotlessly clean and the choice of food is good, but breakfast is superb. If you found fault with breakfast you are very hard to please. The rooms are cleaned daily and although they could be doing with a lick of paint are as spotless as everywhere else in the hotel. The rooms have excellent air conditioning, to the point where you were quite cold when you woke in the morning. There are loads of sunbeds around all the pools, but the Pelicanos has a poor wee english girl on duty to try and stop people from hogging the beds and going out for the day without using them. It gets a bit hairy at times, but if you are using the beds, there is no problems.

The area outside the hotel is very touristy (lots of Chinease souvinear shops) but, to be honest, I was kept too busy with the entertainment to venture out of the hotel very often.

The only complaint I had this year was that they have started to charge for the kids club. It was completely free last year. This year they were charging 30euros for a 5 day pass and considering I paid full price for my 10 year old (they did get a free tshirt and bandanna, but who needs those), I thought it was a bit much, especially when there was nothing to tell you this in the brochure and adults get as much entertainment and its all free for them. I did complain to my tour rep, who informed me that it was the hotel that provided the entertainment and they had nothing to do with it, but would certainly pass on my comments to head office.

All in all though, I have to say that I can't wait to get to the travel agents to book again for next year at the same place for a 3rd year. The problems were well outweighed by the good points of the hotel. I was just being a bit fussy and picky. I would definately recommend this hotel for a lively family holiday, just don't go for a rest, theres too much happening.

after arriving at alicante and being told the hotel we had booked had gven our rooms away we were sent to the pelicanos.

there are no ramps anywhere in the hotel which makes getting around very hard. there are also no baby changing facilities which is no good when your baby is just getting over gastroenteritis and needs her nappy changing a lot.

this hotel seems to be aimed at families but from my experience its just no good

next time ill stick to the rio park

We were allocated in Pelicanos which we were pleased about as it has the good pool. We didnt arrive at the hotel until about 11pm, and as we got off the coach the rep said 'watch your pockets as you walk to the hotel'. We went straight out to a restaurant near the hotel to get something to eat and there was a br*thel next door. We wondered what the hell we had come to!

The pool was the best thing about the hotel by far, it's as good as it looks in the brochure pictures. The only thing I will say is that all the pillars and palm trees look very nice, but it's hard to sunbathe cos every half an hour a palm tree branch puts you in the shade. I wouldn't recommend the food from the bar by the pool, we ate there a few times and it was gross.

The food in the hotel was lovely, there was a huge selection and something for everyone. Breakfast finishes at half 10 so we had to set the alarm to wake us up, also you need to get up early to get a sun bed round the pool cos it gets very busy.
The rooms are small and very basic, our phone didn't work and we had a few problems with the shower but we were hardly ever in the rooms anyway.
I would say the hotel is full of mainly spanish people, and mainly old. The hotel caters for families also.

The hotel is in a great location, the beach is 2 mins away, and 'the square' is close, and thats a great place for the clubs and pubs. We went there most nights. Chaplins is great, but don't go out until half 10 cos even the nightclubs have kids in up till that time. We found a really good pub on the sea front where every table had it's own beer pump, and it had a meter on it telling you how many litres you had drunk. It was 5 euros a litre, and there were tvs on the wall telling you which table was in the lead so we had fun with some other english groups trying to beat them.
Those men with the flowers really annoy you, they just don't leave you alone.

It seems to be happy hour all the time in every pub! You just don't realise how much you're drinking until you've got a banging headache the next day!
There's a pub called Zodiac which was really good, there's a comedian on every night at about half 1 and its really funny. Then after that there's sticky vicky at half 3, she's just one of those things you've gotta go and see when you go to benidorm! (If you haven't heard of her, ask around!)

All in all we had a really good holiday and we'd definitely go back next year!

Well what can i say....i have just returned from benidorm and must state that the place is disgusting!

The pelicanos hotel looked quite nice, but we ended up in he sister hotel, ocas, which was no way near the same standard. I would say a 2 star. And as for the sea view, to catch the tiniest of glimpses of the sea you must lean dangerously over the balcony and look to your right through a mountain of concrete buildings. Our view comprised of the top of the local indoor market roof which was dirty and horrible. The food in the hotel was rather good though, consisting mainly of chicken and chips which suited me fine.

As soon as we you leave the hotel you are smack bang in the centre of a busy street crammed with 'tacky' english bars. As you walk down you are pestered none stop by people either selling roses and flashing toys, or being dragged into bars and brothels. The street is also lined with beggars sitting on tiny scraps of cardboard, breast feeding infants whilst holding their hand out for any spare change. It made me feel sick! Each of the bars puts their bins out on the high street, and as you can guess some drunken yobs (i must say are everywhere and all english) tip them over, resulting in a street full of rubbish and endless amounts of cockroaches.

Well that was the bad stuff, all on the hotels doorstep. We went as a group of ten all up for a laugh, but this place just isn't funny-we were ready to come home after the first night.

Now for the good stuff- forget new town, and travel about half an hour down the sea front to discover old town. This is much much better. Ok there is alot of spanish (but what do you expect in spain), but they all make you feel welcome and try and understand you as best they can.

On the sea front, just before the jutting out rock are a number of brilliant bars and clubs, my favourite being baybeach and daytona. Give em a try! In the distance you can see an island, and from the port in old town you can get on a boat to it. It is ace, and only costs 12 euros for a return trip plus a go in a mini submarine to see all the exotic fish. Also buy a snorkel for about 7 euros and take it with you, it's amazing to see so many different coloured and sized fish in such close proximity.

We also went to terra mitica, which was good fun...but terra natura (a new park thats just opened) is a waste of money and the animals are enclosed in the tiniest of spaces. We were not impressed!
Levante and poiente beaches were nice, poiente was the best though but keep travelling to old town was tiring.

If i ever returned to benidorm (which is very unlikely as their are much nicer places in spain) i would definately stay in or very close to old town. I will never step foot in new town EVER again!

We stayed at the Pelicanos Hotel. The room was a bit small for us, not much room for a 5 year old to move around but it was spotlessly clean and was cleaned every day. The room had air conditioning, we asked for an additional card for the room and left the AC on all day - we needed to the weather was scorching. There is a TV in the room with satellite channels and you can pay 30 euros deposit for a remote control. However you don't receive any more channels just a remote control, so you are as well using your finger for free. We hired a mini fridge for the fortnight,60 euros for the fortnight, which was a godsend. However there are not enough fridges for every room so you need to get in early if you want one.

The room could do with a lick of paint and furniture up-graded but it is of a good standard and again clean. Bathroom also very clean, tiles immaculate.

The restaurant is also air conditioned. There is a very wide selection of food. Breakfasts have everything you could ask for, the usual fry up stuff (not for me), omelettes and pancakes made to order, cheeses, cold meats, a huge selection of bakery products, and of course cava to put in your fresh orange. For evening meals there was also a great variety, fish, veal, beef, etc., they also have an Italian corner which makes pizza, pasta, chips etc which was very popular with children. Again, you can have your meat cooked to order. There is always loads of salads, cold fish to choose from. My husband dreads hotel food, but even he could not fault their food. Of course after 2 weeks it does become a bit boring going to the same place but thats nothing do with the good on offer.

The pool at Pelicanos is fantastic, best pool I've eve rbeen too, its huge and had loads of different sections, including a jacuzzi and a pool side bar where you actually sit on stools in the pool at the bar. The bars at the pool are very expensive however, a plastic cup of rotten lager costs 3 euros and a wee cup of coke, half of which is taken up by the ice costs 1.65 euros. A can of coke at the vending machine at the pool is 1.20 euros but the shop next door charges 50 euros. You're not supposed to take your own food and drink to the pool, they even have someone on guard at the entrance to take it off you, but obviously if you're discreet and its in your bag you can get away with it.

There is a 'procedure' with booking sunbeds, it took us a day or two to suss it. You are only allowed to put your towels on the beds after 09.00 am, if you put them on beforehand they will be lifted. However, even although you have your towels on the beds you need to stay with them on the beds until about 09.30. Between 09.00 and 09.30 the guard (actually a nice English girl called Claire who is only doing what the management tell her) walks round and round the pool lifting any unattended towels/bags etc.

The evening entertainment was not our cup of tea, a few professional acts but mainly the Sol entertainment team doing quizzes, competitions or miming to shows. However, our son and all the kids loved it. During the day they do the usual water polo, water aerobics, pistol shooting etc.

There is a kids club but our son only went the first day. Normally he loves the kids club, but they have always been run by the tour operator. In this case it is the hotel who run it and the people are Spanish. They do of course speak excellent English but my husband who was watching the club the first day had to tell the girl to stop speaking Spanish and to accommodate the English speaking kids as well. She was definitley biased to the Spanish kids, and quite rude to the other kids. However she was only one girl and the rest of the entertainment team were welcoming to all.

The hotel is located in the new town and while it is near all the busy bars and clubs, we had no problem with noise. Personally I prefer the old town, it is much quainter, if I could move the Pelicanos to the old town I'be be happy.

I would thoroughly recommend this hotel and would definitley go back.

Just returned from another fantastic time in Benidorm, 2nd time stayed at this Hotel, (last time 8 yrs ago) It has somewhat improved, pools are excellent, location fab, weather was so good.

Only downside was restaurant in Pelicanos, food was good but very repetitive, and waiters practically non existant, we had to set and clear our own tables, I am sorry but in over 15 years of travelling I have never had to do this. Not enough tables big enough for 5 people most are for 2 or 4, so my family sometimes had to sit on 2 tables.

Good food and drinks can be found at John and josephs, just down the road, Frog and Toad good nite out also Steptoes 2 had a gud Elton John act, singing was good but banter the same everytime we called.

Waterpark worth a visit you can even swim with the sealions. Forget Terra Mitica yes nice place but they should ban spanish school kids only managed to get on 1 ride in 8 hrs there due to queues being over 60 - 90 mins waiting. Come on Spain you should let the genuine holidaymakers exclusively have these places on a certain day of the week, we for 1 spend the money inside the schoolkids just run from ride to ride.

I have done spain for 15 years but next year got to try somewhere different, yeh I love benidorm and spain but the Spanish just don't appreciate us !!

First choice are excellent to travel with. Room= we stayed in pelicanos and could not fault the room it was very clean and maids were in every day.
POOL= massive- loads of sunbeds but can get busy.
Reception= very friendly will do anything to help.
FOOD= gets very busy in dining room. food was nice but not much choice.
Would go back but in a couple of years.