A detailed comparison of 9 famous Benalmadena Hotels in the Puerto Marina area

July 17, 2024

Benalmadena Hotels Puerto Marina – Choosing among the many Hotels in Benalmadena may be a daunting task. Even if you already know that you want to be near the marina, there are still many options to choose from; for this reason, I’ve made this list comparing what each hotel has to offer, the details about each location and what people say about them – picking your favorite should be easy (or at least easier!) after reading this post!

The area

The marina is an area of Benalmadena beloved by locals and tourists. The harbor itself – Puerto Marina – that lends its name to the area, is a beautiful place, an open air shopping center with plenty of restaurants and bars, plus boats, gorgeous views and, more recently, plenty of day and nighttime entertainment events promoted by the administration of the harbor – there have been a gaming weekend, a party just for singles and a Japanese folklore day, to name just a few of the events that happened in 2024.

The biggest event that happens every year near the marina, though, is the Veladilla de la Virgen del Carmen, around July 16, a procession where hundreds of locals carry the statue of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of seaman and fisherman, through the streets and towards the sea. The date is celebrated by most coastal cities along the Costa del Sol, and because the puerto Marina is so close to Torremolinos, this location is ideal to enjoy the event in both Benalmadena and Torremolinos. Besides the procession itself, both places make several parties, with shows and food stalls.

Puerto Marina is located between Malapesquera Beach in Benalmadena and La Carihuela Beach in Torremolinos. This is one of the 9 neighborhoods we talked about in the 9 Benalmadenas. The hotels in this area provide easy access to both beaches and to their respective promenades, both delightful, full of people, light, sunshine and places to eat and refresh yourself with a delicious Mojito!

Related post:
The 9 Benalmadenas

How much does a taxi from the airport to the Puerto Marina area cost?

A taxi from the airport to the marina should cost somewhere around 25 to 30 euros. Most hotels offer airport shuttle, and you can check if their prices are worth it; there are plenty of taxis available in Malaga airport, so picking one should not be a problem at all.

Related post:
Taxis from Malaga airport

How to get to Benalmadena Pueblo and beyond from Puerto Marina?

One of the downsides of Puerto marina area is that its transportation options are rather limited. The train stations are quite far; your best bet would be either taxi / uber or the buses. You can get buses on Avenida Antonio Machado, which is the main avenue parallel to the sea in this area; the reception of the hotel where you’ll be staying can certainly point you towards the closest bus stop. That being said, I’ve added below links to the bus routes that pass on this avenue; on each linked page, you can also check their timetables, under “route table”. 😉

To Malaga: 110, 112
To Torremolinos: 110, 112, 120, 121, 123, 126
To Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmadena’s city center): 112, 121, 126
To Benalmadena Pueblo: 112, 121, 126
To Mijas Pueblo: 112, 121
To Fuengirola: 120

Unfortunately, though, I have to add that their timetables are less than reliable, a problem we all hope to see fixed as soon as possible.

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Transportation in the Costa del Sol
Bus and train cards in the Costa del Sol

The marina area is ideal for…

Couples, single travelers, people who want to enjoy the beaches and foodies. That is because it is a beautiful place with everything at hand; lots of places to eat and drink, great hotels that provide everything for a perfect stay, nice options of beaches and nighttime entertainment. If you want to travel to a mini-paradise and enjoy the place, it is an ideal location.

Vacation expectations vary a lot; there are those who want to explore as much as possible and those who would rather never leave the hotel premises – to each their own! Between those two groups, in my opinion the marina area would serve better the second – those that don’t plan to go around much, because 1) the marina transportation options consist of taxis and buses with unreliable hours and 2) the place is paradisiac, one can stay put very happily here!

The marina area is not ideal for…

People who want to explore the city or the Costa del Sol and golf-lovers; again, because of the transport limitations. To those that intend to explore the area, I’d suggest renting a car and choosing one of the hotels that offer parking space – in that case, the area will not impair your adventurous spirit at all. For those that are coming to the Costa del Sol with the intention of playing golf most of the days, I would suggest staying in an area closer to the greens.

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Is Puerto Marina good for families?

Yes and no. Let me explain: there is nothing bad for families in the area, but 1) there are areas with more options of leisure for kids in Benalmadena and 2) it really will depend on the age of the kids. For families with babies or toddlers, moving around is quite challenging if I recall correctly (I do, right? I had many a vacation where my plan was to move as little as possible away from the hotel when Kiddo was small, because I wanted to keep his sleeping and eating routine), so I believe the Benalmadena hotels in Puerto Marina area could actually be a perfect choice, as they have food, pools and beaches at hand.

For families with bigger kids, I believe it is worth checking the hotels near the La Paloma Park as well, before making a decision. There are hotels between the park and the beach, close to both, which would probably offer more entertainment options and variety for the kids. Anyway, vacations are for the parents too, and I doubt any kid would complain about beach and pool holidays!

It is hard to go wrong when picking Benalmadena as a holiday destination, but there are hotels that don’t even accept kids, while others welcome them. In this post I point out who is who and make sure kid’s facilities are highlighted when present. 😉

Related post:
Benalmadena for kids!

Benalmadena hotels at Puerto Marina

I’ve created a list on Google Maps where the 9 hotels we are discussing in this post are marked. The image above is from that list; click on the image or here to see the list bigger and interact with it on Google Maps. There, besides having a good view of their locations, you can click on the name of each hotel on the left side, then put your planned dates on each one of them and see availability, prices and even compare the best places from where to book your reservation! You’re welcome.

But let’s get started!

The first three hotels below are the closest you can get to the Marina. The first one – Hotel Mac Puerto Marina – is pretty much in the Marina, and very close to Torremolinos’ Carihuela Beach; in terms of location, it is hard to be better than here! The other two – Hotel Palmasol and Hotel Alay – are located in streets close to the Marina, but with not much else going around. These last two, though, offer an easier access to Antonio Machado Avenue, the main street of this region, where it is possible to take either a bus or a taxi to other parts of the town or to neighbor towns.

Hotel Mac Puerto Marina – 4⭐

The Hotel Mac Puerto Marina sits in a privileged location, by Benalmadena’s Marina and very close to Torremolinos’ Carihuela beach. It is a large hotel, with indoor and outdoor pools. There is also a pool for kids (30 cm deep), sauna, fitness center and evening entertainment by the restaurant area. The bedrooms have both air conditioning and ceiling fan and satellite TV – for those that don’t want to miss their favorite TV shows while abroad.

Mac Puerto Marina offers room only, room and breakfast or half board accommodations, which here includes breakfast and dinner. Their rooms are about 25m². Smoking is allowed in exterior areas and terraces, but not in interior areas. They offer luggage storage before check-in (which starts at 2:00 pm) and after check-out (at noon) at no extra cost – quite useful if you plane leaves at 9 pm, for instance; instead of paying an extra day, you can vacate the room at noon, store your luggage there and go sightseeing until the time to depart to the airport. Late check-outs are also possible, but subject to room availability.

Like most hotels, Mac Puerto Marina offers discounts when booking directly through their website; they also offer an extra 10% discount when booking without the option of cancelation and 15% discount when booking months ahead. Golf courses green fees can be arranged by the reception desk, and some with special discounts for guests. For more information, check Hotel Mac Puerto Marina’s website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and Mac Puerto Marina’s Facebook page or, to compare prices with other hotels in the area, check our list.

Hotel Palmasol – 4⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	❌ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
❌ Beach front	✅ Room service	✅ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	✅ Airport shuttle	✅ Spa

Hotel Palmasol is in the Avenida del Mar, very close to the marina of Benalmadena. Going to the beach from here requires a small walk (about 10 minutes). It has a pool, a kid’s pool, a jacuzzi, a spa area with a climatized, indoor pool and sauna and some green in its outdoor area, as well as a restaurant and two bars.

Palmasol hotel caters to families with kids: their restaurant offers a kids’ buffet and they have the palmy club, with activities for kids. There is also an entertainment team in charge of keeping people of all ages busy, and some golf-related packages. The accommodation options include room only, room and breakfast, half board and all-inclusive, and their rooms size are about 14m² to 16m². Check-in starts at 4:00 pm and check-out is up to noon, with the possibility of luggage storage.

Palmasol has a conference room that can be rented, with or without catering, as well as co-working space. What is more unique about Palmasol is that they have bicycle parking facilities, as well as areas for repairing and cleaning bicycles! For more information, check Hotel Palmasol website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and Palmasol Facebook page or check our list to compare prices with other hotels in the area.

Hotel Alay – 4⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	✅ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	✅ Pet-friendly
❌ Beach front	✅ Room service	❌ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	❌ Airport shuttle	✅ Spa

The Hotel Alay does not accept kids under 16 years old as guests; it welcomes dogs, though, and even it has bedrooms adapted to the pets, with dog beds and feeder, as well as contacts for nearby veterinarians and disposable bags in the entrance of the hotel. Alay is in the avenue of the same name, right by the Marina and close to the beach and the promenade (about or less than 5 minutes walking). The hotel is not directly by the beach, but they offer the possibility of reserving a sun bed on the nearby beach at a charge.

Hotel Alay offers two outdoor pools with hammocks and a small green area, as well as hot tubs and sauna, a restaurant and two bars among the hotel facilities. The rooms sizes vary from 17m² (standard room) to 80 m² (king room); it is possible to have room and breakfast or half board. Check-in starts from 02:00 pm and check out is up to noon.

For more information, check Hotel Alay website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and Hotel Alay Facebook page or check our list to compare prices with other hotels in the area.

Continuing our review of Benalmadena hotels by the Marina area, let’s check these next three hotels, that put their guests practically in the sand. They all face the promenade, with gorgeous views and access to Malapesquera Beach – a great place to enjoy some of the best entertainment and amenities Benalmadena offers.

Hotel Best Tritón – 4⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	✅ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
✅ Beach front	❌ Room service	✅ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	✅ Airport shuttle	✅ Spa

Hotel Triton was closed for renovation (more like rebuilding!) for a very long time, and finally reopened in June 2024. In a sense, they are a brand-new hotel with a lot of experience under their belt – and a desperate urge to recover costs, probably. The new Triton is fantastic. They have several pools: one surrounded by sun beds, one for kids, with a pirate boat and small slides and a third pool with a movable cover – indoor and outdoor depending on the day. What a luxury! On top of that, there are indoor pools in the spa.

Best Tritón’s location is beachfront, with direct access to Benalmadena’s promenade. They have lots of hammocks in their extensive open area and terrace, some overlooking the beach, day and night entertainment program, luggage storage, parking, 24-hour reception, restaurant, pool bar and fitness room. It is a great place for family vacations, and the little ones will thank you forever for this choice.

While the location and the outdoor facilities of Hotel Triton are hard to beat, the rooms are not as impressive. There is nothing essentially wrong with them – they do offer satellite TV and a safe, and there are supports in the shower for people with limited mobility, but the whole wooden decor seems to be lacking the same kind of wow factor that the exterior provides. It is possible to book only the room, room and breakfast, half board or full board at Hotel Best Tritón. Check-in time starts from 2:00 pm and check out is up to noon.

For more information, check Hotel Best Triton website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and Best Triton Facebook page or check our list to compare prices with other hotels in the area.

MedPlaya Hotel Riviera / Tui blue Riviera – 4⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	✅ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
✅ Beach front	❌ Room service	❌ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	❌ Airport shuttle	✅ Spa

Much like Clark Kent and Superman are the same person, so MedPlaya Hotel Riviera and Tui Blue Riviera are one and the same hotel. It (they?) has two websites and, on-line, looks like two hotels, go figure. This beautiful hotel is located right between Antonio Machado Avenue and the beach, a fantastic location where you can get the best of the town. It doesn’t accept kids under 16 years old, though, nor pets.

In the outdoor area of the Riviera Hotel there are one pool, a small solarium with an (artificial) green area and several hammocks – though people generally complain that the hammocks are all taken early in the morning; inside there is a spa and a gym, as well as a restaurant. There is entertainment – live music – every day. The accommodation options are room and breakfast or half board; check-in time is from 2:00 pm and check out time is up to noon. It is possible to store luggage there after checking out, and it is worth noticing that, even though there is a parking lot, it is limited, and cannot be booked in advance.

For more information, check MedPlaya Hotel Riviera website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) as well as Tui Blue Riviera (2 in 1, remember?) and Tui Blue Riviera Facebook page or MedPlaya Hotel Riviera Facebook page. To compare prices with other hotels in the area, check our list.

Sentido Benalmadena Beach – 4⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	✅ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
✅ Beach front	❌ Room service	✅ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	✅ Airport shuttle	✅ Spa

The beachfront Sentido Benalmadena Beach is located right by the hotel Riviera and, like its neighbor, enjoys a privileged location between Antonio Machado Avenue and the beach. The hotel offers one outdoor pool, one indoor pool, spa and fitness facilities, as well as restaurants and bars, including a rooftop bar that opens every night, with beautiful views of the marina and the beach, that guests love. It does accept children but has no sort of special facility dedicated to them, such as a playground or kid’s pool.

Accommodation options are room only, room and breakfast or half board; check-in time starts at 3:00 pm, but can be earlier and free of charge if there is availability; check out time is up to noon. Smoking is not allowed either in the rooms or in common areas of the hotel. Sentido Benalmadena Beach guarantees that you will get the best price when booking directly on their website. For more information, check Benalmadena Beach website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and, to compare prices with other hotels in the area, check our list.

Our final three hotels are on the second line of the shore and hold close proximity to the beach. They can be a good compromise between price and beach accessibility:

Apartamentos Doramar – 3⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	❌ Parking
❌ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
❌ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
❌ Beach front	❌ Room service	✅ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	✅ Airport shuttle	❌ Spa

Doramar used to be a residential building; then it was bought in full and changed into vacation rental apartments, creating a hotel / vacation rental hybrid. It does mix the advantages of a hotel, like the possibility of having breakfast in place and 24-hour reception, with the extra indoor space of a vacation rental – mini-kitchen included. It is the most affordable option on this list and can be a good fit for longer stays.

It is in the second line from the beach, close to the shore, several shops and also close to a taxi stand and to the Antonio Machado Avenue. Parking is more than challenging, but if you must, there is a paid parking lot not too far from this location. The in-place amenities are limited to a small pool, a convenience store and a bar / restaurant with karaoke (called El Dorado). Yes, there is a karaoke here, which probably means that you shouldn’t book a room on the lower floors, unless you do want to hear karaoke music all night long…

Their website is not updated – it mentions the possibility of restrictions for summer 2020 and Tivoli Park (closed since 2021) as a place of interest – so direct contact is recommended before booking, to confirm current conditions and to make sure you stay in an upper floor. The apartments have no balconies; check in time starts at 5:00 pm and check out is up to 10:30 am. For more information, check the very outdated Hotel Doramar webpage (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and, to compare prices with other hotels in the area, check our list.

Hotel Best Siroco – 4⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	✅ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
❌ Beach front	❌ Room service	✅ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	✅ Airport shuttle	❌ Spa

Best Siroco is a beloved and traditional hotel right across from Hotel Triton. It occupies a large plot of land and has several different accesses, including one directly to Antonio Machado Avenue, making it easy both to get a bus and to go to the beach. It has a large garden space, 3 pools, being one for kids, and several hammocks – still, not always enough for all the guests that want one during high season. There is a small paid parking lot on the premises, but it cannot be booked ahead. Hotel Siroco offers entertainment for both adults and kids, including a playground.

All rooms include satellite TV, but lots of people recommend picking the premium rooms, as they have better views and other amenities, such as coffee and tea in the rooms. It is possible to book just the room, room and breakfast, half board, or full board; check-in time starts from 2:00 pm and check out is up to noon, with the possibility of luggage storage.

For more information, check Hotel Siroco website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and Best Siroco Facebook page or, to compare prices with other hotels in the area, check our list.

MedPlaya Hotel Bali – 3⭐

✅ Free Wi-Fi	✅ Bar	✅ Parking
✅ Wheelchair accessible	✅ Pool	✅ Air-conditioned
✅ Fitness center	❌ Business center	❌ Pet-friendly
❌ Beach front	❌ Room service	✅ Kid-friendly
✅ Restaurant	❌ Airport shuttle	❌ Spa

The main complaint about Hotel Bali is its location. It is not that it is far from the beach – it is actually close, but the road that needs to be climbed on the way back, the Telefonica Avenue (Avenida de la Telefonica) is quite steep; it is known in Benalmadena as Cardiac Hill, so you can have an idea. There are also some comments about the pool not being clean enough and about the food being repetitive. Still, there are lots of people who love this hotel, and for each one that complains about dirt, there are three that say it is clean; and many come back every year – maybe because they can find hammocks available!!

Bali hotel has two outdoor pools for adults and one for children, this last one with waterpark-like structures. There is also a playground near the kids’ pool, a game room and compact minigolfs by one of the adult’s pools, as well as entertainment. The interior of the hotel has been renovated recently, which is always a good thing; check in time starts at 2:00 pm and check out time is until noon. The hotel offers parking and luggage storage lockers.

The accommodations possibilities are room and breakfast, half board, full board, all-inclusive and all-inclusive premium. What do they mean by that? Well, the all-inclusive is the full board plus snacks and beverages; the all inclusive premium adds “special snacks”, ice cream and premium beverages, basically… please don’t ask me what are special snacks, I have no clue. For more information, check MedPlaya Hotel Bali website (source of all images of this hotel in this post) and Hotel Bali Facebook page or, to compare prices with other hotels in the area, check our list.

Conclusion

The Puerto Marina area is a vibrant and picturesque location, ideal for a variety of travelers. Its charm lies not only in its beautiful Marina and beaches but also in the array of entertainment and dining options available. The events and festivals, like the annual Veladilla de la Virgen del Carmen, add a cultural touch that enhances the overall experience.

With a variety of options catering to different preferences, from family-friendly resorts to adults-only retreats, there’s something for every traveler in the Puerto Marina area. Whether you prioritize proximity to the marina, beach access, price or specific amenities, this detailed comparison should help you find a hotel that matches your needs.

Ultimately, Benalmadena offers a wonderful mix of relaxation and excitement. And if you are willing to unwind by the beach, the hotels in Puerto Marina provide a great base for your holiday. I hope this guide has been helpful in making your decision easier, and I wish you a fantastic stay in Benalmadena!

Next: 7 great places for Culture in Benalmadena