Sol Pelícanos Ocas by Meliá: My Honest Review After Staying in Benidorm
By Javier Sobrino
Travel expert and founder
Benidorm has a recurring problem with its hotels: tall towers with tiny pools because they don’t have the land. The Sol Pelícanos Ocas by Meliá is the exception. Two buildings, two large pool areas, palm trees, terraces and plenty of space. For being right in Benidorm, it’s a luxury you don’t expect from a three-star hotel.
After staying for several days, here’s what’s worth it, what needs improvement and whether it really holds up against other options in the area.
My quick verdict
We give it a 7.9 out of 10 . It’s not a luxury hotel, nor does it pretend to be. But it has the largest pools we’ve seen in a three-star hotel in Benidorm, food that surprises for the category and a location less than 5 minutes from Levante Beach.
It works for families with kids, groups of friends and also couples. If you want something quieter and more polished, the Meliá Benidorm (4 stars, a few minutes’ walk away) might be a better option at a similar price.
Pros and Cons
The good
- Huge pools: two separate zones with outdoor jacuzzis, lake-style pools and a clear families/adults split.
- Surprisingly good food: the salad bar is on par with many four-star hotels (salmon, trout, burrata).
- Location: 3-4 minutes from Levante Beach, bars and nightlife.
- Generous all-inclusive: not just cocktails. You get ice cream, crêpes, fresh fruit and hot food.
The bad
- Slow lifts: often faster to walk down from upper floors.
- Bed and pillows: spring mattress and budget pillows for a hotel from this chain.
- No pool towels included: bring your own or buy them downstairs. For a Meliá property, that’s a letdown.
- Check-in queues: mid-May already meant waiting. July-August will be worse.
Did you know?
Location and first impressions
The hotel is on the second line of Levante Beach. A 3-4 minute walk gets you to the sand, the promenade or the bar and restaurant strip.
The lobby feels better than what you’d expect from a three-star in Benidorm. You can tell they’ve updated furniture and decor in some areas. It’s not luxury, but the first impression is decent.
Worth knowing
Reception isn’t big enough for the size of the hotel. In mid-May we already had to wait to check in. During peak season (July, August) queues will be obvious even with extra staff.
The lifts are one of the weakest points. There are several, but they’re slow. Sometimes they’d pass our floor without opening. Other times they took a while to arrive. We were on the 10th floor and walked down several times because it was faster.
It doesn’t ruin the experience, but in a hotel with this many rooms it should be a priority.
The room and bathroom
Room
For a three-star hotel, the room is fine. Enough space, functional layout and clean.
What we liked least was the bed. Spring mattress and pillows that clearly belong in a three-star. You won’t sleep badly, but the difference with the Meliá Benidorm (4 stars, very similar price) is obvious the moment you lie down.
Depending on the room, you might get views of one of the pool areas. We got one with good views, which always helps.
Bathroom
The bathroom does the job. Nothing notably negative, but nothing standout either.
The dispensers have shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, but some products feel practically the same. I’d prefer a proper shower gel and a separate shampoo.
Watch out for the towels
You can’t use room towels at the pool. Bring your own or buy them at the shops downstairs. For a Meliá brand hotel, that’s a disappointing detail regardless of it being three stars.
Food: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Lunch and dinner surprised us in a good way. In a three-star hotel you don’t expect burrata, fresh salmon or trout at the salad station, but here they’re there.
Best parts of the buffet
The salad bar is one of the best we’ve seen in a hotel of this category. Plenty of ingredients: several types of fish (salmon, trout), pasta, meats, good-quality charcuterie, tasty burrata, sun-dried tomatoes and lots of options to build something substantial.
There were also freshly grilled meats and fish that were very good for a three-star.
What could improve
Some pre-made items are weak: nuggets, frozen chips and low-quality fried food. The buffet isn’t all at the same level. It’s a mix: some things very well done and others more basic.
Desserts are average. Plenty of industrial pastries and sweet treats, but not a strong point.
Breakfast is a step down
Compared to lunch and dinner, breakfast falls short. There’s plenty of variety if you have a sweet tooth (lots of pastries and full English breakfast options), but we missed more healthy choices and better quality in some areas.
It’s not bad, but it doesn’t impress like lunch or dinner.
All-inclusive: is it worth it?
If you go all-inclusive, the poolside chiringuito has a lounge area where you can grab quite a lot. This isn’t the typical all-inclusive of cocktails and not much else.
You get pastries, ice cream, fresh fruit, sweets, crêpe options and hot food. And it’s not just chips and burgers — there’s more variety than that.
Key takeaway
The all-inclusive here has more variety than the usual three-star standard. If you plan to spend the day by the pool, it pays off compared to paying for individual drinks and snacks.
Pools: the best part of the hotel
For me, the pools are the strongest point of Sol Pelícanos Ocas. And that’s not minor — it’s probably what sets it apart from other three-star hotels in Benidorm.
The hotel has two large separate zones :
Family zone
Designed for families with young children. It has kids’ pools, a fairly large outdoor mini-club, playgrounds and a full entertainment programme throughout the day.
Adults zone
Much larger, with a couples and friends atmosphere. The main pool is lake-style , with several water areas and at least three outdoor jacuzzis that are quite spacious and separated from each other.
There are plenty of sunbeds and garden areas with palm trees and natural shade.
Why it works
Having two separate zones, the hotel manages something few achieve in Benidorm: families with kids on one side, adult atmosphere on the other. No conflict, no cross-noise.
Who is this hotel for?
Families with kids
Kids’ pools, mini-club, table tennis, playgrounds and activities every day of the week. Children will be entertained throughout their stay.
That said, it’s not a resort with big water slides or as complete an experience as more specialised family hotels. For a hotel right in Benidorm, it does well.
Groups of friends
It works very well. You have the large pool area, jacuzzis, poolside bar, billiards, games rooms and live music in the evening.
There are also sangria and cocktail-making workshops, which adds a nice touch if you enjoy poolside drinks.
The atmosphere inside the hotel is relaxed. There were groups of friends, but we didn’t see anyone drinking too much or causing trouble.
Couples
It can work, especially if you want good pools, location and a reasonable price. But if you’re after something quieter, more polished with a boutique feel, the Meliá Benidorm (4 stars, a few minutes’ walk away) is probably the better choice at a very similar price.
Check the price before you book
Beach and surroundings
Levante Beach is less than a 5-minute walk away. It’s a wide beach with plenty going on around it: bars, restaurants, daytime and nightlife.
If you like Levante’s atmosphere, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re after absolute peace and quiet, it might not be your favourite area, especially in July and August.
Outside the hotel you have everything: bars, clubs, restaurants and nightlife within a short walk.
Staff
Staff were fine without being remarkable. We didn’t have an “wow, what amazing service” moment, but nothing bad either.
The entertainment team deserves good marks. They’re visibly active with activities throughout the day. We played several games with the animator Miriam and it was good fun.
The rest of the staff was correct and functional.
Scores and final verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Cleanliness | 9 |
| Bed and pillows | 7 |
| Bathroom | 7.5 |
| Breakfast | 7.5 |
| Lunch and dinner | 8 |
| All-inclusive | 8.5 |
| Pools | 9 |
| Kids facilities | 8 |
| Adults facilities | 8 |
| Location and beach | 7 |
| Staff | 8 |
Average score: 7.9 out of 10.
The Final Verdict
For whom do I recommend it?
Perfect For
- You want a hotel in Benidorm with great pools without paying four-star prices.
- You're travelling with family or friends and want a vibe that works for both.
- You're interested in an all-inclusive with real variety, not just cocktails.
- You want to be close to Levante Beach and the nightlife without needing a car.
Skip It If
- You want a quiet, polished hotel for a couple's trip. In that case, the Meliá Benidorm (4 stars) at a similar price is the better bet.
- You want big water slides or a resort with its own water park.
- The quality of the bed and pillows is a priority for you. These are standard three-star fare.
- You expect pool towels included . Here you'll need to bring your own or buy them.