Maria Victoria Apartamentos

We stayed in MARIA VICTORIA APARTMENTS 26th April - 3rd May 2012, as a couple, and would highly recommend it.

We arrived 8pm and the manager was there to help us to 2nd floor with our luggage. There were 2 lifts.

There was no problem with the 150 euros deposit which we already knew about from when our booking was made, I don't know why others are mentioning it as some kind of problem? It is standard throughout the town, some hotels even charge 200 euros. If you don't break anything, then you have nothing to worry about. I am sure they only do it because of bad/inconsiderate behaviour of previous guests.

We got a safety deposit box for 1.7 euros per day, located in wardrobe, and big enough to store a video camera. The hotel itself is very safe, with a key required to enter front door. We were given 2 keys.

Our apartment was lovely, bedroom had 2 single beds pushed together, there was a lounge, with a dining table, and a kitchen separated by a serving hatch. There was plenty equipment, (6 of everything, plates, cups) fridge, cooker, microwave, toaster, electric kettle.

There was also a very handy utility room with a large deep ceramic sink with built in washboard, ideal for hand washing of clothes, and with a small pulley overhead for drying clothes, which I am sure families will find very useful. There was also a mop and bucket, and a dustpan set. No need for cleaners to know every time you spill something, or drop crumbs!

The cleaners were due to come twice a week, but didnt come at all during our weeks stay, however, this did not bother us. We heard them, chatting noisily outside our door, (which was near lifts), so - we were able to get fresh towels from them as often as we wanted, which was nice.

The shower was super powerful, and the type you can use hand held, or in its holder.

The best thing about the hotel, in my opinion, and the main reason I chose this hotel, was the very spacious verandah, just perfect.

The pool, whilst small, was lovely, and was cleaned every night. As we were there slightly off season we had it to ourselves the 2 days we chose to use it. Bliss.

The location of apartments was just 500 metres from the Levante beach, and we had 2 supermarkets, and a great gift shop close by. The minimarket opposite hotel had internet, which was VERY, VERY cheap. They also had a telephone which we used to confirm our return shuttle pick up, and that call cost us just cents.

There were excellent restaurants nearby, 2 that I would mention are the DADO Burger bar (Dice), just a few minutes walk away, ideal for snacks, toasted sandwiches, pizzas, kebabs. Also the Taste of India restaurant. Pinocchio on main beach was great place for ice creams.

We also visited the 4 star "Sandos Monaco" hotel opposite to use their Spa, and had half hour body massages for 25 euros.

Check out time from apartments was 10am, but our pick up not until 4pm, however this was not a problem, they stored our luggage for us downstairs, and allowed us to use a toilet/shower room throughout the day.

I had read in many reviews that the staff didn't speak English, and I didn't see that as a problem. I have worked in many hotels here in UK, and I don't speak Spanish!. A phrasebook will get you by in most cases.

If it's such a big problem for tourists going to Benidorm, then there's always Blackpool.

We got our deposit back NO PROBLEM, after a quick inspection of the apartment by the manager. I was asked to take our rubbish, which we had placed in bins, outside to the industrial sized wheely bin at corner of hotel, which was not a problem, as I knew I was supposed to have done this during our stay, but hadn't.

Would we go back there?, YES, DEFINITELY, we will probably go again next year. For the price, it was excellent, we really couldn't fault it in any way.