OUR STAY AT MAGIC CRISTAL PARK | BENIDORM

 We have recently got back from a week away in Benidorm. We booked the Magic Cristal Park hotel last minute, when I say last minute I mean 2 days before we were due to fly!. Reviews were really mixed so I wanted to give my thoughts on our stay here.

CHECK-IN

We arrived earlier than our check-in but were given a pass so we could use all the facilities beforehand - pool, inclusive food and drink. We took this time to have a drink and take a look around the hotel.

POOL

The first thing I wanted to check was the pools after seeing the reviews. The main pool is on floor 7 and is under a rooftop. It is essentially an indoor pool. Half of the pool is shaded and the other half does get a bit of sunlight. There are chairs around the pool but the sun loungers are on the rooftop.

The children's pool is on floor 5. It is advertised as a waterpark, but it's a pool, quite small with two slides for ages probably no older than Nila, she is 7.

 I say this because the sides of the pool are quite close to the end of the slides and a few of the children who were bigger and using it hurt themselves.

I was a little disappointed when I noticed there were no sun loungers by the main pool, but we thoroughly enjoyed the pools. When Alessia and I, my other daughter who is 15, wanted to sit on the sun loungers and read, my partner and Nila would play in the pool.

There is a play park which is right next to the children's pool, but because it is so close, the children go straight on it after being in the pool, so it is constantly wet.

ROOM

Our room had a bathroom with a bath and overhead big shower. An open plan room/living area with two big double beds so we had to sleep in the same room, which we would have preferred separate rooms.

Tea and coffee facilities and a fridge to keep our water cool. Air con, which was needed and a really big window with a view of the city.

Very clean room. Housekeeping came in every day with clean towels, bedding and toilet roll. They didn't empty the rubbish bins or take cups away, but all in all was very happy with the service.

ENTERTAINMENT 

On arrival, we noticed the entertainment boards were full of things to do for the children and evening entertainment. A games room, singing and dancing clubs, make your own Tiara, they had so much on and it looked amazing.

After going to a few of these, it was clear that all the entertainment was in Spanish and none of it was translated into English. This was quite a big issue and a few of the other holidaymakers pointed this out, such a shame as the hotel had so much going on but unfortunately, we didn't understand any of it and therefore the children missed out.

FOOD

We went all-inclusive so food, drinks and a snack bar were available to us all day. I really enjoyed the food. Breakfast was pastries, fruit and cooked breakfast style. Lunches and dinners varied, I had seafood paella one evening which was delicious.

If you have fussy eaters there are always chips, pasta, pizza, sausages and chicken nuggets on the menu.

Coffee, Pepsi, Fanta, water, pineapple juice, milkshakes, lots of drink options.

CHECK OUT 

12pm checkout, which was perfect for us as our transfer was for 1pm. If you are waiting around the hotel for a while after your check out then do get yourself a few drinks and a snack before you do as your wristbands get taken off of you when you check out.

EXTRAS

The hotel is situated in the old town of Benidorm. You are on top of the town which was perfect for us. We had a day out shopping, the shops are a 5-minute walk. The beach is 7-minute walk. So many coffee shops and shops for the children to look in and pick some souvenirs.

The hotel has vending machines and little toy dispenser games for 1 euro which Nila enjoyed collecting after dinner.

Bus stop and taxi service are right outside the hotel.The waterparks/zoos are really close. 10 minutes in a taxi costing under 10 euros to get to Aqualandia.

We had a lovely week here exploring, but unfortunately, we wouldn't stay again purely down to the entertainment , other than that, it would be the perfect family getaway.