We went for our trip just after the easter holidays and when we arrived we really couldn't believe how nice the hotel was for the price we paid. Apart from the climb up the already mentioned hill! (the management have said that they are trying to overcome the hill problem by building tennis courts at the back so as to build the back road up to an acceptable and accessible level.) Just to mention here that at the time of writing there are currently two short cuts to avoid the hill, one in the underground car park where the lift can take you up to your accomodation or a cut through to the outside pool level area where you can reach the lift by going either through the snack bar or the club room if that is closed.
We went as a couple of male friends and were a bit subdued to find the apartment had a huge double bed. This was overcome by myself sleeping on the pull out sofa, which was in fact huge and very very comfortable. I myself am 6ft 4 and my feet didn't touch the end!
The fittings in the apartments are very modern, as is all the hotel, and exceeded requirements. The bathroom was the real showpiece and a lovely but small furnished balcony with a sea view (if you stood up to look over the wall!) Everything was very clean and although the apartment was only cleaned once in the week it was very easy to look after. Bedding and towels were changed mid week.
We decided to eat in the restaurant on a couple of occasions and the food was probably some of the best hotel buffet food I had seen in a long time. Buffet style, including a vast range of fresh seafood, hot meals which included Duck in Orange, Braised steak, chicken in cream and mushrooms etc...The cost of the dinner is 12 euros (currently 8 pounds) and does include all your non alcoholic drinks. Breakfast is also extremely good at 8 euros and includes full english, german style cheese and ham, french pastries, cereals, toast and all the coffee you can float on!
Benalmadena itself is lovely, the area is constantly changing and more nitelife is being bought to the local area. We have to give a shout here to Chris and Ross at the "Ha'penny Bridge" Irish pub just down the road from the hotel. They were great with customers and always remembered drinks that you ordered etc..The Saturday night Karaoke session was a real hoot, with the guys giving away free cocktail shots for all the singers. A great pub for a large range of ages. Access to other areas from Benalmadena is very easy with a regular bus service either way on the coast road, or a train service which takes pretty much the same route, both of these are in fact a really cheap way of seeing torremolinos, marbella, malaga etc..
The hotel staff were very good and very professional but I feel the Airtours reps could have shown a bit more interest in their clients than was noticed.
Now onto the entertainment, they have starnge licensing laws in the area which means that there is no live music allowed after 12 midnight, even so a lot of the entertainment finished around 11pm, just as the 'happy hour' two for one offer starts at the bar. Now this seemed to kill the atmosphere stone dead with people leaving as there was nothing to do, whereas up to that point it had been exceedingly good and the entertainment that was there was pretty top notch. I hope that they sort this out because the lovely big club room seemed to be not being used to its full extent. Other entertainment includes the outside pool which was great, the indoor pool which was nice and bath like! The FREE jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and gym suite were a magnificent and unexpected bonus.
I really can't wait to go back!

We visited this hotel the week after easter. It is a long way from most of the sights and sounds of Benelmedna but it this may suit you fine.

The hill - yes it is long but take a ruckscak for carrying your shopping and it makes life easier!

At the bottom of the hill to your right there is Burger King - long queue and slow service, further round the coast (5min walk) is the best supermarket we found with a good range.

We did go SC but the hotel had an offer of 100Euros to upgrade to half board. So for

Slight incline is indeed a steep hill. Do not go here if you are unfit, you risk a heart attack.

We found the hotel itself very good. With the best facilities being the childrens club with Anjie who was great with the kids and the restaurant which was spotless clean with a good variety. Rooms small but adequate with good sized bathrooms.

It is a good idea to ask for a pool view as the others all have a very poor view of surrounding building sites.

On my arrival in Feb 2004 this hotel was still not fully completed but soon will be.

It has good size rooms, many with pool view, with all the required facilities, TV, microwave, hair dryers etc.

Located about 1 mile from the lovely port of Benalmadena, off the coast road towards Fuengirola, it is about 500m from the beach.

A word of warning, the brochure may say there's a sligh incline, that's the understatement of the year! Put it this way it may have a small though adequate gym, but you won't use it, just the walk back after a morning stroll and you will need to recover by the pool for the rest of the day! Even my car struggled to get up it, so if anyone has walking problems or in wheelchairs (as many people had on my visit) forget it!