REVIEW: AC Hotel by Marriott Alicante, Spain

I recently spent four nights at the AC by Marriott Alicante with my daughter as our first stop of a month travelling around Europe. I chose Alicante because of the convenience of direct flights from my nearest airport – Newquay, and because I could easily travel onwards to Barcelona to board our cruise.

People often don’t think of Alicante as a destination in itself, but in fact it has a good beach right in the centre, a long promenade and a lovely old town. You can read more about Alicante here.

I was looking for somewhere within walking distance of the beach and city centre and nearby bus and train stations that also had a breakfast option and a pool. The AC by Marriott Alicante ticked all our boxes. I also looked at the Melia Alicante, which is in a prime location, but prices had increased for the school holidays.

The Location of the AC by Marriott Hotel Alicante

The hotel’s location is the perfect blend of being in the heart of the city and being on the coast. A short walk from the hotel will take you to the Alicante bus station, the Marina and Plaza de España. After about 30 minutes, you’ll reach Postiguet Beach.

Walking behind the hotel, you can quickly get to the train station and the market in 20 minutes. The AC by Marriott is on the road that leads to Alicante-Elche Airport, and you can be there in 12 minutes.

Booking and Getting it for Less

I’ve been thinking of getting started with the Marriott loyalty program for a while now. I’ve built up my Accor Status. This 4-night trip was the perfect introduction. I booked a few weeks before because this was an add-on to a trip I already had booked.

I paid £404 for four nights in a standard room. Rooms are usually offered at £65-£189 depending on the time of year and room type. The stay ended up earning me 4,871 points.

After staying four nights, I need to stay another six nights at a Marriott property to level up to Silver Elite and benefit from priority late check-out, 10% more points on stays. You can also get silver status with the Marriott Bonvoy Amex card or the Platinum American Express card gives you Gold. 

For cheaper stays at Marriott properties, look out for PointsSavers discounts and stay five pay four offers. Booking with a travel agent can also get you a range of extra benefits.

You can check rates and availability here. 

Check-In

The check-in process was seamless. We arrived around 14:30, and our room was ready. We were given all the necessary information on breakfast, and the hotel facilities and the staff were amiable.

The reception area was very spacious and designed very well. I felt at home as soon as I stepped through the doors. It’s all very open, with the desk at one side and the bar and restaurant at the other. The entrance to breakfast is also here.

The Room

We were given a room on the second floor. The room was very practical and had space to walk around, as well as the beds, even when the beds were pushed apart.

There was also a nice lounge area in the corner. I loved the design of the bedside tables that could be moved and were made so nothing fell off! There were also plug sockets next to each bed.

We were welcomed with a cold bottle of cava, complimentary water, and delicious orange chocolates. A little pencil case had been left for my daughter with some coloured pencils inside. The letter had a complimentary drink token inside.

Other little extras included a fan and beach bag, which I loved using at the pool.

I definitely overpacked, and the storage space accommodated for that. There were ample tea and coffee options. I liked using the takeaway cups to enjoy a coffee on the go. Laundry service was available, but it was on a pay-per-item basis.

The view from the back of the hotel wasn’t quite the view from the pool on the top floor, but my daughter was pleased to see a park from the window.

The air conditioning worked very well, and we were never too hot. The staff also closed the curtains after cleaning to ensure the room didn’t heat up too much. We were travelling during a heatwave period, after all.

Minibar

A well-stocked minibar awaited us, offering an array of snacks and beverages. I didn’t initially plan to use the minibar, but I did have a Pepsi and a KitKat during my stay – as the prices were not too outrageous compared to somewhere like the US!

The Bathroom

Chic and pristine, the bathroom was spotless and had great amenities. I had forgotten to bring some of these, so they saved a trip to the shop. I was surprised to have a bath and shower, but this was perfect for us.

There were complimentary Korres shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. The conditioner is one of the best I’ve tried. The shower pressure was excellent, and I was refreshed from the flight and ready to explore.

The internet was high-speed, and switching to my mobile hotspot was unnecessary. I worked every evening, and there were never any issues.

Room Service

I wouldn’t recommend using the 24-hour room service. It was put together very quickly, and for the price of a ‘salad’ in a restaurant, it was just salad leaves and some bread. I did like the oil and seasoning containers, though. There is another room service menu for when the restaurant is open, which I’m sure would have been better.

Other Room Types at the AC by Marriott Alicante

While we stayed in a standard twin room, the hotel has a range of other room types, from spacious suites to rooms with panoramic city views.

• Standard Queen Guestroom and Triple Standard: These rooms are the same as the one I chose but with a queen bed or three singles.
• King Room with Sofa Bed: A larger room.
• Superior Queen: A room on a higher floor with a coffee machine and a larger room size.
• Family Junior Suite and King Junior Suite: A massive room with a coffee machine and seating area.

Facilities

The hotel pool was one of my main reasons for booking. It’s on the roof with panoramic views out to the sea of the cruise port and the Alicante cityscape, including the castle.

The pool was average size for a rooftop pool and surrounded by deckchairs. It wouldn’t necessarily be somewhere to spend an entire day, but it was perfect to return for a few hours after exploring the city or going on a day trip.

There was a mix of travellers at the hotel. There were couples and a small number of families on holiday and many people on business trips. Although children were allowed to stay, the pool atmosphere was very adult at certain times of the day.

The pool also had a snack bar and cocktail menu, and I had a delicious pina colada using my welcome drink voucher.

The hotel has a fitness centre on the 6th floor – perfect if you want to keep up with your workout routine. The fitness centre spans two storeys with a gym on one floor and a sauna and hot tub on the other. Both floors have large panoramic windows with fantastic sea views.

For business travellers, the hotel also has a well-equipped business centre on the ground floor. The hotel also has six meeting rooms, with the largest capacity of 250.

Underground parking is available for an extra cost.

Breakfast

Starting our day with the Marriott’s breakfast spread was a treat. The mix of continental and local options was excellent. There were some lovely cheeses and enough choices not to have the same thing every day. The seating was modern and spacious.

I love the coffee at the Marriott. There were two Nespresso coffee stations at opposite ends of the restaurant. One often had a queue, but a hidden one was on the other side! I liked the option to get a coffee to go at the end.

The staff were excellent. I found it hard to take photos because the staff were always hard at work making sure the breakfast was stocked up and the dirty plates were cleared away. 

The hot breakfast selection was not as impressive. There were always four options: sausages, beans, boiled vegetables and bacon. There was also a range of juices, including freshly squeezed orange juice and a large selection of pastries and doughnuts. 

Everything was presented very well. The breakfast experience was very relaxing and quiet compared to some larger hotels we stayed in throughout Spain.

The AC Restaurant and Bar

I didn’t get a chance to try the AC restaurant, but the menu looked lovely. The staff were very friendly when I asked for another ice bucket, and they opened my bottle. There was a mix of travellers at the hotel.

Final Words

The AC by Marriott is an excellent choice of hotel in Alicante. It was modern and comfortable and had everything needed to stay in Spain, whether on holiday, visiting Alicante with children or travelling for business. Aside from the need to improve the room service quality, I couldn’t fault the hotel. I would definitely return if I stayed in Alicante again.