Escape to Paradise: Hotel Torre San Juan, Alicante's Hidden Gem
Escape to Paradise? Hotel Torre San Juan, Alicante: A Messy, Honest Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from a whirlwind stay at Hotel Torre San Juan in Alicante, and I'm still trying to untangle the towel threads from my brain. This isn’t your sanitized, corporate brochure review. This is real, people. Brace yourselves.
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Accessibility: (Okay, THIS is important!)
- Wheelchair Accessible: They say they are, and I think they are. Elevators are there (thank god!), and I saw ramps. However, truth be told, I didn’t test this extensively. Someone else needs to give a thorough verdict on the true, everyday accessibility – I'm not the most qualified to assess. But the initial impression was promising.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: See above, plus they seemed to be trying. I’d recommend double-checking specific room accommodations directly with the hotel.
First Impressions & That Frustrating Check-In (And Some Early Highs):
So, the photos online lie - it’s not that the Hotel Torre San Juan is ugly, more like the photos were expertly filtered! It's a bit less glam, a bit more… “solid.” But the location? Stunning. Right on the beach, the sea shimmering… Okay, breath. First hurdle, checking In.
- Contactless check in/out: This was slick. Needed it after the travel! So thumbs up.
- Private check-in/out? Yes, if paying for the right room apparently.
The Room – Where the Magic (and the Minor Annoyances) Happen:
Okay, let's be real – I booked what I thought was a fancy-pants room. Arrived to a room that was a bit older than I expected, with a distinct "grandma's condo" vibe. The views out to the ocean though, made my jaw drop. They really were incredible. This has to be my favorite room aspect!
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning (thank god!) was blasting! Coffee/tea maker, a decent hairdryer (not the kind that sputters and gives up after 2 minutes)
- Essential Goodies: Free bottled water (yes!), bathrobes, and slippers (always appreciated).
- The Little Things: A decent desk to work from, which was awesome. Sockets conveniently by the bed, a reading light… they’ve thought of most things.
But, and there is always a ‘but’, the bed was too soft. I like a firm mattress, this was a sinking sensation. The blackout curtains though? Excellent. Solid blackout. Also the internet wasn't the quickest, but it was there (Wi-Fi [free] in all rooms!), so I can only complain so much.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Good, the Bad, and the Breadbasket:
- Breakfast: Breakfast buffet. A solid, standard buffet. You get the usual things – omelets, a small continental selection… but there’s also a fantastic selection of fresh cold cuts and cheese! I got there early, and grabbed some coffee. It was nice.
- Restaurants, Bar & Poolside Bar: I didn’t eat at the main restaurant, but the poolside bar was great! Beers and little tapas… perfect after a long day.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes! Ordered late-night tapas, and it arrived surprisingly fast. And the food was pretty good!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Finding My Zen (and My Inner Critic):
- Swimming Pool [outdoor]: This is where the Hotel Torre San Juan truly nails it. The pool? Gorgeous. Infinity edge, with the sea stretching out into the distance. The Pool with view?? ABSOLUTELY. I spent HOURS lounging by the pool, reading and soaking up the sun. Pure bliss.
- Spa/sauna: I did use the spa. Wanted a massage (Massage)… It was good. Not earth-shattering, not life-changing, but it did the trick after a long day. There were also a sauna, steamroom, and foot bath, which I did not try.
- Fitness Center/Gym/fitness: It's there. I didn’t go. Shame-faced emoji.
Cleanliness & Safety – COVID-19 Edition (The Overwhelm):
Okay, this is where things get a little confusing. I feel like they tried hard to be COVID-safe. They had:
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Pretty sure.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Yep.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Probably.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Certainly.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Likely.
But, and this is just me, the sheer amount of cleaning felt a little… overwhelming. You could feel the anxiety from all of the staff. It was a bit like being in a sterile bubble, which, on one hand, is reassuring… on the other, takes away from the relaxed, holiday atmosphere. At least there weren't some of the annoying aspects that can occur in hotels with the new cleaning protocols that you do not need to worry about!
Services and Conveniences – The Good with a Side of "Meh":
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Dry cleaning/Laundry service: Perfect.
- Daily housekeeping: Spotless.
- Car park [free of charge]: A big plus, especially in Alicante.
- Cash withdrawal: Yes.
- Elevator: Yes.
The rest? Ehh. Useful, but not particularly memorable.
- Airport transfer: Excellent to get to the airport.
- Babysitting service: Not for me, but it's there.
For the Kids – I Am Not Qualified to Comment:
I have no kids. But, hotel seemed family-friendly. (Family/child friendly).
Getting Around – Easy Peasy:
- Taxi service: Easy to grab a cab.
- Car park [on-site]: Again, a big plus for parking.
- Bicycle parking: Yes.
The Bottom Line – Is it Paradise?
I wouldn’t call it pure "paradise". It's a solid hotel, but more in a comfortable way! The location is the undisputed star. Absolutely magical. The pool is a dream. The staff are generally lovely. The room, while nice, lacked a bit of that wow factor. And the COVID precautions, while reassuring, felt a bit… clinical.
Would I go back? Probably. Especially if I wanted a relaxing beach getaway. Just maybe with slightly lower expectations, and a firmer mattress! If you need a no-nonsense, pretty excellent beach hotel, this one is the way to go!
Final Verdict: A strong 4 out of 5 Stars (with a note to bring your own mattress topper).
Luxury Getaway: Unwind at DoubleTree Lawrenceburg (IN)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this itinerary is less a polished travel guide and more like a diary scratched onto a napkin after way too much sangria. We're hitting Hotel Torre San Juan in San Juan de Alicante, Spain. Prepare for a rollercoaster.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Paella Panic
Morning (aka, when the sun starts yelling at me): Flight lands in Alicante. Jet lag is already a beast. The airport, bless its heart, is a bit… chaotic. Found my luggage mostly intact, which is a small miracle considering my usual travel luck. Taxi ride to the hotel. First impressions of the Hotel Torre San Juan: Clean. Modern. Feels a little…corporate. But hey, AC? Sold.
Afternoon: Check-in is smooth, bless the receptionist's soul. She probably deals with more than I do with my cat on a Tuesday. Dump my stuff and head to the beach. Beautiful. The Mediterranean is all that. Spent a glorious hour just staring at the waves and letting the Spanish sun bake out the travel grumps.
Evening: Paella. The Quest For Perfection (and avoiding food poisoning). Okay, so I built this trip around paella. It's my thing. Found a restaurant near the hotel (more on that later). I was SO excited, and, of course, everything started with the most stressful part: ordering. My Spanish is, let's say, rudimentary. I think I accidentally ordered the entire menu at one point. Finally, the paella arrives. And… it's… okay. Look, I'm no food critic, but it was a bit… bland. The rice was a little too al dente. Now, I'm not saying I got food poisoning, but let's just say I made very fast friends with the hotel bathroom that night. Note to self: practice your Spanish, particularly for "Can I have a bit more chorizo, please?" and "Is this… fresh?"
Day 2: Beach Bliss and a Shopping Spree (that may or may not have happened)
Morning: Recovered from the paella trauma (mostly), and back on the beach. This time, I found a little chiringuito (beach bar – heaven!). Ordered a coffee and just… chilled. The salty air, the sound of the waves… pure bliss. Watching the locals, you know, the real locals, playing paddleball. I tried it and I can’t say I’ll be going pro anytime soon. More like amateur hour.
Afternoon: Decided to hit the shops. I'm a sucker for a good souvenir. San Juan de Alicante has some cute little boutiques and art galleries. I got distracted by shoes. Let's just say that a pair of bright red espadrilles now live in my suitcase. My wallet is weeping quietly.
Evening: Dinner at a different restaurant. This time, I consulted TripAdvisor. I found a gorgeous restaurant with fantastic reviews. It was a bit outside the hotel, but so worth it! Delicious food. The service was impeccable. And this time, the paella was actually amazing!!!! It was like my taste buds had a party, and everyone was invited. I was honestly on cloud nine.
Day 3: Exploring and The Great Climb
Morning: Decided to rent a bike and cycle along the coastline. Okay, maybe "cycle" is too strong a word. More like, "wobbled precariously along the coastline, hoping not to take out any cyclists. The views were absolutely stunning. The wind was whipping in my hair. I felt… free. Until I almost crashed into a small dog. I’m not good with animals.
Afternoon: The Castle of Santa Barbara (Castillo de Santa Bárbara) beckoned. I’d read it was quite the climb. Reader, it was. It's a hike up, folks! But the view from the top… Oh. My. God. Utterly breathtaking. You could see the whole city, the coastline, the sea… everything. I’m not usually a "view" person, but this was worth the sweat and the near-cardiac arrest. Sat up there for nearly an hour just soaking it all in. This is why you travel!
Evening: More sangria. Because, why not? Found a little tapas bar in the old town of Alicante. The atmosphere was amazing. The tapas were delicious. The sangria flowed like the river. I made friends with a local couple, who regaled me with stories about the area. I think they were trying to teach me some local slang. Let's just say my Spanish vocabulary increased exponentially. Maybe I should just stick with English.
Day 4: Day Trip Delight (and Possibly Getting Lost)
Morning: Planned a day trip. I’d heard great things about a nearby town called Guadalest. Organized transport went well!
Afternoon: The drive was stunning. The scenery - incredible. Guadalest itself is utterly charming. It has a castle, a reservoir with brilliant blue water, and a whole lot of quaint shops. I bought a painting - too many regrets!
Evening: On the way back, I was very, very tired. I accidentally fell asleep. I woke up, disoriented, with a feeling of dread. The bus had taken a wrong turn! Of course. I'm getting good at this. I ended up in a completely different town, which was a complete shock. Back to the hotel and bed. Exhausted.
Day 5: Departure (and the bittersweet feeling of leaving paradise)
Morning: Last breakfast at the hotel. Actually, the food was pretty good (despite my paella experience). A little sad to leave this little slice of paradise. Seriously, the beach was amazing.
Afternoon: Checked out of the hotel. Stood in line (of course). Taxi back to the airport. The same frantic energy. The same chaotic energy. Home.
Evening: On the plane, mentally making a list of all the things I want to do differently next time. More time. More paella research. More Spanish lessons. Definitely more sangria. Spain, you were a wild ride. But I’ll be back. You just wait.
Important Notes:
- Weather: Pack for sunshine. Lots of it. And layers for the evenings.
- Expect Imperfection: Things won't always go according to plan. Embrace the chaos. It's part of the fun.
- Food: Don’t be afraid to try anything. Even if it seems a bit… questionable.
- Most Important: Don’t forget your sunscreen!
This is a slightly messy, totally honest, and hopefully entertaining glimpse into my Spanish adventure. Hope it helps. Or at least makes you laugh. And remember: the best travel stories are always the ones that don't go as planned!
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So, the Big Question: Is this place *actually* paradise? The 'Escape to Paradise' thing?
What are the rooms REALLY like? Like, honest-to-goodness reality check?
The Food! Tell me about the food! (Crucial, right?)
What's the deal with the pool? (Gotta have a good pool!)
The Beach - proximity and quality?
Okay, let's get real. What kind of people were you *actually* seeing there? (And did you judge them?)
Staff: Are they genuinely helpful, or just going through the motions? Spill the tea!
Getting Around: Is it a car-required kinda place? Or can you actually explore?
Do they make a good cocktail? Because that's important. Very important.
