Hotel guide · Rincón de Loix · where it all began

Sol Pelícanos Ocas

Name: Sol Pelicanos Ocas
Address: Calle Gerona, 47, Benidorm, Alicante, 03500, ES

★★★Meliá Hotels International · open all year

Twin hotels on Calle Gerona, open since 1970. The pool that played the Solana in ITV's Benidorm for eleven years, and still the most-reviewed hotel in town.

Our verdictBook it for the lagoon pool, the location and the story. Skip it if you want a quiet, modern room.

476 rooms
~1,500 m² lagoon pool
5 pools
11,988 reviews
Levante beach 5 min

Check prices Photos The story

The lagoon pool at Sol Pelícanos Ocas, with its columns and thatched pool bar — **The lagoon pool**Where the Solana's pool scenes were filmed, 2007 to 2018

Rooms476 · 896 guestsPoollagoon ~1,500 m²Reviews11,988 on TripAdvisorOn TVITV Benidorm, 2007–2018Since1970Openall yearTonight next doorMorgan Tavern shows from 7pmSea22.5°C in OctoberRooms476 · 896 guestsPoollagoon ~1,500 m²Reviews11,988 on TripAdvisorOn TVITV Benidorm, 2007–2018Since1970Openall yearTonight next doorMorgan Tavern shows from 7pmSea22.5°C in October

476rooms, 896 guests (Pelícanos register)

~1,500 m²lagoon pool with geysers and whirlpools

5pools: lagoon, 2 adults, 2 children's

11,988TripAdvisor reviews, the most in Benidorm

1970first licensed, 4 November

Our score

Brenda score 7.2 out of 10

7.2/10

3.9 out of 5 from 19,001 TripAdvisor and Google reviews, all time
Latest 30 reviews average 2.9: falling
23% of reviews give 5 stars, 37% give 1 or 2

How we score: all-time ratings pulled to the Benidorm average, plus the latest reviews. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

In pictures

The pool and the hotel

The lagoon from above: The main lagoon, the thatched pool bar and the round pool — **The lagoon from above**The main lagoon, the thatched pool bar and the round poolPhoto: george boag · Google Maps

The swim-up bar: Out in the lagoon, as seen in the Solana — **The swim-up bar**Out in the lagoon, as seen in the SolanaPhoto: Alistair Ford · Google Maps

Poolside: Loungers and palms round the lagoon — **Poolside**Loungers and palms round the lagoonPhoto: John Rikard Vikan · Google Maps

Pelícanos and Ocas: The twin blocks at dusk, the terrace lit up — **Pelícanos and Ocas**The twin blocks at dusk, the terrace lit upPhoto: felipe diaz moratalla · Google Maps

The hotel: Seen from the pool terrace — **The hotel**Seen from the pool terracePhoto: Carlos Coração de Maria · Google Maps

Guest photos from the hotel's Google Maps listing, credited to each photographer. The cast photos below are from Wikimedia Commons; the Madge, Mateo and Janice stills were released by the Benidorm producers.

The story

Where it all began

1970Hotel Pelícanos licensed on 4 November, on Calle Gerona, in the first wave of package-holiday Benidorm.
1971Hotel Ocas opens next door, licensed 14 September. Two hotels, one pool complex: two restaurants, two snack bars, two pool bars.
1992Last full refurbishment, according to the regional tourism listing.
20071 February: ITV airs the first episode of Benidorm. The pool scenes of the fictional Solana are filmed here.
20182 May: the last of 74 episodes over 10 series. A stage version tours the UK from September.
2026Still open all year, and still the most-reviewed hotel in Benidorm.

Sources: Generalitat Valenciana tourism register; Comunitat Valenciana tourism listing; Wikipedia, Benidorm (British TV series).

Celebrities

The Solana's regulars

The cast of ITV's Benidorm, created by Derren Litten. Pool scenes were filmed at Sol Pelícanos Ocas; the rooms, the reception and the Blow and Go salon were filmed elsewhere.

Jake Canuso as Mateo Castellanos — Benidorm Producers, CC BY 4.0

Mateo Castellanosplayed by Jake Canusothe Solana barman

Sheila Reid as Madge Harvey — Benidorm Producers, CC BY 4.0

Madge Harveyplayed by Sheila Reid

Mick Garveyplayed by Steve Pemberton

Siobhan Finneran as Janice Garvey — Benidorm Producers, CC BY-SA 4.0

Janice Garveyplayed by Siobhan Finneran

Geoff Maltby, 'The Oracle'played by Johnny Vegas

Joyce Temple-Savageplayed by Sherrie Hewsonhotel manager

Les / Lesley Conroyplayed by Tim Healy

Liam Conroyplayed by Adam Gillen

Gavin Ramsbottomplayed by Hugh Sachs

Janey Yorkeplayed by Crissy Rock

Neptune's bar in the show was filmed at Morgan's Tavern nearby. Source: Wikipedia; Grimsby Telegraph.

What they wrote

From the articles

Effectively two hotels in one, with double the benefits.

Grimsby Telegraph, on the twin hotels

Open all year round.

Comunitat Valenciana tourism listing

Best pools in the resort.

The one thing both camps agree on, across the visitor questions we read

Watch

Anthony's video

[ADD VIDEO LINK]

Our own walk round the pool and the bars.

Lots of reviews

What guests say

11,988TripAdvisor reviews, rated 3.9

89mentions in 32,935 YouTube comments we counted

89visitor questions on its all-inclusive alone

PoolsThe thing everyone praises

FoodSplit: regulars call it poor, others call it lovely

TowelsNone at the pool; room towels not allowed (guest report, May 2026)

Counts from our review, video and visitor-question datasets, October 2026. We count and summarise; we don't copy reviews.

Best pool?

The lagoon

A lagoon-style pool of nearly 1,500 m² with geysers and whirlpool areas
Swim-up bar, open July and August
Two more outdoor pools for adults and two children's pools
A Pool of the year 2026 nominee

Hotel and regional tourism listing; guest reports.

Best for kids

Families

A children's pool at each of the two hotels
Mini-club, activity playground and mini-disco
Family rooms, step-free access and parking
Buffet restaurant, all-inclusive available

Compare family hotels → · Kids' clubs →

Is it for you?

Best for

Fans of the TV show
Families who live in the pool
Groups who want to be near the Strip and the shows

Skip it if

You want a quiet, modern room
Food is the main event of your holiday
You want to step straight onto the beach

When to come

Month by month

Day high and sea temperature, 10-year averages. Highlighted months are warm enough for the lagoon without the August crush.

Jan15.9°sea 15.2°

Feb16.6°sea 14.7°Quietest

Mar17.7°sea 15.2°

Apr19.3°sea 17.2°

May22.6°sea 19.9°Best

Jun27.0°sea 24.1°Best

Jul29.9°sea 27.3°Swim-up bar

Aug30.3°sea 28.1°Swim-up bar

Sep27.2°sea 26.1°Best

Oct23.8°sea 22.5°Best

Nov19.6°sea 18.6°Fiestas

Dec17.0°sea 16.7°

Open-Meteo ERA5 2016–2025; sea, Open-Meteo marine 2023–2025. Full weather guide →

Offers

Prices and deals

Live room prices
Booking.com, Expedia and others, for your datesLive Guadalest + Algar day trip
£29 on Viator vs £40 elsewhereSave £11 Terra Mítica ticket
£24 on GetYourGuide vs £29.56Save £5.56

Prices checked 14 Oct 2026. We earn a commission on some bookings, at no extra cost to you. How we earn.

Next door tonight

Morgan Tavern

Neptune's in the show. Tonight's bill:

7pmElton John

Maroon 5 Experience poster, Morgan Tavern

8pmMaroon 5 Experience

9pmLiam Gallagher

10pm2Kool

11pmBenidorm Hits 90s

Hotels near Sol Pelícanos Ocas

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Hotel FeticheOld Town · 170 m away
Pensió La OrozcaLevante · 190 m away
Barceló Benidorm BeachLevante, Old Town end · 200 m away
Hotel Climia Benidorm PlazaLevante · 200 m away

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