Occidental Torremolinos Playa

Massive amount of kids running amok, kicking footballs about in lobby bar in evening and in adult entertainment area, None were controlled by parents or staff. We could not believe the amount of kids that were there.

I took my 4-year-old son on his first holiday in June 2026, staying at Occidental Torremolinos on an all-inclusive deal, and we had an amazing time!

Rooms: Our room was spacious and clean, with a good-sized balcony. We stayed in room 1114, in the last block at the back of the hotel, overlooking the waterslides. It was a lovely location and, best of all, nice and quiet at night.

Pools & Entertainment: The kids’ pool and waterslides were brilliant and kept our son entertained. There were plenty of sun loungers, and the evening entertainment for children was always good fun. There’s also mini golf, a play park and a kids’ club, so there’s plenty to keep little ones occupied.

Food & Drinks: We had no issues with the food. It could be a little repetitive at times, as you’d expect with most all-inclusive hotels, but there was always plenty of choice. I particularly loved the children’s mini buffet alongside the main restaurant buffet, which meant my son could help himself. The snack bar was always decent, too. There were a few birds flying around, but that’s nature!

The bars were great, with plenty of bottled water and cocktails included in the all-inclusive package until midnight.

Location & Getting Around: The hotel is close to the airport, so we opted for an Uber rather than a shuttle transfer, which cost around £20. There isn’t a huge amount to do in the immediate area, but we weren’t there for the nightlife, so this didn’t bother us.

There’s a small souvenir shop on-site, although unfortunately, I found the staff quite rude. They told my son off for touching the toys, and although he wasn’t doing any harm, the staff shouted at him and upset him. Thankfully, a lovely man on reception witnessed what happened, apologised to my son and gave him a tub of sweets to cheer him up. It was a kind gesture and much appreciated.

There’s also a mini supermarket just around the corner that sells pretty much everything you might need, including snacks, milk, souvenirs, pool floats and swimwear. To find it, turn right out of the main entrance by the taxi point, then take the first left.

We took Ubers to Plaza Mayor shopping centre and the designer outlet for around £8, and to Benalmádena Puerto Marina for around £12 where we hired a boat for a couple of hours. Both made for lovely days out.

The Beach: The beach opposite the hotel was lovely, although it wasn’t entirely sandy and was a little gravelly in places. During our stay, not many people were swimming in the sea because, apparently, a river pipe had broken and the water was contaminated at the time.

Overall: We had a fantastic family holiday, and Occidental Torremolinos was a great choice for my son’s first trip abroad. The pools, slides, children’s entertainment and all-inclusive facilities made it an enjoyable and relaxing stay. Despite a couple of minor negatives, we made some lovely memories, met some lovely people and looking to go back in 2027.