AC Hotel Alicante by Marriott in Alicante, Spain [In-depth Review]

Key Takeaways

• I booked a 5-night stay at the AC Hotel Alicante for just 49,500 Marriott Bonvoy points. At a value of 0.7 cents per point, that’s about $347, significantly better than the $500 cash rate.
• The hotel boasts a rooftop pool with panoramic views, a fitness center and sauna, an on-site restaurant, and 2 bars.
• The hotel was comfortable and offered good service, but getting to the city’s main attractions required a 20–30 minute walk or waiting for a bus.

It’s no secret I’m a fan of Marriott’s AC hotel brand. I’ve stayed at several, mostly in Spain, where I’ve found exceptional value for my travel dollar and for my Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points.

My previous AC hotel destinations in Spain have included Málaga, Valencia, Seville, Madrid, and Palma, Mallorca.

Today I’m excited to share my experience during my stay at the AC Hotel Alicante.

Will this stay be as enjoyable as my previous AC Hotel stays in Spain or is my winning streak at an end?

Here’s how my stay at the AC Hotel Alicante played out.

Flying to Alicante

One prime objective of booking a flight to Alicante was to use up my expiring Delta Air Lines Global Upgrade Certificates (GUC) acquired by reaching top Diamond Medallion status. In order to accomplish this, I decided to purchase a Delta Premium Select fare ticket on Delta using my American Express Membership Rewards points.

By booking the flight via AmexTravel.com using The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, I would receive a 35% Pay With Points rebate on flights booked with Membership Rewards points on my airline of choice. For ~120,000 Membership Rewards points, I could book the ticket and receive 42,000 points back as a rebate, for a net cost of 78,000 points.

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The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

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The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $4,400

Annual Fee

$895

APR

18.24% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,550 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,550 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Earn 2x Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $895 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

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Card Highlights

• Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
• See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
• New! Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
• Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
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• Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Enhanced! 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• $895 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.24% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

I purchased the ticket and then called Delta to apply my upgrades. All was good and I was off to Alicante via Amsterdam, with flat-bed seating both outbound and return.

Booking the Hotel

I’m a big fan of Marriott’s fifth-night free benefit that gives you a free award night when you book 5 consecutive award nights using Marriott Bonvoy points. When searching for a Marriott property to book for my November 2022 trip, I found a 5-night stay at the AC Hotel Alicante for just 49,500 Marriott Bonvoy points.

We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 each which translates to using ~$347 worth of points for my stay.

The cash rate for the nights of my intended stay came to ~$500, so using Marriott Bonvoy points to book the stay was a much better deal.

Hotel Location and Transportation

Location

First, let me show you where the city of Alicante is located.

You’ll find the city northeast of Spain’s Costa del Sol in an area called Costa Blanca. The area is known for its beaches and 300+ days of sunshine each year. It’s the perfect spot for a winter getaway. In late November 2022, the time of my trip, the highs were about 65 to 68 degrees each day.

The AC Hotel Alicante is not located directly in the city center but is adjacent to it and just 11 kilometers and 12 to 15 minutes from the Alicante Airport (ALC).

You can reach the city center from the hotel in about 20 minutes of walking.

Transportation

There are a few options for securing transportation to the hotel, including private transport, taxi, or city bus.

First, arranging private transport such as a van, limo, or private car will cost between $35 to $60.

Because it was late at night and I had no idea what neighborhood I’d be going through to get to the hotel if I took the bus, I opted to hail a taxi. And, after 3 flights, little sleep, and a long layover, I was fine with paying the €18.90 (~$19.68) fare to expedite my arrival.

I had the option to take the line C-6 bus to the central bus station from the second level of the airport. It runs about every 20 minutes and takes 35 minutes to get to the hotel. A ticket from El Altet (the airport) to the central bus station costs €3.85 (~$4). The hotel is a short walk from there. I did take the C-6 bus back to the airport for my return flight at the end of my stay.

Note that Uber does not operate in Alicante but there is one other possible option worth checking — the Cabify app. For the transport I needed, Cabify gave a quote of €20.68 (~$21.45). With plenty of taxis waiting, I asked a cab driver for an estimated fare and he said around €20 (~$20.75), so I went for it.

Arrival and Check-in

There is no designated driveway or covered entrance to the hotel but the taxi was able to drop me off close to the front door.

The taxi driver immediately knew the hotel when I told him my destination before leaving the airport.

Check-in was prompt and courteous. I arrived at about 9 p.m so my room was ready. I was offered 500 Marriott Bonvoy points or €10 per day in food and beverage credits. The 500 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth about $3.50 so I chose the food/beverage credits for my 5-night stay.

Breakfast was not included in my room rate so I was asked if I wanted to add it at the rate of €12.65 (~$13.17) per day. I chose to make the decision later as I wanted to assess the breakfast situation the next morning. My Titanium status was recognized and I received an upgraded superior queen room.

I wasn’t provided any information about the hotel, amenities available, or restaurant hours, etc., perhaps due to a language gap. I decided to just forgo any discussion until I got some rest. I would find out everything I needed to know in the morning.

If I would have had to wait for my room, there was plenty of lovely seating in the lobby.

There was a nice touch for those arriving — a bowl of lavender was provided with natural cloth baggies in which to put the lavender. I grabbed an already-filled bag of lavender for my pillow.

Amenities

After a good night’s sleep, I set out to explore the hotel. I’ll share my room experience shortly, but first, let’s look at the amenities I discovered during my stay.

The Pool Area

The pool area had stunning views of the city and ocean. While small in size, it was appropriate for the size of the hotel.

The view from the rooftop pool is beautiful as you can see more of the ocean from this height. There are also a lot of seating areas near the pool due to the rooftop bar. I’ll share more about the bar area and offerings later when I talk about food/beverage experiences.

Fitness Center and Sauna

The fitness center, located on the sixth floor of the hotel, is a 2-story space with a hot tub and sauna on the first floor and a workout area on the second floor.

Both areas were open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The best feature of the hot tub area was the view. It’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

The sauna was not in service when I was there, unfortunately, so I did not get to take a pic.

The workout area above the hot tub and sauna area was compact, but with floor-to-ceiling windows, the space was very pleasant.

The fitness area had plenty of clean towels, a flat-screen TV, a water cooler, and sanitizing supplies.

Business Center

The business center was located in a delightful corner near the restaurant and around the corner from the reception desk.

Meeting Rooms

Whether you wish to celebrate a family event or hold a business conference, the AC Hotel Alicante can handle the entire event from setup to catering.

The hotel has a total of 178 rooms to accommodate attendees.

With 6 meeting rooms, the largest holding 250 attendees, the hotel can host a large meeting and have additional breakout rooms for smaller sessions.

The hotel provides meeting equipment and services, high-speed Wi-Fi in every room, and can cater for any event. Additional staffing such as photographers, security guards, or AV technician services can also be provided.

While I was at the hotel, there were preparations in progress for a wedding that evening. Fortunately, I was able to sneak a peek at one of the event rooms.

Parking

The hotel has plenty of on-site parking available for €13 per day.

Additional Amenities

If you need an accessible room, there are several available, even through online booking.

Pets are not allowed in the hotel but service animals are allowed. Advanced arrangements are advised.

Official check-in time is 3 p.m. and checkout is at noon, however, early check-in or late checkout may be available on request.

My Room

Now to see what my room looked like.

Approach and Entrance

The hallway approaching my room — #719 — was pretty standard, but it’s always nice when it’s clean and fresh.

On the inside, I found a full-length mirror on the back of the entry door.

Welcome Gift

I received a welcome letter from the manager and a jar of fruit candies.

The Living and Sleeping Area

One noticeable feature of my room was the large floor space.

I received a queen bed, which I prefer, and it was extremely comfortable. I had booked a standard queen room and was upgraded to a superior queen room.

Floating glass-topped nightstands were located on each side of the bed.

Each nightstand had central lighting controls, electrical outlets, and sanitizing wipes.

The flat-screen TV, I would say 46 to 48 inches, had 78 channels (some without signal), of which approximately 6 were English-language channels. Below the TV was a luggage bench, coffee station, and small refrigerator with a stocked minibar.

The coffee station was fully stocked with a Krups coffee maker, coffee pods, assorted condiments, bottled water, and takeaway cups.

The chaise lounge seating was so comfortable I could take a nap on it. In fact, it would be suitable for an extra person to sleep there.

One side of the closet contained the safe, robes, laundry bags, a water kettle, condiments, and takeaway cups. The other side held the iron, ironing board, hangers, and storage shelf.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was modern, fresh, and very clean.

The vanity had lots of room for my personal toiletries.

On a small rolling cart under the vanity, there were AC-branded amenities, including a shoe shine sponge, shower cap, dental kit, shaving kit, and comb.

The shower had a rain shower/wand combo and also a bathtub. The glass partition opened making for easy access.

Korres-branded full-size shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner were mounted on the shower wall. All had a nice fresh citrus fragrance.

Work Area

The work area was more than sufficient and I appreciated the comfortable chair.

Internet speeds varied, but I was able to download and upload images without a problem.

Views

I’ve been quite spoiled with the views from my rooms at the AC Hotel Málaga Palacio and the AC Hotel Ciutat de Palma, both of which are also in Spain. Since I’m paying the equivalent of just $70 per night for this room, however, I’ll just be happy with my city view.

If I thought I was missing out on a spectacular ocean view, I soon learned that the views from the front of the hotel, although they did include the ocean, were also less than spectacular.

Food and Beverage

The dining venues at the AC Hotel Alicante were modern, well-decorated, had nice lighting, and were comfortable. Plus, the expansive dining areas combined cover most of the entire first floor of the hotel.

AC Restaurant

Breakfast is served in the spacious AC Restaurant from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, and from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the weekends.

Earlier, when I checked in, I was offered the option to add breakfast to my room at a discounted rate of €12.65 (~$13.17). I decided to add it for 1 day, just to try it out and share my experience with all of you. I wanted to have the choice to skip breakfast or have it outside of the hotel on subsequent days.

The breakfast buffet normally costs €16.50 (~$17) when purchased in the restaurant.

Here’s how my breakfast experience unfolded.

The restaurant was modern and expansive. You could select from 4 different sections for seating. Located in 1 section was 1 of the 2 coffee stations.

And, while the buffet was clearly self-serve, there were plenty of attendants ready to bring me additional coffee, take my egg order, and remove my used dishes.

Starting out, I grabbed a coffee and sparkling water and requested cooked-to-order eggs, which were included in the buffet price.

There were milk and milk alternative options including whole, skim, lactose-free, soy, oat, and almond milk available. A nice selection of juices included mixed berry, orange, apple, peach, and pineapple juices.

Fresh whole oranges and apples, plus sliced pineapple and melons, headed up the fruit, meat, and cheese section. The meat and cheese choices were many and included several local kinds of cheese, plus Spanish meats and sausages.

Hard-boiled eggs were available, as well as something I saw at every breakfast in Spain: the tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelet).

In lieu of more potatoes, there were cooked mixed vegetables and baked beans. Hot items also included sausages and bacon.

A wide selection of fresh bread was available for toasting. I especially liked the finely chopped tomatoes perfect for making my new favorite, tomato toast.

The hotel didn’t forget those who needed products that are gluten-free, and yogurt toppings were plentiful as well, with seeds, fruits, nuts, and more.

A few common cereal options were available, as well as cookies, cake with fruit, pancakes, and lots of fresh baked goods. Notice the additional seating surrounding the buffet.

The breakfast at the AC Restaurant was plentiful, tasty, and good value for around $13.

AC Lounge and Bar

Before dinner, I opted to visit the bar for a cocktail and to watch the World Cup (U.S. vs. England).

The bar area is split into 2 sections, one more lively and suited for having drinks and bar food (above), the other quieter and more suitable for dining. Each section had a wide-screen TV for enjoying the latest sporting event.

In the middle of the 2 bar area sections is the actual bar, and it’s quite impressive.

The drink menu was 6 pages long so I won’t try to duplicate it here. Let’s just say that all drinks were affordable, from €2 to €10 (~$2.08 to $10.40)

You can have dinner in the quieter section of the bar or dine in the AC Restaurant, the same area where breakfast is served.

Dinner is served beginning at 8 pm. Prior to that, you can order a sandwich or snack in the bar. Here is the full dinner menu:

For dinner, I decided on a local fish dish, sea bream with vegetables and black couscous, for €15 (~$15.62). A glass of Spanish Rioja wine was €3.50 (~$3.65).

I had one other dinner meal during my stay, a seafood paella. It looked so bland, all one reddish color, that I did not take a pic of it. However, it was so delicious with every bite containing tender shrimp or octopus. It was seasoned well and way more than I could eat. The server explained to me that it was a traditional way of preparing the dish and more of a comfort food. Note to self — never judge a Spanish dish by what it looks like. All for €13 (~$13.50).

Piscina Rooftop Bar

While the rooftop bar is only open in season, I could use the phone to order a drink if I chose to enjoy a cocktail and take in the view or the sunshine from up top.

Surrounding Area

Bus and Train Stations

The main bus terminal is just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, while the train station is around 10 minutes. It’s easy to take the bus or train to nearby towns such as Murcia (1.5 hours) or Valencia (2 hours), plus, you’ll spend less than $10 each way.

Dining

While the food at the hotel was good, there is no reason to eat many meals there when there are so many spectacular eateries throughout the city. Tripadvisor points out some of the dining options near the hotel.

City Center

I walked for about 20 minutes from the hotel to reach the city center, the beach, and Plaza del Mar. It wasn’t possible to walk along the water all the way due to construction and industrial structures, but overall, it was a pleasant walk.

I spent time in the old town, along the beach, at the Central Mercado, and more, but here’s the full list of options so you can make your own list of places to visit in the city.

Supermarkets

A Carrefour Express supermarket is less than 2 blocks away and I found everything I needed there. However, for a larger market, Supermercado Dialprix is just 3 blocks further.

Central Mercado

Even though I was not interested in purchasing fresh fish, vegetables, or meats, the visual pleasure of being at the central market was not to be missed. I did enjoy a nice fresh empanada snack.

The Beach and the Castle

The main beach in Alicante is about a 25-minute walk from the hotel (or less than a 5-minute drive) and is right next to Plaza Del Mar. It’s also very close to the lift that can take you up to historic Santa Barbara Castle. You can see it at the top of this pic. The castle dates back 1,000 years or so and is free to enter. The lift will cost around $3.

Book a Tour

Tours are very affordable and some pick up at the hotel. Tours also pick up from the central Plaza del Mar area. Check out Viator for some ideas on excursions from Alicante.

Service

The front desk service was fine, not special, but as I mentioned in the beginning, that may have been due to the initial language barrier. Service in the restaurant and bar area was excellent.

The housekeeping staff was very friendly, and although I declined service most days, they happily brought me more water and coffee and exchanged towels for me.

I’ve had much friendlier service at other hotels but there was nothing wrong with the service at the AC Hotel Alicante.

Final Thoughts

Although I received excellent value for my Marriott Bonvoy points, the next time I’m in Alicante, I might consider a more centrally-located hotel. While the hotel was beautiful and comfortable with good service, it still required a 20 to 30 minute walk to many places, or waiting for a bus at the nearby bus station, to arrive at the heart of things. Obviously, there’s usually a trade-off between price and location.

Bottom line, for a budget place to stay in Alicante, the AC Hotel Alicante checks all the boxes and delivers a pleasant experience in every measurable way. If someone was renting a car to explore the area, the hotel may be a perfect choice, especially with affordable and plentiful parking available.