Playa del Inglés

Number of rooms: 93 apartments and 57 bungalows

Rate range: from 72 EUR (per apartment per night)

Owned/Managed by: Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts

Clientele: Gay Friendly

We rather like aparthotels, primarily because they give you the freedom of self-catering with all the benefits of staying in a hotel. So, although you're booked into the impressive Sol Barbacàn on a bed and breakfast basis, you're actually accommodated in an apartment with full self-catering facilities. Either way, the quality here is excellent and anyone choosing to holiday at the Sol Barbacán can't fail to be impressed.

Anyway, this particular property is part of the respected Sol Melia group and is located just a couple of hundred metres north of the Yumbo Centre and about fifteen minutes' walk from the start of the beach. What's more, it was refurbished about a year and a half ago so is pretty spick and span.

The property can be divided in two: a main building housing the one and two bedroom apartments and another area where you'll find the two bedroom bungalows.

Every apartment faces a swimming pool which can be heated in winter, while the second pool can be found in the area occupied by the bungalows.

Every air conditioned apartment and bungalow is equipped with fitted kitchens including a kettle, toaster, oven, vitro-ceramic hob, fitted microwave, fridge with freezer compartment (full fridge/freezer in bungalows) and a coffee machine.

The bungalows, which do come in at a bit more money than the apartments, have an additional dining area with a table and four chairs, two terraces (one on the flat and one on the roof), sunbeds with mattresses, direct access to the terrace from the master bedroom, high quality furniture and an extra storage room. The bungalows also boast two bathrooms (one ensuite) while the two bedroom apartments have one bathroom and the one bedders have a bathroom with a separate khazi.

There's an on-site supermarket and a buffet restaurant, which is where you'll wolf down your brekkie, and also an à la carte restaurant if you fancy pushing the boat out at all.

As well as the two pools we've already mentioned, this excellent complex offers a poolside bar. an inviting Jacuzzi, tennis courts, a gym and loads of room to sunbathe. Maid service and towel change take place every day, with bedlinen replaced three times a week.

• One bedroom apartments sleeping 1-3
• Two bedroom apartments sleeping 3-4
• Two bedroom bungalows sleeping 4-5
• Bed and breakfast
• Gay friendly
• Reassuring Sol Melia quality
• Good location
• Air conditioned
• Recently refurbished
• Can be a bit straight in high season