Melia Villaitana

On the slopes above Benidorm, Meliá Villaitana brings a four-star Mediterranean-style resort together with two on-site 18-hole Jack Nicklaus courses. Its 356 rooms and suites are arranged across nine room types, with outlooks that can take in the fairways, pools, mountains or sea. Several pools, tennis courts, a gym and Wellness Centre give the days between rounds an easy rhythm. Six restaurants cover relaxed poolside meals, show cooking at Casa Azul, Mediterranean dishes at Indigo and Italian food at Ristorante La Trattoria, while Papa Mambo Jazz Bar is a useful spot for cocktails and lighter plates in the evening.

Levante is the longer of the two, a par 72 championship course reaching 6,884 yards from the white tees. Five sets of tees make it straightforward to choose a sensible challenge within a mixed group, with the yellow markers playing 6,317 yards. It still demands considered tee shots and approaches, as 106 bunkers and three lakes are worked into the round. The par-three 12th is a stern 220 yards, with four deep bunkers around a green set in a natural bowl. Preparation is well covered by a 30-bay driving range extending beyond 300 yards, two putting greens, a pro shop, golf academy and GPS-equipped buggies.

Poniente provides a shorter, more relaxed alternative at par 62 and 4,219 yards from the yellow tees. Its four tee options, compact holes and wooded hillside setting suit newer golfers, family games or a round centred on the short game. Pines and streams regularly influence the line of play, and the 284-yard third opens out towards Benidorm and the Costa Blanca. Afterwards, the 1,200 square metre YHI Spa has a hydrothermal circuit incorporating a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, Roman baths, ice fountain and Flotarium, alongside treatments and massages. Benidorm is under 15 minutes away for its restaurants and nightlife, while Alicante Airport lies about 31 miles from the resort.