On arrival.check in at reception was very good,,Receptionist was freindly and helpful.
Rooms were very clean and spotless so that was good.
Yes it is a spanish hotel in the spanish part of benidorm so the hotel hasnt many or hardly at all English people..but that didnt worry me as i was just there to eat and sleep and go out for entertainment.
The food was tastey ,but very repetitive at times..i mean at some breakfast times you were having some left overs from tea the night before,,like potato croquettes!!..Coffee was disgusting,,like a out of a cheap packet so i avoided that and also the red wine you get with your meal (as much as you want) stay away from as you wil be on the toilet all the time,,very cheap and nasty!...The last few days i ate out and didnt have breakfast or tea even though i was half board...as it was too repetitive on the 2nd week
Ok the bad points!!! I have never met so many Disgusting,,Selfish,Arrogant,Rude people in all my life....The spansish guests (all pensioners) were terrible,,pushing you out the way,ignoring and you and if looks could kill....I was at dinner one night serving onto my plate and one rude pensioner leaned right over my arm and nudged me out the way...so i gave him what for..just no manners at all.
So i wouldnt stay at this hotel again,,,it didnt spoil my hols as ive been to Benidorm 14 times and i love it so dont let this review put you off as there is loads is superb hotels and accomodation....just avoid this one
Old town is about 15 mins walk and new town about 30mins to 45 mins walk or 15 mins on bus so not too bad.

DO NOT GO IF YOU'RE ENGLISH!!!!!!!
When we got to the hotel they had given our rooms away as we arrived late. We were given the smallest rooms ever. The receptionist who spoke little English was really nice and got us all into bigger rooms with a balcony. Not much of a view but better than what we began with.
We had asked for a English dominant hotel that was close to the newer part of Benidorm. It turned out to be further than what we were told, so it was either a taxi ride away or a decent walk.
The hotel was full of spanish pensioners. I have never met such IGNORANT, DISRESPECTFUL people in all my life!! They would constantly stare at you if they'd heard you were English, push in front of you whilst getting food etc. The barman was awful, he couldn't even understand us if we asked for a Cola.
Food and entertainment is catered only for the Spanish, somedays there'd be food that was ok others it was awful. The swimming pool was across the road. Stuck in the shade for most of the day.
There was only 4 other English people there throughout our stay and from what I've read thats alot.
The rooms were always clean and presentable though.

After reading previous reviews by Brits before we went, we were somewhat wary about our arrival at the Sol Y Sombra. These fears were most definitely unfounded. We arrived at 11.45pm and checked in with the very friendly and helpful girl behind the desk. She told us that if we were hungry they would open up the dining area for us, as they had saved a cold meal for us. This was completely unexpected but a lovely surprise. Of course the hotel had lots of Spanish staying there, it was a Spanish hotel on the Spanish side of Benidorm and in Spain!! Of course the food included a fair amount of fish, we were in a resort on the coast of SPAIN!!! And Benidorm actually started life as a fishing village!!! We found the staff friendly, the rooms spotless and the food excellent. The evening entertainment was enjoyable. All in all a thoroughly good time was had by us all, and we would return there again!!

Hotel itself clean and food nice. Do not book all inclusive - its a rip off!!! Only allowed one drink per hour!!! We were the only English people in the hotel and all entertainment in Spanish. The swimming pool was also across the road and in the shade til lunch time - this was actually a bonus tho cos it was 40 degrees!
Quite a walk to beach and even then we were the only English people on the beach!!
One week was definately enough.