Marino Apartments, Alcossebre (Las Fuentes Seafront)

The Marino apartments in Alcossebre (also called Residencial Marino or Marino Las Fuentes) are one of the few complexes in the area with direct exit to the Las Fuentes seafront promenade. It is a pedestrian estate, with gardens and a pool, which Casa Azahar markets in two listings: Marino and Marino Superior. Here you will find its location, what the complex is like, what guests think on each portal and our assessment.

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Where Residencial Marino is

Residencial Marino is on Avenida de Las Fuentes, on the front line of Las Fuentes (Les Fonts) beach, north of the centre of Alcossebre (Alcalà de Xivert, Castellón). From the estate you step directly onto the promenade and the sand, something guests mention again and again.

Las Fuentes beach is about 400 metres long, fine sand, and has a peculiarity: freshwater springs from an ancient aquifer bubble up from the sand. It is sheltered next to the marina, so it usually has calm waters, and several guests recommend it for going with children. In season it has lifeguards, showers, toilets, ramps and a children's area.

Around the complex there are:

• A supermarket nearby, according to reviews.
• Bars and restaurants on the Las Fuentes promenade.
• The Las Fuentes marina, home of the Alcossebre Sailing Club, a short walk away.

Advantages: beach at the foot of the estate, a quiet area and basic services close at hand.

Drawbacks: some guests point out that parking is difficult at weekends in high season, which is usual on the front line.

What the Marino complex is like

Marino is a pedestrian estate with green areas: cars do not circulate between the blocks, which gives peace of mind to families with small children. According to the Casa Azahar listing and published reviews, it has:

• Large adult pool and children's pool, with a lifeguard.
• Well-kept gardens and green areas between the buildings.
• Reception, whose service guests rate well.
• Wifi.

The apartments range from studios to two-bedroom apartments, with a maximum capacity of 6 people, and all have a kitchen. Some have sea views. There are renovated, modern units with air conditioning, and older ones with a fan; this difference between units is one of the topics that appears most in the reviews.

Marino and Marino Superior

Casa Azahar splits the units into two listings of the same complex:

• Marino: studios and apartments of up to two bedrooms, some with sea views.
• Marino Superior: apartments of 1 bedroom (2 to 4 people) and 2 bedrooms (4 to 6 people), in the part of the complex surrounded by pine trees, and with two-bathroom apartments.

Marino Superior has its own listing on Booking, with 8.7 out of 10 and 139 comments, which is not added to the table below because it corresponds to other units. If you are looking for a larger apartment or one with two bathrooms, check the Marino Superior page at Casa Azahar.

What guests think of Residencial Marino

These are the public ratings for the main Marino listing:

Most reviews are on Booking (8.0 from 119) and Google (4.0 out of 5 from 68), which give a consistent picture. The other two sources have very few reviews: TripAdvisor only three (with low scores for service and value for money) and Central de Reservas one, so they are not representative.

What guests like most

On Booking, the highest sub-score is location (9.5), followed by staff (8.8) and cleanliness (8.2). The reviews repeatedly mention:

1. Being a few steps from Las Fuentes beach and the seafront promenade.
2. The large pool and a well-kept estate with gardens.
3. The peace and quiet of the area, with a supermarket nearby.
4. The friendly service of the reception staff.
5. That some units are renovated and have air conditioning.
6. A calm-water beach, good for going with children.

What could be improved

The lowest sub-score is wifi (7.5), followed by value for money (7.9). The negative topics that recur:

• Uncomfortable showers and bathrooms in some units (water spills out of the tray).
• Mattresses, pillows and sofa beds that could be better.
• Scarce kitchenware and worn pans.
• Ageing units that, according to some guests, do not match the photos.
• Restricted pool hours.
• Paid extras (air conditioning, towels, bed linen) and difficult parking at weekends.

On Google, the most cited topics are the beach, the estate, the air conditioning, the kitchen, the sheets and towels, the lifeguard and the mattresses. The guest profile is varied: families, couples and solo travellers, mostly Spanish.

Our assessment of Residencial Marino

Marino is, by location, one of the most complete complexes in Las Fuentes. Its main point to watch is the difference between units.

Strengths

• Front line with direct access to the promenade and the beach.
• Pedestrian estate with gardens: peace of mind for children.
• Adult and children's pool, with a lifeguard.
• Good location (9.5) and staff (8.8) scores.

Weak points

• Uneven units: some renovated with air conditioning and others older.
• Kitchen equipment and beds that could be better in some of the apartments.
• Complicated parking on high-season weekends.

Ideal for

• Families with small children, because of the calm beach, the children's pool and the car-free compound.
• Couples and older people who want to stroll along the seafront promenade without depending on the car.
• Groups of up to six people in the two-bedroom apartments, or in Marino Superior if you want two bathrooms.

Tip: if air conditioning is essential, check the equipment of the specific unit or choose Marino Superior. No Casa Azahar building, including Marino, accepts pets.

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Tips for choosing an apartment at Marino

As the units in the complex are not all the same, here are some guidelines based on what guests say:

• If you travel in July or August, prioritise renovated units with air conditioning or those of Marino Superior. In the reviews, the heat in units with only a fan is one of the most repeated complaints.
• If you are going with babies or small children, the children's pool and the absence of cars inside the compound are a clear advantage. Ask for a ground floor or easy-access unit if you have a pushchair.
• If you want sea views, check the unit's listing: only some apartments have them.
• Check what the rate includes (bed linen, towels, air conditioning), because several guests mention that some of these extras were paid.
• If you arrive by car on a high-season weekend, allow some time to look for parking.

When to go to the Marino apartments

Alcossebre has a mild climate almost all year, with more than 2,700 hours of sunshine a year according to AEMET data from the nearest station. In summer average highs are around 29-30 °C and the sea is around 25 °C in midsummer: it is the beach and pool season, and also the liveliest on the Las Fuentes promenade. The patron saint festivals of San Juan Bautista, the main ones in the municipality, are held between August and September.

In spring and autumn the average temperature is between 16 and 19 °C, the beach is much quieter and it is a good time to walk in the Serra d'Irta. For long stays at those times, take a look at our guide on renting by the week and fortnight in Alcocéber.

Surroundings and things to do from Marino

• Las Fuentes beach, at the foot of the estate, with the freshwater springs.
• Las Fuentes marina: home of the Alcossebre Sailing Club and the starting point for excursions to the Columbretes Islands.
• Cargador beach, in the centre: 850 metres of sand with dunes, a seafront promenade and a Blue Flag without interruption since 1987.
• Serra d'Irta Natural Park: from Cala Blanca, next to the lighthouse, start route 2 (12.8 km, easy) and the red route (8.5 km circular, easy). By bike, the Ruta del Cranc follows the coastal track towards Peñíscola. In summer, driving into the park's coast requires booking a place in the GVA Parcs Naturals app.
• Local food: suquet de peix, oven-baked rice, seafood rice and the tomata de penjar from Alcalà de Xivert.

How to get to the Marino apartments

• By car: AP-7, exit 44 (Alcossebre-Torreblanca), or N-340 and then the CV-142 towards Alcossebre. In the village, follow signs to Las Fuentes and Avenida de Las Fuentes. From Zaragoza it is about 255 km (approx. 3 h 30 min) and from Madrid about 465 km (approx. 5 h 15 min). More details at how to get to Alcocéber by car.
• By train:Alcalà de Xivert station, about 10 km away.
• By air:Castellón airport about 22 km; Valencia about 123 km; Reus about 145 km; Barcelona about 230 km.

Nearby alternatives at Casa Azahar

In the same Las Fuentes area, Casa Azahar manages other buildings that may suit you if Marino has no dates:

• Jardines del Puerto: on the front line next to the marina, with a large pool, a children's pool and free parking. See Jardines del Puerto.
• Arcos I: about 185 metres from the beach, with a pool and mini golf. See Arcos I apartments. Full page: Arcos I apartments.
• Fontana Real: a Las Fuentes complex with pool, lift and air conditioning. See Fontana Real. Full page: Fontana Real apartments.

Nearby you will also find Fuentemar and Tres Carabelas, and all the complexes in the directory of Alcocéber apartments.