Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa

Reading the reviews upon arrival im going to say I was a little worried but a bad review has never put us off! Yes this lovely hotel is grand and has it's own classic feel but I like that about this hotel it's not modern like what you get now. We arrived and got checked in very smoothly and also had a welcome drink along with an upgrade! Wow happy birthday to me! We got given a beautiful suite with amazing views to die for! A lounge too! The room was spotlessly clean and there is everything we needed. Kettle cups etc and complimentary toiletries provided by the hotel. The best was seeing we had a jacuzzi bath! 2 double sized beds together which was just amazing as my other half usually pushes me to the end of the bed! So, ample space! Balcony was massive with sunloungers if you desired to lie there and soak up the sun. The lobby bar was great the staff really make it here, big shout out to Nicoleta (sorry if I spelt your name wrong!) But she is very polite, happy and just so welcoming. She never stops! Well done keep up the hard work you are appreciated. We did try dinner here on our first night but in my opinion I'd like to see a little bit more choice for ala carte but that's again my own opinion. The food was very nice and thes staff here do whizz around to make sure you have everything you need! Lobby bar food is a great touch if your peckish too, good choice. It's so peaceful here just what we both needed for a few nights. I'll be back again to relax in a few months for definite

Really wanted to like this hotel as some bits were very good but too many niggles to give it any more than 3 stars. Location - transfer from Malaga airport took around 1hr40mins as hotel sits on the edge of Estepona. There’s a small Aldi just across the road and a BurgerKing but not much else. Coastal path is literally outside with a small beach. Nice walk to the harbour that takes around 40 minutes, or get a taxi for €8. If you want somewhere quiet then this is the place for you. Also we were all inclusive so didn’t need bars/restaurants close by. Estepona town is a little further €10-12 in a taxi. Old town is fabulous and great to walk around. Full of character, colour and interest. Check In - all very efficient and a cold glass of cava was more than welcome after an early morning flight and the girl on reception took her time to give details about the hotel. Room - Very spacious and classical in design. Bed comfortable and large. Bathroom also large with a very nice shower. Plenty of room for clothes. Fridge, safe were ok. Small balcony with table/chairs and a great view down the coast to Gibraltar. The air conditioning was not good and virtually ineffective. The ceiling fan also had problems making a loud knocking noise. Reported to reception and told maintenance man had visited and fixed but no change. Took two further phone calls and visits before it improved. Power sockets weren’t great either. Only one out of three worked. Again took three visits from maintenance and we still couldn’t use the one by the bedside. WiFi very inconsistent and gave up with it in the end. Cleanliness - generally good but some areas could do with some maintenance. Tables/chairs needed repainting and some of the sunbeds needed replacing. Food - buffet style … breakfast with good choice of fruits, cereals, breads, pastries etc. Lunch and dinner buffet quite similar in style with a good choice and included live cooking with 3 meats, 3 fish. Tasty fresh salads were delicious and always different mixes/combinations. Fresh prawns, mussels, crab gave a real sparkling of seafood. Restaurant - had the opportunity to go a la carte and chose the Paris/Roma restaurant. Food was delicious and very nice setting overlooking the sea. Pools - nice pool area with main pool ideal for swimming. Also a smaller indoor pool. Numerous sunbeds so absolutely no need to reserve and 99% of guests stuck to this. No poolside service so yep I had to walk to the bar. Life can be tough ha ha. The one negative … on our last 3 days the hotel started maintenance on the outside rendering near the pool so a constant banging and drilling. Not good when you are trying to relax. Entertainment - quite varied but obviously down to personal taste. Some entertainers were ok but lacked a little energy and sparkle. Would have liked something a little more lively. One exception was Remi Lefox singer/guitarist who played rock/soul. Really enjoyed his music and talent. Drinks - we

Fabulous 5* Hotel on the outskirts of Estepona. Staff very professional and friendly and always greet you when you pass. We stayed in deluxe garden room with a super king size bed and a large bathroom. All cleaned perfectly each day. We paid €13 extra each night for the a la carte for 7 out of our 8 nights. Which we felt was well worth it. The buffet offers an extensive choice catering for all tastes. Pick your fish or meat and it is cooked in front of you perfectly. Nothing at all wrong with it we just felt like being served! The breakfast buffet offers many choices. We loved the honey dripping from the honeycomb. The pool area and surrounding gardens are planted beautifully and well maintained. The pool and the area surrounding are cleaned daily with great care. Only one niggle. The internet continually drops out if you can get on it at all.

I can only say that this hotel just kept giving from arrival at reception with a very nice Cava to wonderful staff , the most beautiful views , our room (s should I say omg stunning) the food and service second to none it was our 25th anniversary and the reception treated us like royalty with a little spa surprise that we had not expected the restaurants were fab as were the lovely staff the warren of hallways to our room was a trek but each corner has something to look at not to mention the beautiful architectural ceilings

This hotel was enjoyable and our holiday good. The room was a good size and immaculately kept by the cleaning team who were top notch. All staff were faultless with support and attention to detail. There was entertainment every night in the main atrium. The swimming pool was immaculate and you could always get a sunbed. Fresh towels were available. 10/10? No, food especially evening dinners were not good enough to merit five stars. Breakfasts were fine. Drinks were too expensive! Southern Comfort, Vodka and Tonic 19.50 Euros. Excessive!! However, it was a much need break.

The food range, freshness and availability was excellent. The rooms were clean and the spa was luxurious and fun. The gym was adequate. The beach access and availability of sunloungers with permanent umbrellas so close to the sea and hotel was definitely a massive plus and the winning feature in my opinion. I think a regular shuttle service to the town which is a 40-50 min walk would enhance the experience. The drinks were expensive which was a shame after paying such a premium amount to stay there. The pools were gorgeous. The children's club was fantastic. The staff were fun and my children loved all the activities. Excellent for families. It was open until late and meant parents could relax whilst the kids played. The pool games and Olympics were great fun especially when our family won GOLD.