El Cortijo

The one thing I’d change is the mattresses, which are due for replacement. Otherwise, I stayed in the hotel section in a quintuple room, with two adjoining rooms and a TV in each. It had air conditioning, double curtains, a wardrobe, clothes rack, drawers, a table, and a mini-fridge for drinks or anything else. Breakfast was sufficient, with croissants, pastries, toast, sweets, ham, cheese, butter, jams, fruit, tea, coffee, and milk. Miguel was a gem, both at the concierge and serving at the pool buffet. The buffet by the pool had tasty sweet and savory food, smoothies, juices, and drinks at excellent prices. The Apart-Hotel has picturesque colonial architecture, spacious gardens, and a large multi-level pool.

Even so, I had a good time with my family, and I’d choose the resort again if these issues were significantly improved. This is my sixth visit, and after six years the lack of maintenance is clear. The pool and large grounds are definitely the main draw, but this time the bedrooms had old carpets, and the beds and pillows did too. The curtains were very old as well, while most places already offer blackout curtains and air conditioning. Breakfast was limited, with little food, and it was the same by the second or third day, which gets tiresome. The attitude and willingness to help need attention. This is constructive criticism, not aggression; I was simply disappointed.

The view, location, and large, spotless pool were the good parts. But the basic breakfast and lack of a refrigerator or mini-fridge were disappointing. The rooms have no blackout curtains, so sleeping in after waking up is difficult. The central air conditioning cools the whole hotel equally rather than being controlled in the room. We asked for it to be turned off, but it was switched back on because other guests were hot. It’s also somewhat noisy, and outside noise carries through. Parking is another problem: there aren’t enough spaces, and although they say parking is available, they don’t explain that there isn’t one spot per room. You have to claim a space and leave your car there, or someone else will take it. These things would keep me from returning.

The building is beautiful and the location is excellent, but the service doesn’t match the price. Breakfast was terrible, and on our first night the music was blasting because there was a party. The Wi-Fi didn’t work at all, and the pillows felt like axe blades. The concierge was super friendly, the one thing that stood out besides the building. They also charge for hot water.