Best Alcazar Hotel

The room was great, with comfortable beds and spotless cleanliness. Staff were fairly robotic but polite. The reception was dark, gloomy, and a bit depressing, and we got no information about the hotel other than meal times. We only stayed for two nights before moving to an Airbnb in town by the beach. Since we were half board, we ate breakfast and dinner in the restaurant. It felt like a high-end prison canteen: packed, loud, and lit by fluorescent lights. The food was pretty unpleasant. We tried to order pizza for lunch at the pool bar, but they’d run out. I’m not sure if they offered anything else, since the only menu we saw was for pizza. Our five-year-old enjoyed swimming for a while because she’s a strong swimmer, but the pools didn’t have a shallow enough area for her to stand, which limited her fun. They’re unheated, including the indoor pool, so they were chilly at this time of year. She also spent a little time on the swings, but they weren’t especially engaging, and we saw no activities for children. The hotel is high up the hill, so you can’t just wander out for different food options. Driving is possible, but getting a small car in and out of the underground car park was super tight and a total pain. We felt quite trapped. It was a weird, depressing experience, and not one we’d want to repeat.

The view from the room was amazing when I was standing, but a brick wall blocked it when I sat down. The bar menu was extremely limited, and the restaurant was only open at quite restricted times, so you’re pushed toward eating there. Staff friendliness was a bit random, and a lot of them, especially the bar staff, could use some courtesy training. If you like all-inclusive, this is probably an ideal hotel.

The season was nearly over. The shuttle between La herradura and Almuñécar stops right outside, which was handy 👍🏼

The food was really good, with enough variety that everyone should find something they like. You can spend the evening bowling or playing billiards, too. The sea views are lovely, especially from an apartment, and there are several pools plus an outdoor jacuzzi. The hotel sits high above the water, so walking down to the beach and back takes some effort, though there's a bus that goes around. Reception staff speak English, but most other staff know very little; there were occasional mistakes at the bar. They were kind and clearly worked hard, though. I'd definitely recommend it.