Hotel Helios Costa Tropical

The buffet breakfast and dinner were excellent, the staff friendly and helpful, and the prices reasonable. We also enjoyed the lunch snacks. The bar has a sea-front view and is well placed, though it felt a bit soulless and echoey. No complaints otherwise. Almuñécar itself isn't the most exciting place, and the beach is shingle, but the castle is worth seeing and the promenade makes for a pleasant walk. The tourist office was the biggest surprise for us, a fascinating building with a pretty little garden. Malaga airport is an hour away by car, and Granada and the Alhambra are an hour north. The Alhambra is a must, and a guided tour is a good idea if you can manage one.

The hotel is in a great location, across the road from the beach and close to an excellent supermarket and lots of restaurants. The bar is well positioned with a view of the sea-front, and the evening entertainment, including Flamenco dancing and individual singers, was generally great. Our room was well equipped for a three-star hotel; we could ask Reception for the kettle and bath-mat that weren't provided as standard. Everything was very clean and well maintained, and staff throughout were polite, kind and helpful. The receptionists were efficient, understanding and spoke excellent English. The restaurant food and staff were outstanding. My wife and I would definitely return.

The staff were genuinely helpful, and the restaurant team were friendly too. We had a spacious room with a sofa and a balcony facing the sea. The hotel feels recently refurbished, and it’s right across from the beach, about a 15-minute walk from the town centre. The food was great as well.

We loved the outdoor setup, especially on cooler days, with a heated pool and two outdoor jacuzzis. No kids are allowed in them, which was a real plus. The views and sunsets were stunning, and the location was great. Breakfast was fab, the bar was great, and everyone from reception and maintenance to the bar staff was lovely. The service really stood out.