Hostal Doña Lola Marina

The rooms aren't anything special, but they were comfortable and clean. The location is the real draw, close to both the beach and the bars. There's no reception here, so you need to go to a nearby hotel to collect or return the keys and sort out anything else.

I've stayed at the hotel, the Marina Hostel, and the apartments, and all three were clean and well equipped. The staff made me feel at home, and guests can use the pool at any of the three places. The photos show the hostel and pool. There's an indoor pool with hydromassage jets and an outdoor jacuzzi for adults.

For the price, it's a good deal: the accommodation is central, clean, spacious, and in good shape. You can also use the facilities at Hotel Doña Lola, a 3-minute walk away, including the swimming pool. One thing to bear in mind is that restaurants line one of the hostel's streets. If you're coming with a baby or small children, ask for a room as far from there as possible.

Zahara itself is beautiful, and the beaches are incredible, but the stay was a disaster from the start. There was nobody at reception to help us, so we had to figure things out and go to the hotel 200 meters away, where the hostel is managed. I was left double-parked while sorting it out. Parking wasn't included either. They wanted €10 for a lot 600 meters away, and the gate they gave us was so rusty it felt like you needed a tetanus shot to open it for their "super parking service." Once we finally got the keys, my partner and I took our luggage up. There was no elevator, and the stairs had no lighting, so bring a charged phone for its flashlight if you'll be coming back at night. Otherwise, you could easily trip. The room was reasonably clean, and at first I was pleased to see a terrace. Then I noticed the floor was covered in moss. Don't drop anything there. A fly landed on it and got stuck. We couldn't get hot water for a shower. When I called the hotel reception, they just said it happens. The boiler, washing machines, and a tangle of wiring were in the next room, so the cold water wasn't even our biggest concern. At least we made it out alive. Rest was out of the question too, with music and noise from the bar downstairs plus the constant roar of air conditioners that sounded like they'd been there since my grandfather's first communion. Honestly, you wouldn't expect this many disasters even in an American comedy, and the hotel staff were appalling. 😁