Hotel AR Roca Esmeralda & Spa

The rooms need major improvements. The photos when I booked didn’t match the furniture I found there, though cleanliness wasn’t the issue. The food was very good and varied, with something for everyone, and Mrs. Maria was especially friendly and attentive to the buffet. The staff were friendly too. I’m giving it four stars because of the exceptional food and the people working there.

Juljan, the pool lifeguard, made a real difference for me and my family. Most guests spoke Spanish, but he was the only person who spoke to us in English, and his kindness made us feel genuinely welcome. We had a fantastic week at the Esmeralda Hotel, with tasty food, a clean cafeteria, and professional, friendly reception staff.

Nancy’s therapeutic massage was the best part of my stay. I’ve worked as a physiotherapist and esthetician, so I know a good massage, and this was one of the best I’ve had. I needed deep tissue treatment and highly recommend her. The session was only 30 min because there was no hour-long slot available. The location is great, just steps from the promenade and amenities. Our spacious, clean room had sea views and was very quiet, but quite outdated. We had half board: the food was okay, Saturday dinner was better than Friday with some seafood, and breakfast was fine. Reception were friendly and helpful, and even called a couple of hours after check-in to see if everything was all right.

The beach is close, with lots of restaurants nearby if you’d rather eat out, and the mountain and sea views are beautiful. There’s also a beach accessible for disabled visitors. We had clean, spacious rooms with a balcony, though they were a bit dated and that was due to be addressed at the end of the year. The pool was nice, the food was good, and staff were friendly. Daytime pool entertainment suited the whole family, and there were evening shows at the sister hotel across the road.