Finca Cortesin Golf and Spa

Although the grounds are beautiful and the spa treatments were excellent, our one-night stay at Finca Cortesin was disappointing. I booked through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, expecting the service and room quality that FHR properties normally guarantee. For a rate of €550+, the experience felt closer to 2.5 stars than five. I hate leaving negative reviews, but I was disappointed to have to write this. There was visible dirt in the room, heavy calcium and limescale buildup in the showerhead, and the rain shower's water flow was uneven. We also found ants in the room first thing in the morning, near the coffee machine and in our beds. I told reception right away, before breakfast. They offered to spray the room, which wasn't possible because of health issues, as I was travelling with my elderly mother. Even though I reported it promptly, no manager came to speak with us during or after breakfast. That didn't feel like five-star service, especially at this price or for a hotel presented as one of Europe's top resorts. What bothered me most was the follow-up, which suggested I hadn't reported the problem "correctly." The hotel said they checked and found no ants, though we saw and felt them. I had taken a picture and videos, after first wiping the area when we noticed them. The response put the responsibility back on me instead of acknowledging the lapse. I'd also read older reviews describing similar issues when guests had problems. At comparable places such as Four Seasons, I would expect management to handle this proactively and offer a meaningful gesture or refund. There were other inconsistencies. We were told milk for coffee in the room wasn't complimentary, though it was. There are no tea facilities in the room. An iron wasn't available, so getting a shirt pressed meant paying extra for the laundry service. After I complained, they offered to lend me a steamer. Breakfast felt below a true luxury standard, with mixed service and little attentiveness. The spa therapists were great, the spa employees were very friendly, and the property is beautifully located, with some areas feeling like a museum. But the general service, response to the problems, room quality, and management's handling fell far below what I expect from an FHR property. A partial refund or discount on the room rate would have been appropriate, but none was offered. They only said I could get "special treatment as a guest" if I returned. For me, this was a 2.5-star experience at a five-star price. I can't recommend Finca Cortesin, especially to Amex FHR guests. Nearby luxury properties such as Nobu in Marbella or La Zambra in Mijas deliver more consistent service. The hotel's suggestion that I hadn't reported the issue "correctly" left me feeling blamed instead of supported.