Best Costa Ballena

The towels were the one real letdown: thin and old, and I preferred using my own beach towel. Otherwise, this family hotel was exceptionally clean, beautifully landscaped, and had facilities for families. It’s very close and convenient to the beach. Staff were around and very helpful and friendly. There wasn’t much else to complain about.

We’re an English family of four with two young children and had a wonderful stay at Best Hotel. It’s very family friendly, with plenty to keep everyone occupied. Our eldest especially loved the splash park. The hotel provides access to a beautiful beach, and we liked that it felt authentically Spanish, with everything in Spanish. Many all-inclusive hotels in Spain lose that feel by catering to English guests, and I enjoyed getting to speak a little Spanish. We booked a superior room, which I’d recommend: it gives access to the nicer Atlantica restaurant, one meal at the grill restaurant, daily bottled water in the room, the rooftop pool, and spa facilities. The food at Atlantica was delicious and a higher standard, and it was more relaxed there. The main restaurant can be chaotic and the food a little repetitive. The snack bar didn’t have a great fresh selection, and sparrows tried to eat the snacks. The staff were helpful, check-in was easy, and reception spoke English well. Our room was ready despite our early arrival. Although the hotel was busy, it felt clean, and the cleaning staff mopped and freshened our room every morning. We recommend walking the 3 miles to the Spanish town of Chipiona. You can also take a taxi for 15 euros, and reception will call one.

The pool and beach access were highlights, and our standard double was cleaned every day. My partner and I, both in our 20s, stayed for ten days from early July. The first week felt especially relaxing, with lovely weather and friendly staff. July can get pretty chaotic if you’re after a quiet break. There were lots of children running around, sometimes without supervision, and breakfast was full of crying, shouting, and things flying through the air. The first week was calmer for couples. If you have kids or don’t mind the noise, it may suit you well. It’s not the hotel’s fault, but it’s something to consider. Communication could be tricky because many staff members didn’t speak English and we don’t speak Spanish. The entertainment and pool announcements were in Spanish too, with some announcements going on for 10 to 20 minutes. The pool bar also had few lunch choices, so I ate the same sandwich five days straight. When I ordered a strawberry mojito, the first drink was wrong, the second had so much syrup it was almost undrinkable, and the third was finally right. We had a great stay overall, and I’d recommend the hotel with a few improvements.

We had a nice family stay with two adults and our 3-year-old. There are plenty of activities for children, and the rooms are very spacious, comfortable, and clean. The service was top level. The main drawback was having to deal with paper processes everywhere when we hadn’t booked all-inclusive. Food quality could also be better, though the dishes themselves were fine.