Hotel Pinomar

We got up as soon as we woke and took a train out at 9 a.m. Sunday. I’d arrived late for a three-night stay, but the first night was so awful that I booked another hotel for the remaining two and accepted the extra cost. My husband and I were travelling around Spain for two weeks with our four-year-old, and this was meant to be our longest stop. I knew staying would ruin the holiday, and I was worried about our child’s health and safety. The hotel looked and felt like the one from The shining, literally terrifying. Our room was dark, dingy, smelly, and felt filthy. Everything was very old, with ants everywhere, broken furniture and drawers and doors hanging off, holes in the sheets, and a horrible outside area. There were loud voices and noises outside the room until 3 p.m. I complained to Booking . Com, but they did nothing except say the hotel wouldn’t refund the two nights we didn’t stay. The hotel ignored my message, so I’ll update all the review sites with photos. There’s no way this should have three stars. We stayed in four other three-star places in Spain, and the quality was so much better and more enjoyable. What a waste of €400. If you plan to stay, bring up-to-date tetanus protection.

It’s fine, but the internet is really slow and the food selection could be bigger.

The rooms were spacious, and I really liked the bathrooms. Cleaning was very regular, and the “towels down, towels up” rule worked well. Exploring the place was enjoyable, though it had creepy vibes. I wouldn’t recommend it for children. I visited in April 2019 on a school trip, so I can’t say what the area is like in July, though I suspect it’s better then. The rooftop sunset was great, with the best views up there rather than from the tiny balcony in your room. I can’t say much about the pool since it wasn’t filled when we visited, but I believe there are three: two big ones and a little kiddie pool. The building felt like an entire hazard to me. I figured the hotel was struggling financially, judging by the staircases, every single one shaking like jelly, and the holy images staring down at me at every step. The paintings gave the place a horror-film feel. One that was supposedly cultural looked like the KKK, and I’m still a little baffled. The wallpaper was clearly peeling, though not in a hazardous way. This place needs a full renovation. The food was average, bland English fare. For Spanish cuisine, I’d suggest a nearby restaurant. There’s a market nearby, and the beach is less than a five-minute walk away. Breakfast was buffet-style, but the choices ran out after two days. The beds were incredibly creaky, with cheap sheets, and it was the most uncomfortable place I’ve slept. Wi-Fi wasn’t great either. There were four different networks, but none connected consistently, only by chance.

I only saw the lobby. It was nice, though it looked more like a church than a hotel.