Senator Banús Adults Recomended

The peaceful atmosphere was one of the few things I liked, along with some of the waiters being kind. Otherwise, this was a deeply disappointing stay for a supposed five-star hotel. The hotel says it’s non-smoking, yet people smoked by the pool and nearby, where there were even ashtrays on the tables. Our towels were old, torn, and full of holes. The coffee maker, cups, and tray in the room were covered in ants. The curtains didn’t shut properly, so light came in early in the morning. Some of the old artwork even looked moldy, which is unacceptable at this level. Breakfast was let down by the orange juice, which was awful and acidic. It’s hard to believe Mercadona sells better fresh juice than a five-star hotel. At the pool, I ordered juice and was told they had none. They brought me a much more expensive one instead without telling me the price. When it accidentally fell, all they offered was a glass of water. Incredible customer service. The apparent hotel manager also reprimanded me for taking a simple banana out of the breakfast area. It costs two euros per kilo. You just don’t treat a guest that way in a five-star hotel. The spa water was lukewarm and not appealing. The hotel is a long way from the beach, and the closest beach is rocky, so swimming there safely wasn’t possible. All in all, a disaster.

The rooms are comfortable, the beds too, and I did enjoy my week there in September. It was quiet overall, and the air conditioning worked well. Still, I don’t think I’d book again. The hotel calls itself five-star, but I’d say 3.5 at best. It isn’t as bad as some reviews suggest, though anyone expecting Four Seasons or the Ritz will be disappointed. The hotel sits beside a busy road, but the rooms are at the back, so that wasn’t really a problem. The surrounding area isn’t especially clean and feels like a resort idea from the early 00s that never took off. There isn’t much nearby, but Marbella, estepona, and puerto banus are a short bus ride away. The bus costs €2.50, and the stop is a five-minute walk from the hotel. My room was cleaned every day, but the balcony and corridors needed more attention. The decor could use an update. The walls are paper thin, and on three of my seven nights I was woken by loud groups or neighbours leaving early. The minibar fridge also kicked in now and then and was annoying. The pool area was well policed, so there was no need to fight for sunbeds. On the days they power-washed it, though, the grass turned into a muddy puddle. I had an excellent massage in the spa. The woman there was so friendly and put me at ease. Rachida was the only waitress who seemed to enjoy her job, and she joked around with me. Jesus took really good care of the pool area on his workdays, though it wasn’t as well looked after on his days off. A few staff were good, but most came across as standoffish. I ate breakfast at the hotel twice and wasn’t impressed. The second time, I went mostly out of laziness. Across the road are several much better and cheaper restaurants. Drinks at the hotel are extortionate: vodka and Fanta lemon cost over €12, and a small 330ml Magners was €6. They don’t provide a drinks menu, so you’re left guessing the prices.

The rooms were big, the hotel was clean, and breakfast was good, but the rooms felt a bit dated. Getting around is difficult without taxis, and the pool is tiny with too few beds. Staff were unfriendly, rude at times, which was such a disappointment. The bar kept running out of things too, even cava in a Spanish hotel. We wouldn’t return. It’s a decent three-star place, nowhere near five-star, and the staff really need more training.

We’d booked a single bedroom, but because the hotel was overbooked, they gave us a penthouse instead. The employees were very nice and respectful, and breakfast was amazing. Thanks for the hospitality. You’ve gained a new customer for sure!