Del Pintor Hotel

I’ve rarely stayed somewhere as clean as this hotel. It’s also a convenient base, with everything within walking distance, and the staff were warm and welcoming. The place has its own charm, with personal details like handwritten notes on postcards. My one small suggestion would be darker curtains, since they’d help with sleep. I had a fantastic stay and would gladly return.

Breakfast was a party, and the reception staff were smiling and so hospitable. A smile really does shape your first impression, and the ladies deserve a ten for theirs. We thoroughly enjoyed staying at your hotel in a top spot in old malaga. We’ll come again. Rolf and Marie Leutscher from Holland

The customer service was practically nonexistent, and it was frustrating throughout. At reception, four people would be looking at one of the two computers, apparently always busy with them. Their help seemed limited to arranging the room or asking what we wanted for breakfast. Even then, breakfast orders often came out missing a couple of items. Nobody checked that everything was there, asked how the meal was, or offered more coffee. We had to go and ask, and they never seemed pleased about it, as if it were our fault. I could say more, but it’s better to go somewhere else and save yourself a lot of frustration.

Over three weeks I stayed in ten hotels in different parts of the Andalusia Region, so I have a fair basis for comparison. Hotel Del Pintor was by far the worst experience. We booked through Hotels.com and specifically chose a room with a balcony, but were given something else. The male manager argued with us for 20 minutes, raising his voice and insisting we had booked a category rather than a particular room. He even told us to find another hotel. We eventually got the room we’d chosen after the owner stepped in. At over $430 CAD a night, the musty, moldy smell was disgraceful. They brought in an air purifier each day after cleaning, but the tiny bar fridge had no refreshments, there was no tea or coffee maker, and they didn’t refill the water bottle as they were supposed to. They claim to have the best breakfast, but it was the worst continental spread I’ve had: tiny portions, served from a set menu instead of a help-yourself buffet. Want another bowl of cereal? No luck, you got one small cup. You could choose either an apple or a banana, not both, and had to state a breakfast time in advance. A proper buffet lets you take what you want and go back for more; here, you got whatever they chose to give you. Staff were cold and disinterested, staring at their computers. They never asked what we wanted to see or where we were going, and offered no suggestions. For a place that seems to value appearances over hospitality, this was a complete rip-off. I’m in my early seventies and have stayed in many hotels around the world. Hotel Del Pintor has the fewest room amenities I’ve encountered and isn’t service oriented. I won’t return or recommend it. The hotel’s untrue response matched the service they claim to provide and what their own website says about the place. If you value your happiness, go somewhere else and don’t give this hotel a thought.