El Manantial

We found it slightly out of the way for exploring Malaga on foot, and the parking entrance was a little tricky to get into since it's just off a roundabout. Still, it's brilliant value for money. This family-owned hotel had great facilities, including a swimming pool and tennis, and our room was spacious and very clean with AC. The man at the counter, Juani, treated us with the utmost respect. There was no pressure to eat at their hotel, though we eventually did.

We stayed for three nights. The room was okay, but the bed was quite uncomfortable, everything felt really old, and it was very light at night. There wasn't always a parking spot in front of the hotel. Check-in took a while, and the relaxed manner felt unprofessional, with all the documents lying on a table right in front of us. They didn't speak English. It was okay, but not what we expected.

The rooms were spacious and lovely, and the pool was good too. Service was excellent, with really friendly staff. The food was simple and inexpensive. For a budget stay, this is hard to beat.

For a backpacker, it’s not a terrible place, though it does look a bit like Pablo Escobar’s villa. You need keys for your room, the villa entrance, and the courtyard gate. The neighborhood also seemed a little shady.