Marbella Club Hotel Golf Resort & Spa

The rooms are spacious, elegantly done, and have really comfortable bedding. The food at the restaurants is delicious, and the beach club pontoon stood out most. The gardens are lush, there’s an orto, and the facilities are impressive. I was especially taken with the thalasso spa, open from 8 am to 8 pm. Breakfast was the best buffet I’ve had, with healthy choices and their signature jamón ibérico. Families should love the beautiful kids club, and finca ana is a special place for hotel guests to relax, alongside the holistic studio. The staff were kind, attentive, punctual, and polite throughout. The Andalusian estate’s heritage, from the Prince Alfonso, and its renovations are impeccable. This is easily the best hotel in Marbella, and it made for a truly magical family stay.

I came for lunch and to get a feel for the place. I’m a Leading Hotels of the World member and will be moving nearby. The decor appealed to me and the food was okay, but I didn’t like the atmosphere or the general environment. It felt unpleasant, like people were watching to see what handbag you had, which I found dull and tedious. The hotel is right on the main road, with an aidl a few blocks down, and the other side has no security, so anyone can wander in from the promenade. Overall, it’s not for me.

The Kids Club was a real highlight. It’s beautiful and well equipped, and the staff there are professional, kind, and loving with the children. The surroundings are picturesque, there’s always something happening in the evenings, and the staff are very friendly. There are plenty of services too. That said, I wouldn’t come back because the value for money doesn’t add up. The room felt quite outdated for a hotel in this category, with worn old furniture and unattractive decor. Room service food was disappointing for the price. A Caesar salad costs almost €40 and isn’t anything special. I’d even say McDonald’s does a better one. The service from everyone was very attentive, but it wasn’t enough to make me want to return.

I’d been to Marbella Club many times for lunch and dinner, and its gardens, shared spaces, and overall atmosphere are undeniably beautiful and live up to the hotel’s reputation. Staying there for the first time, though, was very disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend booking a room until there’s a major refurbishment. The public areas are lovely, but the rooms and service feel far below five-star standard, closer to three-star quality. The rooms need serious work. Furniture is old and worn, and the entrance doors and windows are dated and don’t close properly. Soundproofing is extremely poor, so we heard nearly every noise from outside and nearby rooms, making it hard to rest. We also had ants in the bathroom and bedroom every day, which suggests a pest control problem. The gym was average and didn’t meet what I’d expect from a five-star hotel. Room service was very slow too, even for basic requests.