Nobu Hotel Marbella

Even with rainy weather, our weekend at Nobu Hotel Marbella just before Christmas felt like a special escape. The place has such a calm, cozy feel, with elegant design and plenty of charm. We loved the restaurants around the resort, and breakfast was one of the best I’ve had at a hotel. The service and atmosphere were lovely too. I’d happily come back and would recommend it.

The noise made it hard to rest or feel private. At night, music from the restaurant carried on until midnight, street racing was audible outside, and we could hear housekeeping staff talking in the hall through the big gap beneath the door. For a hotel presented as five-star, that level of soundproofing was disappointing. We also weren’t told at check-in that there was a buffet right beside our room. Instead, we were directed to a breakfast spot across the resort, a long walk away, and only found the nearby option by chance on day two. We paid the same rate as other guests, so being sent to the less convenient location without an explanation felt unfair and misleading. The check-in communication and comfort didn’t meet the five-star standard we expected.

We booked the most expensive three-bedroom suite for four nights after finding an amazing deal, and expected a memorable stay for the price. Instead, half the apartment lost power, so we had to call reception. The jacuzzi was dirty and apparently hadn’t had its maintenance, leaving us unable to use it for two days while we waited for the service team. There was also disruptive construction next door, and room service came in without knocking even though the do not disturb sign was on. The manager offered, if I remember right, 1,000 euros in room credit, which was alright, but it didn’t make up for all the problems. It’s very interesting that they managed to take my review down.

Getting around with a stroller was the hard part here. Our room was upstairs on the second floor, and we had to carry the strollers every time we went out. Stairs were also on the way to the kids club, pool, Nobu restaurant, and breakfast area, so keep that in mind if you're travelling with little ones. The staff were wonderful with my kids, though. They brought the baby cot right up as soon as we asked, and the stuffed animals and bath kit were a lovely extra.