Hotel Costa Blanca Rojales

The steep hillside setting was tough for me with a knee injury and a crutch, and getting around requires transport. We did manage the walk into Rojales and back around the golf course, though. Even with that challenge, we loved our stay and are coming back soon. We’d sold our place in Benejuzar last year after 11 years there, then wanted an extra week in the area after visiting Seville with friends. We hadn’t known about this tucked-away place and were pleasantly surprised to find it. It may not be the Ritz, but we felt we got more than we paid for. The staff welcomed us warmly and showed us to a spotless room with fresh bedding and towels, a balcony, and incredible views. The pool was spotless too, and there were lots of activities and facilities. The set-menu meals at the restaurant were very good, reasonably priced, and we had no complaints about the food. The man running it speaks five languages fluently. We also saw what looked like self-catering apartments, with a supermarket nearby. It seems money is going back into the hotel: our room had a brand-new aircon unit and fridge, plus tea, coffee, and carton milk. A rough-around-the-edges gem, and well worth visiting.

We booked six nights and left after just one because the heat made us all ill. My daughter got heat exhaustion, and we basically all had to sleep in the kitchen. There was no refund, and the staff’s attitude was disgusting. I’ve never complained about a place before, but this was shocking. The air conditioning barely blew, like an asthmatic hamster. We bought ice lollies, but the freezer was so warm they melted. We arrived on a Monday to find the place closed, with no bar or food, and that wasn’t stated anywhere. They didn’t care one bit.

The room was clean and there was nothing to complain about. We stayed in winter, when the hotel was closed, though we were still able to sleep here. It was okay, so three stars for now. I imagine it would be a great place to visit in summer.

It’s hard to find a free sunbed because lots of guests leave towels to claim them and then disappear. The pool area itself is quite small. The air conditioning is also very weak, which can be uncomfortable on hotter days. On the plus side, the rooms are spacious and well equipped, and having a washing machine makes it easy to do laundry during your stay.