Zahara Beach House

The hotel is pretty and peaceful, close to the beach and the town, where there are lots of nice restaurants and bars. Parking is nearby. We loved the relaxing swim-up room, and it was nice not having screaming kids in the pool. The infinity bar area was lovely, too. Food and breakfast were tasty, with many choices and freshly made items. TUI service was great, the staff were helpful, and there were fun events like DJ music if you wanted to join in. It was my birthday, and they gave us a cake and a free drink, which made it special. The bath plug was broken, though, and the spa wasn’t great. The room could have been cleaner, and the toilet roll should be better for a five-star place. Apart from that, we had a fab stay and would come again.

The rooms are seriously spacious, with huge terraces, ocean views, and useful details like the rotating TV between the bed and sofa. There are plenty of mirrors, sockets, storage, and two coffee stations, plus a comfortable bed and a great shower. The AC works well, the rooms are quiet, and everything feels clean, modern, and well maintained. A little outside light comes in at night, though the blackout blinds help. The desk setup isn’t ideal for working. The design is bold and full of character, with striking tribal artwork. It’s beachfront, with large pools and a rooftop infinity area, though access to the rooftop pool costs extra. There are daily activities such as yoga and live jazz on Friday nights. Staff across the hotel were friendly and welcoming, and service was quick and efficient, but there weren’t quite those standout personal or “wow” moments. There’s a free minibar, robes, slippers, a double rain shower, and a good range of toiletries and extras. Still, it lacks some premium touches, like a welcome moment or pillow menu. It’s excellent value in the off-season for the space and quality. In summer, the pricing feels more in line with competitors. Memorable and stylish, especially at the right price. A couple more thoughtful details could make this a full-on Purple Pickle contender. 🥒 The PICKLE Score: Each category, Price, Infrastructure, Comfort, Kindness, Luxury, and Experience, is rated based on the percentage of “passes.” 80%+ = Full Pickle, 50-79% = Half. Final Score: 5/6 Pickles 🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒. Price, Infrastructure, Comfort, and Experience scored Full Pickle; Kindness and Luxury scored Half Pickle.

The only real frustration was at reception, where a young woman struggled with basic English. After several tries to get simple information, she had to ask colleagues for help and still couldn’t manage a basic conversation. For a hotel of this standard in the TUI brand, and with international guests, I’d expect reception staff to have at least basic English. Better language skills there would make communication smoother. Otherwise, the team were professional and friendly, and we had a very good stay. TUI Blue Zahara Beach is elegant and modern, with a lovely design and atmosphere that made us feel comfortable and relaxed. Special mention to Rosa at breakfast, who was lovely and attentive and made that part of the day especially enjoyable.

Still no refund. AVOID: dirty, low-quality food, rude staff, outdated hotel, not even three stars. Updated in response to the hotel’s comments: the room I booked cost more, so I would have expected it to be more luxurious than the others. The hotel’s reply seems counterintuitive on that point. I first contacted the hotel with my complaints at 9:05, the day before checkout. These are systemic issues that can’t be fixed in a day: dirt, bad food, staff, and poor-quality products. I stayed at this hotel, advertised as five-star, and my experience didn’t reflect the standards I believe are legally required for five-star hotels under Decreto-ley 13/2020, de 18 de mayo. We paid nearly €400 per night, an extortionate amount for what was the worst five-star hotel I’ve ever stayed in. In reality, I don’t think it would even qualify for three stars. I was completely shocked and didn’t know where to start. When I left, staff said I should have reported the issues sooner, even though I’d made them aware the day before, at 9am. These problems are systemic and can’t be fixed in a single day. They offered a late checkout, but it was useless. The law, as I understand it, requires attentive, professional service at five-star hotels. My experience was the opposite: staff were often rude and dismissive. At the bar, after I ordered a cocktail, the waiter muttered in Spanish, “ahora este que quiere que llevo aquí todo el *SWEAR WORD* día” (“now this one, what does he *BEEP* want, I’ve been here all day”). That isn’t what I expect when paying €10 for a cocktail at a supposed five-star bar. Breakfast was chaotic, and the room was far too small for the number of guests. One waiter said he had only one table and that we could “take it or leave it.” The same decree says food at a five-star hotel should be replenished promptly, presented hygienically, and served in clean areas. I found the opposite. Buffet trays were repeatedly empty, food looked unappealing, including scrambled eggs, beans, and cracked eggs, smoothie pitchers were messy, and the counters were stained. The food quality was extremely low. Coffee machines and thermos flasks were dirty. There was dissolvable coffee in a thermos and low-quality coffee from a dirty machine, with no mugs available to drink it from. The pool restaurant pasta looked like something I used to make at university to save money. Buffet counters had spills, plates were messy, and food debris was left around. Outdoor areas, including the poolside, had standing water that could cause slips. The decree also calls for furniture, fittings, and equipment to be in excellent condition. Instead, there was worn, scratched wooden furniture, a basic stained sofa in the room, an outdated hairdryer, and old safety equipment such as the life ring. The hotel is also meant to provide premium room amenities, but there was only very low-quality toothpaste, basic toiletries, and no premium touches. Based on Decreto-ley 13/2020, I don’t believe this hotel in Zahara de los Atunes, Andalucía meets the mandatory standards for a five-star category. Food hygiene, maintenance, staff attentiveness, amenities, and basic professionalism all fell well below the legal and expected standards. We paid nearly €400 per night, yet the conditions were appalling. I don’t think this hotel should be marketed as five-star under Spanish and Andalusian law, specifically Decreto-ley 13/2020, de 18 de mayo.