Sol Marbella Estepona Atalaya Park

Pros Food is excellent, varied and delicious Great gluten free section at Breakfast (although forgotten about at other meals) Staff are lovely One calm quiet pool Gorgeous grounds all very photogenic Cons Maintenace is poor Location is poor Beach is unuseable (so misleading claim) One VERY noisy pool Cringe worthy 'entertainment' This hotel is over a mile away from main road. The road has no pavement or shade. Cost E4.40 in a taxi to get to main road. No coach tours will come here only airport ones. Tip if you are walking to the bus stop go early in the morning before 8am or you will bake. Everyone drives/taxis as the road is unbareably hot. The rooms are immaculate in terms of hygiene. The beds very comfortable. Shower is excellent. There is a fridge and free safe. A balcany with 2 chairs and a table, along with a washing line. The first room (144) had excellent air con, but the electric lamp above my head was hanging off, hand wash pump came away from the wall in the bathroom and the toilet roll holder collapsed into pieces. The 2nd room (112) the bedside lamp did the same. The air con would not work and the lock broke and my friend got stuck in the bathroom - I had to call maintenance to free her! As they could not fix the air con I asked for fans and they brought us an ironing board instead? It was very hot. Also lots of mosquitos in 2nd room, tip bring repelant and use it. The fridge leaked water. One morning the corridor was covered in blood, concerned for safety of whoever and hygiene I got met with a rude response from reception that housekeeping will come - but that was a one off, most staff are very helpful. Also one morning there was a massive dead red cockroach in the corridor. Yuk! There are 2 pools, a round one which is quiet and peaceful not far from the breakfast room. Open 10am - 6pm (they put fences around the pools when closed). There is another one round the corner that is L shaped and moronic. Music blasting out all day, open 11am - 7pm. If you want a post day out swim, take the headache tablets. This is the pool they host fitness type activities on. Also lots of people getting drunk and generally being noisy. I suppose its good that they cater for those wanting a relaxing swim and chavs who want to 'hang out'? Breakfast was great, loads of delicious succulant fruit. A small but well stocked gluten free section. Salad, breads, cereals, choice of milks, cakes/pastries, meat/cheese, chocolate con churros, tortilla, typical English style breakfast, egg station, omlettes of varying quality (depends who is on duty), garlic beans,porridge, fruit juices, coffee machines and complementary cava. Dinner varies every evening, some nights it was prawns, another sushi, loads of salads and different vinegars/dressings. Obviously meat/fish/vegetarian and grill. Nothing gluten free though, you have to keep asking. Also at dinner EVERY drink is chargable - even water. Soft drinks are E3.50 and wine starts at E20. I enjoye

Hotel under construction work and out of season when we visited. Modern clean hotel in all parts that were open to us, main pool and pool bar area closed with everything could ask for. All Inclusive - drinks choice for alcohol and for non alcohol soft drinks and cocktails. Food - breakfast very good choice with cooked breakfast, omelettes, pancakes waffles, fruit cereal etc - lunch if like fish plenty choice with hot food on a lunch time, always have fries, plain pasta and choice of sauce. Had a huge selection of salad, cheeses and meats, and a paella. There are lots of nice desert choices. The evening meal is pretty similar to lunch time. There is a huge selection of salad, cheese meats, breads, and deserts. Hot meal options are limited again lots of fish. - snacks limited - pretty much overflow from breakfast. Individual meals that people bought looked really nice. Outside of all-inclusive. The pool area was nice and clean. With life guard on duty and towels available to hire. Lounge bar, clean and served large selection of drinks. Service was reasonably fast, and staff were very friendly. Alot of large family parties when we were here. Very popular hotel for golfers.