Playa Calida

Second year at this hotel and a good experience again. The group of entertainers and the miniclub staff (Jacob, Belén, Santos...) who always have a smile are worth highlighting. The buffet is decent, though nothing to write home about. Special mention for the Terra Restaurant, top-quality product and excellent professional service from the two brothers who manage it. The evening entertainment is weak, perhaps the least notable part.

I gave it 3 out of 5 stars because it really is a spectacular hotel regarding the facilities and pool area. Although I must also say that the hotel needs a furniture update since it looks quite old with quite outdated decor. The rooms are spacious and the beds are very comfortable. But there is a smell of sewage that is unbearable. The food could be much better. There is little variety, and the live cooking area for meat and fish did not look good. Despite all these aspects already mentioned, I do NOT recommend the all-inclusive at all. In the hotel, there is the imperial all-inclusive and the premium, and in the latter, only basic drinks, soft drinks, beer, and water are included. Tub ice cream and snacks of only 2 types. The rest comes with an additional charge. The pool bars have very limited hours. They open much later than when the pool opens. I am very disappointed with this type of all-inclusive since it is very poor and very limited. I would not stay at this hotel again. I went in with high expectations and was very disappointed.

This is the only English review you should read. We got back yesterday after a 7-day stay at this hotel, and the only negative I have is that we didn’t stay for longer! I’m going to talk about our experience and then address many of the unfair English reviews. Food: Absolutely fantastic! The selection was amazing, fresh, and varied. I tried so many new Spanish dishes that were absolutely incredible. At every mealtime there was freshly cooked meat, usually a couple of fish options, along with both red and white meat. There was always a great selection of fresh salads and breads. This is the best food I’ve ever had at an all-inclusive hotel. Location: Yes, it’s quite remote, but we loved that as a family. We didn’t want to be close to clubs and bars with people partying all night. The town of Almuñécar was just a short €10 taxi ride away and has such a traditional Spanish feel. It was like stepping back in time, and we absolutely loved it. Staff: Some staff members, such as those on reception, speak perfect English, while others speak more limited English. However, they always spoke enough for us to understand each other, whether it was the bar staff or restaurant staff. I found every single member of staff welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Pools: These were the star of the show for me! The infinity pool is huge and beautiful, offering such a relaxing atmosphere. There’s also a lazy river with slides, and my kids and I spent countless hours having fun there. Entertainment: The entertainment team were incredible. The mini disco every night was a huge highlight for us! My girls absolutely loved it, and you could tell the staff genuinely enjoy their jobs because their enthusiasm was 10/10 every single night. The evening shows and entertainment after the mini disco were always great and very enjoyable. Rooms: The rooms are very spacious and well maintained. Our room had a bath with a shower over it, as well as a separate walk-in shower, which made getting ready each evening so much easier. The toilet was also separate from the bathroom, which was a great feature. The views from the balcony were absolutely breathtaking. Now I want to address some of the negatives that other English travellers have pointed out. Location: If you didn’t check the location before booking, that’s on you. It’s not like you booked it and then the hotel moved! It is quite remote, but we loved that. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind. Language barrier: Again, do your research before you travel. You’re not staying in a major British tourist destination. It’s very narrow-minded to expect everyone in a foreign country to speak perfect English. I learned some basic conversational Spanish before I went, and it paid off massively. That said, every member of staff spoke enough English to understand what we needed. Food: You’re not going to get endless English junk food here. Instead, you’ll find a wonderful selection of freshly prepared Spanish and international dishes. My girls, aged 7 and 12, had no trouble finding plenty to eat at every meal, and they’re both quite picky. Entertainment: Yes, a lot of the entertainment is in Spanish, but what do you expect given the hotel’s location? Personally, I loved it because it added to the authenticity of the experience. Pool rules: It’s true that the hotel doesn’t allow inflatables or balls in the pools, but I actually loved that. I’ve lost count of the number of holidays where I haven’t been able to relax because inflatables and balls kept hitting me or one of the kids. They do allow snorkels, diving masks, and pool noodles, and the beach is literally a five-minute walk down a designated path where you can use inflatables and other toys whenever you like. On-site shop: I’ve seen quite a few reviews saying the shop is expensive, and that completely baffled me. On our first day I bought a pool noodle, snorkel and mask, aloe vera aftersun, and a sun hat, and it came to around €35. That’s incredibly good value! You wouldn’t get all of that for that price in the UK, never mind at a holiday resort. It’s really important to me that people understand just how great this hotel and its staff are. They made our stay a genuine 10/10. If you’re a family looking for a relaxing, traditional Spanish holiday, I honestly believe you’ll have the time of your life. We personally can’t wait to return, and I genuinely can’t speak highly enough of this hotel. I only wish I could leave a video review so I could properly show just how amazing this place is. We will definitely be back. As I said at the start, my only negative is that we only stayed for seven days. Next time, we’ll be staying for 10 to 14 nights!