Pierre & Vacances Estepona

Atmosphere, our room and pool area were nice. We had all-inc and the food was ok. After all good value for the money.

Our stay at the hotel was very good and, without a doubt, we would return. The best part of all was the entertainment team and the very pleasant atmosphere they managed to create. We want to especially highlight Óscar and Beyza, because it is very obvious that they enjoy their work. They are always attentive to the guests, they make sure everyone has fun, and they convey a warmth that makes you feel like family.

Myself, the husband and grown up daughter visited here for 10 nights leaving on the 7th July. It is remote. There is nothing to do around the hotel and to walk to the front will take an able bodied person about 20 mins, but longer back as it is uphill. The hotel is generally clean but where there are carpets, it is musty and they look old. Lots of areas look dated. We stayed in a 2 bed apartment and we had a fridge which was nice. We didn't need anything else, but I feel if you read the word apartment, you may expect a cup or a glass and even cutlery! The veneer on the bottom of the bathroom doors had frayed up like a skirt and one of the cupboard doors was hanging off in the kitchenette. The shower was powerful!! My hubby said he felt like he'd been jet-washed LOL. We asked for a high up, pool view and got neither but we appreciate these are only requests. The food was lovely. We were surprised there was no alcohol gel on the way in to the restaurant and no one was encouraged to wash their hands. Cooking station was a pest as they didn't start cooking until restaurant was open so there were queues straight away and then people would literally fill up several plates with several portions meaning the wait was even longer (should be limited in my opinion). We were all inclusive but we spoke with people who had black wrist bands on (we had yellow ones) and we were all All inclusive but black wrist bands finish at 11pm. NB that AI drinks do not start until 11AM. Before this you have to pay which I have not come across before. There were regularly queues at both the lobby and pool bar which could take you 25 mins to get a drink which is ridiculous! It is a very French hotel which we have no issues with but a couple of nights, the upstairs outdoor seating area (which was heavily populated every night) was taken over by the animation team and entertainment ensued only in French. It didn't bother us particularly but it may bother others. There were no stand out staff which we found unusual. no characters. We usually love to tip the characters who really make your holiday complete. Its Pepsi - which is a huge bonus for us. the gas regularly ran out though so plenty of times when we couldn't have it! Our room was missed twice for cleaning despite us having the 'make my room up' sign the door and being out of the room eery day from 7.30-4pm. On 4 separate occasions, our key card failed to work and so we had to trail all the way to reception to get it reset! We spoke with several people that this had also happened to and so clearly a known issue. The pool does not open until 9am when a very orderly queue will have been forming since about 8.30 so it meant we could have a leisurely breakfast before having a pool day. We are the sort of people who lay our towels and ourselves and don't move other than to go to the bar or for lunch. It provided some entertainment watching the lifeguards giving folk 30-45 mins (it seemed) to get back to base or they were out, collecting towels with no mercy and this happened throughout the day! This was excellent and we applaud it! The only issue was, we saw one family have their towels taken and all they had done was go to the bar for a drink but the queue was so long, towels were gone! We also talked to 2 separate families who didn't dare go for lunch together and so went apart which seems a shame. Public toilets left a lot to be desired. I used the pool ones once as I have never smelt anything like it (and I'm a nurse). The toilets by the spa either were broken or the doors didn't lock leaving just one to go at. There are 3 in the lobby bar but one of these were generally out of order. These are my considered views and may not be that of others. Overall, we did enjoy the holiday because we just wanted to lay about, read books, play cards and have a few drinks. It seems slightly expensive for what you get but I guess it depends what you want :-)