Marbella Club Hotel

We had been looking forward to this holiday for a long time, which is why we are especially disappointed with our experience.

On our first night, we were given a room where the bathtub was covered with hair, which was a very unpleasant first impression. Even more frustrating, a family of birds had built a nest directly outside our room door, making it impossible for us to sleep. As a result, neither we nor our two young children (aged 2 and 4) were able to get any proper rest.

The following day, I reported the issue, and the staff were very kind and helpful. They immediately offered us another room, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, this room overlooks the bar, and we had to listen to loud music and the evening entertainment until 11:30 p.m. Once again, our 2- and 4-year-old children, as well as ourselves, were unable to get a good night’s sleep.

I would like to emphasize that the staff, especially the colleague who assisted us, did everything they could to help, and everyone has been friendly and professional throughout our stay. However, despite their efforts, we are extremely disappointed. Considering the significant amount we paid for this holiday, we expected to be able to relax and enjoy a peaceful stay. Had we known in advance that we would spend both nights without being able to sleep properly, we certainly would not have chosen this hotel.

In addition, the soundproofing of the rooms is very poor. Every noise from the corridor can be heard clearly, and we could also hear conversations and other sounds from the neighboring rooms, making it even more difficult to rest.

I’m sure that, in its heyday, Marbella Club was a truly beautiful and distinguished property. Sadly, our experience felt more like style over substance.

For anyone looking for an elegant, tranquil and genuinely discerning hotel, this may not be the right choice. Breakfast was consistently hectic and chaotic, with the terrace struggling to accommodate guests when the hotel was at full occupancy. We appreciate that the outdoor setting and surrounding nature mean birds can occasionally make a mess. However, being shown to a table covered in bird faeces, despite paying approximately £3,000 per night, was unacceptable. Even after we highlighted it to staff, no meaningful effort was made to clean the table properly or replace the linen.

The food across the property was generally good, and the pool staff were undeniably attentive. However, as the stay progressed, we found ourselves continually lowering our expectations.

There was very little sense of personalised service. Rather than feeling valued as individual guests, the experience felt transactional, as though the focus was simply to move guests through as efficiently and profitably as possible.

The rooms are also in need of refurbishment. On arrival, we were allocated a room below the category we had booked and paid for. Reception initially tried to explain that room categories were based on size rather than the photographs displayed online. After I produced our reservation correspondence and demonstrated that the room was incorrect, the hotel eventually acknowledged the mistake. We then waited approximately three hours while the correct room was prepared.

Marbella Club may appeal to those looking for an Instagramable backdrop where they can showcase their latest luxury purchases, pay a premium and move on. However, beneath the image, we found the hotel lacking the understated elegance, refinement and genuine hospitality its reputation suggests.

The sense of old-world class now feels more like a memory of a bygone era than the reality of the current guest experience.