Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa

Celebrated my husband's 60th birthday 🎈 here. Fabulous food, excellent staff & service. Great place to stay. We would highly recommend this hotel & having an indoor heated pool & great Spa means you can enjoy the facilities any time of the year!

First, the pros (this will be quick as there were not many) - Hotel staff was very kind, helpful and courteous (Laura and Raquel shine bright in this very dismal atmosphere) - Actual suite was quite spacious and had a beautiful view of the ocean. Now on to the cons - Roaches!!!! While they seemed to be contained to the lower level of the property (sadly where the main buffet was located), there was definitely an infestation problem. Needless to say, we were very disgusted and unable to eat our meals on property once we became aware. - Very dated and dirty. We selected the property for its more unique look and feel, but were met instead by very old, worn, and stained decor. - Limited access to entertainment/activities. The pool and beach access close at 6 and there weren’t many activities offered/advertised by the resort. Since the property is not in a walkable area, you have to take a taxi to enjoy any of the local fun. - Bland and inauthentic food. Before discovering the roach problem, we did dine at the resort. Like many all-inclusive hotels, Elba offered bland and tasteless food, as well as limited options that reflect the local cuisine. - Smell of sulfur around the pool area. The smell persisted for some time. All of the feedback I’ve shared here was shared directly with the hotel staff. They said they are aware of the insect problem and claim this is a new issue. No other direct responses were provided regarding our other concerns.

The hotel is very beautiful. Specially I was impressed about their Open landscaped gardens around the pool and other areas. They are amazing. Very clean and nice room with fantastic view towards garden and sea. Staff are friendly, supportive and polite. Fantastic buffet breakfast. Very good massages and Thalasso Spa. I really enjoyed stay in this hotel .

Overall we had a very positive experience at the hotel. The staff are so pleasant and very helpful and the welcome we received when we arrived really set our holiday off to a great start. There were a few minor items that didn’t impact on our experience but could be improved. We stayed in a suite: One of the sinks was blocked, the cleaners would have been aware if this but it was not addressed. We received only one drinking glass in the room. Cleaning was very basic, simple things like refilling shampoo and conditioner was missed. We did love the room though and we had a wonderful see view. In terms of the hotel in general: Sun beds could be upgraded, they are plastic and not overly comfortable. We wouldn’t recommend the spa, we got a poor massage and facial shortly after we arrived. Birds flying into the restaurant, it’s a bit of an issue, you cannot leave food unattended and you may be unlucky if they leave you a gift! There are numerous ways that you can deter birds from partly outdoor restaurants. The hotel should look at this. Quite a few of the reviews, mention the 5 star rating. It is evident from the pricing that it is not a true 5 star so you know this will not be the standard when you are booking. We would rate it a very strong 4 star. Final points, the hotel is right at the sea front but the beach is a stoney beach so not for swimming or sunbathing. Waves can be loud at night but this did not bother us. There is a supermarket and pharmacy across the road, it’s a motorway so you use a foot bridge. You will need a car or taxi to get to restaurants at the Port a few minutes away or to the main centre of Estapona. There are some lovely towns around the area and some lovely beaches but you will need a car to explore. Overall we enjoyed our holiday. We will return to the hotel group but perhaps not the location as we have experienced or now.

Staff are excellent and very helpful however sadly the hotel needs investment to bring it up to 5 star standard. Breakfast was excellent and the room was lovely we used the spa most rooms not working which was frustrating pool good thought you need a car to get anywhere.

Our first visit since the Pandemic and pleased to find the hotel still holding up very well. We had room 423 on the eastmost corner of the hotel which gave us unbeatable views to Estepona and Gibraltar. The room was large and well equipped, just a couple of minor points, the English language news etc was not available on TV during our stay, also we had a bit of a fiasco with the Mini Bar, (being charged for things we did not use) but this was quickly resolved at reception. Food in the hotel was generally very good with service to match. We liked the Paris Roma menu slightly better than the Al Andalus, both good value. On some the nights both restaurants were closed due to “Events” (wedding parties etc). On one of these occasions we tried the buffet and found that very good also and great value at 35 Euros. The breakfast spread was excellent and the eggs and beans are now on hot plates by the bacon etc, so you can enjoy a truly hot breakfast. Outside facilities were well kept, gardens, pools etc and really show off the scale of the place. Access to Estepona is now improved due to further development of the coastal path, no more scrambling over rocks. Care is necessary however due to cyclists and E-bikes speeding along the new pathways. If you like walking, the path in the other direction to Port Duquesa has also been improved In May we found that the public toilets all along the beach were closed until after 11am so an almost two-hour walk to the end of Rada beach needed a bit of planning, good excuse for a Coffee stop. We have been many times Hotel Elba from its original opening as a 5-star Gran Luxe. Although we have found a few rough edges over the years, the scale and concept of the place are still impressive and we are happy to keep Elba on our list of favourites. You get a lot for your money here and we continue to rate it a (very good) 4 star. We intend to return.

Stayed on the 11th - 13th May 2024. The hotel was clean. The staff were very friendly. The bedroom was excellent with a balcony. The bathroom was superb. Parking was free. Nice bar area. Only 1 choice of white wine. The only quibble with the hotel was the location. It was not possible to walk anywhere and use of the car was essential to get to the town.

We stayed at this hotel for 3 nights. I called the hotel directly to book a reservation. The customer service representative was helpful, pleasant, and efficient. She confirmed the price and promptly sent an email confirmation. The check-in/out process was easy and hassle free. Staff were warm, friendly, and attentive. Our room had a balcony overlooking the swimming pool and Mediterranean Sea. It was comfortable and well maintained. All the usual amenities were included. Breakfast in the main dining room was excellent. They have hot and cold foods, fresh fruits and juices, and an egg station. We had an ala carte dinner in the Paris Roma Restaurant. Great food and service. This property is clean and well maintained inside and outside. Give their spa a visit and relax in the Thalasso pool. We took a long walk along the coastline, too. There is free public parking just outside the hotel. It is a great place to relax and unwind.