Cortijo del Mar Resort And Apartamentos

Recent Reviews: 231

• User:Catherine B

  Trip type: Couples

  May not return!

  19 Sept 2025

  We have visited Cortijo Del Mar almost every year since 2016, which is a testament to how much we have enjoyed staying here in the past. Sadly, our experience this year has made us rethink, and we may now look at other options when we return to Marbella.The resort has clearly changed under the new management and, unfortunately, it felt like a “ghost town” during our visit. On arrival at night, the security guard handed us our keys but, unlike previous years, did not accompany us to the apartment. Instead, we were given a map and some directions and ended up getting lost in the dark.The apartment itself was extremely disappointing and not the standard we have come to expect over the years. The furniture was shabby (some even looked like garden furniture), there was no hairdryer, the coffee machine didn’t work, the shutters in one bedroom wouldn’t close, and unlike before, there were no toiletries provided in the bathroom. We requested a move the following day — which was agreed to — but the process took up most of our first morning, and we had to move all of our luggage ourselves with no assistance offered (not ideal given the size of the resort). We were told that not as many apartments are now available to the management, which perhaps explains the inconsistency in quality. Still, it raises the question: how does Cortijo Del Mar monitor the condition of apartments to ensure guests receive a consistent standard? The contrast between our first and second apartments was huge.The cleaning service was also not what it used to be. During our stay, there was no change of bed linen at all, and the daily cleaning was very basic — just emptying the bins and replacing towels. In previous years, this aspect of the service felt much more thorough and added to the overall comfort of the stay.Another major concern was the pool and pool bar/restaurant. On our first day, neither was open on time, and we found that the advertised opening hours are now much later than before. This is frustrating for holidaymakers who want to make the most of the facilities. On several occasions, the pool barriers weren’t opened properly and guests, including children, had to go around them to get in — not very safe. Only a handful of loungers were ever put out, with the rest left stacked, and the two lifeguards seemed disengaged, often sitting together on their phones and even taking breaks at the same time, leaving the pool unattended. In previous years, the pool opened early, loungers were all set out, and lifeguards worked properly, alternating breaks so the pool was always supervised.When we raised this with reception, we were told that “the community” now runs the pool and restaurant, so the resort has no control. This seems like a serious issue, as it directly affects guests’ holiday experiences.Overall, it feels as though Cortijo Del Mar has lost the charm, quality, and level of service that once made it such a special place. Sadly, after so many wonderful stays over the years, we are now considering other options for our future visits to Marbella — somewhere that offers the consistent quality and customer care that used to be the hallmark of this resort.

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• User:Christian B

  Trip type: Family

  Less than impressed

  05 Sept 2025

  I’ll save my full review for when I get home, but in the meantime the photos say it all. The team here have truly mastered the art of doing the absolute bare minimum. The pool area? Still fenced off with barriers, because apparently moving them is far too much effort. (Saturday 4pm).

• User:Trip34657595681

  Trip type: Couples

  Avoid if you want a pool

  15 Apr 2025

  Apartment was firstly spacious The biggest issue is that we paid for a private collection apartment and a private pool.We were told the pool would be open on Tuesday - fine as it’s April but with warm weather!Then we were told that it won’t be open - so we have paid extra for a private pool we can’t use! The hotel reception are so unhelpful and really just didn’t care. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such awful and u welcoming customer service

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• User:GaryM331

  Trip type: Family

  A very pleasant stay

  05 Sept 2024

  We made a last-minute booking at this resort through Easy Jet Holidays. I am familiar with the Costa del Sol area, having visited it several times over the years, but this was my first stay near Estepona.The resort/hotel's location was a critical factor in our decision. Although I came across some mixed reviews on TripAdvisor, I've learned from my extensive travels that high reviews don't always guarantee a great experience, so I approached the trip with an open mind.We caught the early morning flight and landed in Malaga around 10 am. After picking up the car hire, we drove to the resort, which took approximately 50 minutes. Although we knew that check-in wasn't until later, the reception pleasantly surprised us by informing that our apartment was ready early. Checking in at 12 pm made a great start after an early morning flight.Since our apartment was in the private section, we were given an assigned underground parking space with a fob for access. The parking led to stairs and a lift, providing easy access to the apartment. Our two-bedroom apartment had a main and a twin room, both of which were very comfortable. The air conditioning worked effectively, and there was plenty of space and all the facilities we needed, including a washing machine. Unfortunately, the oven didn't work, but we reported this immediately, and reception promptly informed maintenance. They attempted to fix it, but it wasn't possible. Although we were offered a new apartment, we decided not to move.The WhatsApp service provided by the reception was excellent in terms of communication and advice. They were very helpful throughout our stay.The private pool was a winner with my kids, who quite often had it all to themselves. The main pool is big and we had no issues with getting sunbeds. The grass area is an issue, and hopefully the owners will consider replacing some of the turfed areas with patio, which will make it more practical and clean. The pool bar was nice, and the staff friendly.Restaurants - In the local area, we visited La Grappa twice and Lola's, the tapas bar. Both restaurants were excellent and good value.Overall, it was a very pleasant stay, but a car made it possible to explore beaches and other areas, including a day trip to Gibraltar (one-hour drive).Thank you for a great stay! We would return in the future. Marketing Cortijo del Mar, Marketing at Cortijo Del Mar Resort, responded to this review Thank you so much for sharing your detailed review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a very pleasant stay and appreciated the convenience of checking in early after your flight. It's great that the two-bedroom apartment provided the space and comfort your family needed, and we’re glad the air conditioning and facilities met your expectations, even though we regret the issue with the oven. We appreciate your understanding and are glad the quick response from our team helped.We’re happy to know the private pool was a hit with your kids and that the main pool was spacious enough for you to enjoy. Your feedback about the grass area is noted, and we will consider your suggestion about replacing some of the turf to improve practicality.It’s also wonderful to hear that you had a great experience with local restaurants and that your trip was enhanced by the ability to explore the surrounding areas, including Gibraltar.We hope to welcome you back in the future for another enjoyable stay. Thanks again for choosing us!

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• User:fabian f

  Trip type: Family

  Terrible Experience - Avoid This Place!

  09 Aug 2024

  We recently stayed at Cortijo del Mar Resort, and it was a complete disaster. I highly recommend avoiding this place, especially during the summer season. Here's why:1. Lack of Beach Umbrellas: For an entire resort, they only have nine beach umbrellas by the pool. Nine! With 9 of us in two families, we had to camp out at the pool from 9 AM just to secure one measly umbrella. This is unacceptable for any resort, especially one claiming to be a "luxury" destination.2. Rude Residents: On our last day, despite being at the pool since early morning, a resident showed up at 5 PM and decided to invade our space. When we politely approached her, she became incredibly rude, and her family joined in, creating an uncomfortable and hostile environment. It was absolutely shocking and made us feel unwelcome.3. Hygiene Issues: The pool was CLOSED on our second day because someone had defecated in it. Yes, you read that right. 4. Tired Apartments: The apartment we stayed in looked nothing like the photos advertised online. It was tired and lacked the "luxury" we were promised. It was a major let down and not worth the money at all.5. Unhelpful Management: When we raised our concerns with the manager, he was completely indifferent and basically said there was nothing he could do. Customer service was non-existent.Overall, this was one of the worst holiday experiences we've ever had. Save yourself the disappointment and stay somewhere else. We will never be returning to Cortijo del Mar Resort. Marketing Cortijo del Mar, Marketing at Cortijo Del Mar Resort, responded to this review Hello,We deeply regret that your experience was unsatisfactory and we understand that these issues have negatively affected your holiday. We would like to address your points one by one to clarify the situation and provide a balanced perspective.1. **Poolside umbrellas**: We recognise that the availability of umbrellas can be limited during peak season, and we are working to improve this to ensure greater comfort for all our guests.2. **Interaction with other residents**: We deeply regret the unpleasant experience with other residents. While we have no control over the behaviour of individual guests, we encourage an atmosphere of mutual respect and work to mediate situations when they are brought to our attention.3. **Hygiene problems at the pool**: Unfortunately, unexpected incidents such as the one you mention can occur in any public place. We closed the pool temporarily to ensure that it was thoroughly cleaned and safe for everyone. Safety and hygiene are our top priorities.4. **Condition of the apartment: We are sorry that the apartment did not meet your expectations. The photos on our website are representative, but we understand that there may be discrepancies. We appreciate your feedback and will review the apartment in question to ensure that it meets our standards of quality.5. **Management Response: We apologise for any inconvenience.We apologize if you felt the manager's response was inadequate. We strive to address all of our guests' concerns and regret that on this occasion a satisfactory solution was not achieved.We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience as it helps us to improve. Should you decide to give us another opportunity in the future, we would be delighted to provide you with a much more positive experience that meets your expectations.

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