Playacalida Hotel

Recent Reviews: 3141

• User:junglistguy12

  Trip type: Couples

  Honest review

  24 May 2026

  The hotel is very nice, with great views and amazing pools. Its not in a very tourist place, which Is actually nice, lots of locals around and not many English speaking places, which makes a nice change. Lovely Spanish holiday. However there is some good and bad points. The reps have not spoken to us in 7 days, not even a "good morning " or "hello" they seem to only interact with the locals or French guests. There is absolutely no entertainment or music around the pools all day until 4pm, then its just water aerobics. You cannot take anything into the pools, like inflatables or even a ball. Entertainment at night is only is Spanish and French.Overall we had a very nice and relaxing holiday, but could have been improved in a few places. Oh yes, we have had no wifi in our room for 5 days, which is very annoying. Reception just keep saying "the technician is fixing it" The GOOD* good food* good drinks * good pools* good viewsThe BAD* bad reps * bad entertainment * bad wifi* bad beach (all stones) Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Playacalida Spa Hotel Luxury, responded to this review Dear Guest,Thank you for your review and for highlighting aspects we can continue to improve.We're delighted you appreciated our scenic views and well-maintained pools that create a relaxing environment. Your recognition of our culinary offerings and beverage selection is particularly encouraging for our team.However, we sincerely regret that some aspects of your experience fell short. While our entertainment schedule includes water aerobics and multilingual activities, we acknowledge your feedback about daytime poolside programming. Our technicians resolved the WiFi disruption affecting certain rooms during maintenance work, though we understand the inconvenience this caused.Many guests value our location's authentic local character, which provides cultural immersion while remaining close to Almuñecar's historic sites. The private balconies in all rooms remain popular for enjoying Costa Tropical's subtropical climate.We hope we will be able to welcome you back in the future.Best wishes,María Dolores Cifuentes Playacalida Hotel, Manager

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• User:Rosetta20

  Trip type: Solo travel

  It was decent stay!!

  20 May 2026

  I stayed here for 3 nights as solo female traveler and I felt very safe here. My review is based on all inclusive experience.The good:- The hotel is extremely clean everywhere. The staff is friendly however English is extremely limited, sometimes ordering water was challenging so make sure you got good translation app.The hotel has very quiet, relaxing atmosphere which is very opposite environment when people usually think of Spanish all inclusive. The crisps Lays and bottle of water is free however I do feel snack bar need more snack options without paying extra. The wifi is very good all day and in room. The buffet Simba restaurant was healthy selection of food and drink (seeds, soya milk, herbal teas, salad, fruits). The hotel room has bath gel, shampoo and body wash which is vegan. It feels amazing. The rooms is very spacious, the bathroom is massive. You can’t use sun loungers before 10am near pool as it is fully closed off until then, the snack bar by pool opens at noon. It’s very peaceful sunbathing by the pool. Because this solo trip was to celebrate my birthday, the hotel gifted me free champagne for my room which is very kind of them.The spa was good, very nice relaxing circuit I paid for (€25), I felt an hour was enough for me. The negatives bits:-The ice cream by the pool bar isn’t free despite the all inclusive information sheet claiming that it is. This same for mocktails indoor bar. I think it shouldn’t be extra on all inclusive basis. The spa would be more relaxing if it has zen meditation music playing in background. The outdoor infinity pool is cold so didn’t go in it as much as I would like.The gift shop is extremely pricey, it costed me €20.50 for 100ml of sun cream spray which is ridiculous amount. In UK it would be around £5 and when I have been to other countries they don’t charge that.Whilst I mentioned the buffet Simba was healthy, it is extremely limited and if you are gluten free / dairy free / fussy eater than you might find it challenging. There appeared to be more selection at lunch in comparison to dinner, I wish the other restaurants were open or at least have ‘theme’ nights for the buffets so it’s not the same rice, potatoes with grilled meat and salad each night. There was rather odd strange in my room that was musky, also smelt it with the glassware. My room was above the casino and in the evenings it was loud, all I could hear was air hockey until midnight. Whilst the free champagne was kind gesture, I sadly don’t drink alcohol which I informed two members of staff and asked if it could be swapped with non alcoholic beverages or mocktail which they responded with “no”. I did not like how they just assumed I drink alcohol and I feel the hotel staff should have did the swap. So it was rather disappointing not having to enjoy the drink on balcony as I was not allowed to take soft drink from bar to my room to enjoy too. The champagne did not feel like a thoughtful gesture. In previous 4/5 star hotels I stayed in, they would add little touches like make towels look like a swan, there’s none of that here. There was no decoration of birthday whilst other hotels might have decorated the room or upgraded room knowing it’s a milestone birthday. I would come back on the basis everything would be open so the all inclusive feels beneficial as I felt I was having full board due to charges of snacks. It is struggle being British in this hotel so it’s great if you are like myself who likes to avoid Brits on holiday as it’s mostly French and German guest. Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Playacalida Spa Hotel Luxury, responded to this review Dear Rosetta,Thank you very much for your feedback.We're delighted you found our facilities exceptionally clean and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere that makes our property unique. Our team takes pride in offering vegan amenities and spacious accommodations, and we're glad these aspects contributed to your comfort. The complimentary birthday gesture was our pleasure, and we're happy you appreciated the thought behind it.However, we sincerely regret that some elements of your stay didn't meet your preferences. While our all-inclusive package includes numerous benefits, we acknowledge your observations about certain beverage options and will review this with our food service team. Regarding room environment, our maintenance team is always available to address any concerns during stays.We're particularly pleased you enjoyed our wellness facilities and found the spa circuit rejuvenating. Your recognition of our tranquil pool area and diverse international guest mix is valued, as we aim to create a relaxing retreat for all travelers.We hope to see you again on a future occasion. Kind regards,María Dolores Cifuentes Playacalida Hotel, Manager

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• User:Denny D

  Trip type: Family

  Verbally Aggressive Staff.

  16 Apr 2026

  Although my daughter who lives in the area has had some good experiences over the years, and recommended many friends and family who have stayed, the good experience has been spoilt by a staff member being verbally aggressive to my 14 year old granddaughter and her friend.They were distraught.This has upset my family and we have decided to cancel our reservation. Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Playacalida Spa Hotel Luxury, responded to this review Dear Denny, We are disappointed to hear that we have not met your expectations.We are delighted that your family and friends have enjoyed their stays with us over the years and that they have found our facilities welcoming. Your repeat visits reflect the trust we strive to build with every guest. We deeply regret your dissatisfaction, but we have not adequately communicated that it is not possible to access the hotel’s facilities unless you are a guest. This was particularly the case on this occasion, as the hotel was fully booked for an educational foundation, meaning no other bookings could be accommodated. We hope that you may one day reconsider returning to enjoy your stay with us as you have done in the past. María Dolores Cifuentes Playacalida Hotel, ManagerMaría Dolores Cifuentes

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• User:Vacation23182863443

  Trip type: Solo travel

  Stunning, friendly and immaculate hotel in scenic if remote location

  07 Apr 2026

  I've given a 4 purely because of location - the hotel is a 5 for me it's stunning. I booked before reading the previous reviews and I was a bit alarmed when I did! There was no need to worry though as I found the staff and the predominantly Spanish guests to be really friendly towards a solo English older female tourist. The room (and I only had the standard room) was immaculate with balcony, views over the hillside dotted with villas and a side view of the beach. It had 2 very large king-size beds, a bath, a walk in shower, large wardrobe and a fridge with complimentary bottles of water.There are several pools - one that is tastefully designed like a river (with slides, jacuzzis etc) an indoor pool and a large fresh water infinity pool overlooking the sea. There is also a gym and a spa (which you pay extra for).There are several restaurants and bars and the food I found to be really good - it's all made freshly (omelettes, eggs, meat and fish cooked in front of you and plenty of fresh local produce) and there's lots of variety - you won't get the typical English "fry up" and "chips with everything! but there's plenty to suit all tastes. Also nice touches to cater for those with allergies etc. There's tapas, snacks and cakes and meals served at different venues throughout the day so you won't go hungry!If you tend to stay in resort you will find lots to keep you occupied (all ages), there's also a kids club and a theatre hosting shows every evening.I like to tour around and see places, but without a car it is hard work here. There is local bus service into Almunecar and you can get busses to other places from there, but it's not easy to tie them in with the local bus service. Also I'm quite fit, but the hotel might not suit those less mobile that want to get out and about as everything outside (including the beach) is either up or down a steep hill. There are no local tour companies offering trips to other places.If you like touring around this hotel isn't ideal but if you want an all encompassing resort holiday it is lovely (and friendly).I would like to give special mentions to Pablo (at the infinity pool bar) who helped me to decipher the busses (where I could and couldn't get to) and also to Gloria and Anna who work so hard but always have a smile for everyone.Top tip: learn a few words of Spanish as a please and thank you go a long way here. Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Playacalida Spa Hotel Luxury, responded to this review Dear Guest, We appreciate your candid feedback.We are thrilled you found our staff and fellow guests welcoming during your solo journey. Your kind words about the room’s comfort, the views from your balcony, and the variety across our pools and dining options are greatly appreciated.That said, we regret the challenges you faced exploring the area. While our hillside location offers scenic vistas, we recognize it can pose accessibility hurdles. Our team members, like Pablo, are always ready to assist with local transport insights to help guests navigate the region.Finally, it’s rewarding to hear how Gloria and Anna’s warm service contributed positively to your visit. We take pride in creating an environment where guests from diverse backgrounds feel at ease, and your experience reflects this commitment.It would be a pleasure to have you return.Best wishes,María Dolores Cifuentes Playacalida Hotel, Manager

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• User:T90K

  Trip type: Family

  Basic

  07 Apr 2026

  I wish I had delved deeper into the reviews before booking this hotel. The hotel itself is beautiful with the infinity pool and hot tubs but apart from that I don’t have many positive things to say.The first day we went to the pool my son had a small ball, he was told no balls allowed, this is the main reason a child stays entertained on holiday a basic ball. The rules are also dont jump in and don’t swim under water? So basically kids - no fun aloud. The lazy river pool and water slides are in the middle of the hotel amongst trees and bushes so these pools are constantly freezing in the shade. The buffet area is dirty i picked up various cutlery that had stale food stuck to it and for some bizarre reason not everything has a sign above it to tell you what it is very risky for someone who has any food allergies, the staff can’t keep on top of keeping the buffet topped up you have a chef trying to make fried eggs in one pan, omelettes in another then warming up some pancakes. I wouldn’t touch the meat it’s all pink. The all inclusive is different rules depend on which part of the hotel you go to, the infinity pool bar includes everything, if you go to the indoor cafe you have to pay for the same thing even though we booked all inclusive. In the indoor cafe I asked if my son could have a straw for his drink and she said no straws are for cocktails only - how pathetic. The beach nearby isn’t a beach it’s all stones no sand but there are some nice places to eat, we had to go out and pay to eat as we couldn’t face the buffet 3 times a day. I visited in April so dread to think what state the hotel is in when it comes to summer. Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Playacalida Spa Hotel Luxury, responded to this review Dear Guest, Thank you for providing us with your feedback, it is always gratefully received.We are delighted you appreciated the beauty of our Arabic-style resort and found our infinity pool and hot tubs enjoyable. Your recognition of these features motivates us to maintain high standards for our guest experiences.That said, we sincerely regret that several aspects of your stay fell short of your expectations. Our all-inclusive policies aim to provide consistent service across all areas, and we apologize for any confusion encountered at the indoor café regarding inclusions and straw availability. We are reviewing buffet presentation protocols with our culinary team to ensure clearer labeling and replenishment efficiency. While our lazy river's natural surroundings often enhance its charm, we acknowledge the temperature can vary seasonally and appreciate your observation.Nonetheless, we’re pleased you discovered nearby culinary options during your stay. Our location near Almuñécar’s cultural landmarks and pristine waters remains a highlight for many visitors exploring Costa Tropical.We look forward to the pleasure of seeing you again.Best regards,María Dolores Cifuentes Playacalida Hotel, Manager

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