Benalmadena Palace

Benalmádena Palace has some genuinely positive qualities, particularly the staff and the availability of facilities, but the overall experience is heavily shaped by how intensely family‑focused the hotel is. For adults or couples seeking relaxation, the environment and several operational issues make it fall very short of a four‑star standard.

✅ Pros

• Helpful, friendly staff — The team are consistently warm, accommodating, and quick to assist. •Upon check in, management moved us to a family room — A thoughtful gesture that made the stay more comfortable since we were travelling with my mother who has dementia and we needed to be in the same room so we could all look after her. • Adult activities throughout the day — Plenty of options if you want structured entertainment. • Lots of loungers available — No early morning scramble. • Clean overall — Rooms and shared spaces are well maintained.

❌ Cons

• Extremely family‑centric — The hotel is full of children and babies, which dominates the atmosphere. Screaming and shouting in every part of the hotel pretty much at all times. Kids running round and bumping into people and generally unpleasant if you’re on holiday to relax. • Kids are in the adult pool at all times and the staff don’t ask them to use the kids pool— during our stay a child pooped in the pool. This was unacceptable. The pool was closed for two hours and the offending poop was removed and several buckets of chemicals were added to the water. Children were allowed straight back into the adult pool. • No staff presence in the spa — Everything must be booked through reception, making it feel unmanaged. • Tiny towels in the rooms — Not what you’d expect from a four‑star hotel. • Defunct pool bar is a slip hazard — Three falls in one week, including two in your own family. I fell on off a very small step, cut my knee, ankle, bumped my head and knocked my self unconscious for several seconds. My father also slipped near the pool but thankfully was unharmed. • Prams everywhere at all times — Poolside, dinner, breakfast. This makes moving around the hotel difficult to navigate at any time of day, and impossible for people with accessibility issues. • Evening entertainment starts far too late — Main activities begin after 10pm, not ideal for adults or families. • Old and tired facilities and decor— The hotel does not meet four‑star expectations. • No air conditioning in restaurant or reception — extremely uncomfortable during warm weather. • Hotel is built on a steep hill — Floors are illogically arranged and confusing to access. This makes it challenging for prams or guests with physical disabilities, even the back path is tough to manage. • Hotel shop, spa, and on site hairdresser closed over the weekend — Limits what you can do during your stay. • Cocktails are mostly ice — Poor value for money. • Only one drink included with lunch and dinner — Restrictive for an all inclusive experience.

Final Verdict

The Benalmádena Palace has a kind, hardworking team and some convenient amenities, but the hotel is overwhelmingly geared towards families with very young children. The lack of adult only enforcement, the very dated facilities, multiple accessibility challenges, and several safety concerns mean it doesn’t live up to its four star rating. For travellers seeking a peaceful or adult focused break, this hotel is unlikely to meet expectations.

Please be aware of review ...... not being genuine. We stayed at hotel with family we were giving a room right next to bar and people could look in at 2 girls we had no privacy, we asked to be moved the receptionist was rude and actually comment on staff that we were a problem... the staff were not very friendly female staff, the food was basic nothing special what we would receive in 4 star hotel... our room had 2 girls in a sofa bed and me and husband..we didnt have beds made or clean sheet what was promised. No clean towels no bin in bathroom removed i had to go to hotel toilets to get toilet rolls even after complaining no rubbish took .... please trust this review as wouldnt want anyone to waste this amount of money thinking its 4 start hotel more like just a 3. We paid 600 pounds to have my daughter added for the week, which we asked for refund no response to complaints email.... I have contacted tour operator to ask for investigation into reviews, we spoken to 4 lots of family who said they were also so dissapointed as only came to hotel for the amazing reviews not a 4 star hotel.

Stayed for 7 nights and had a great time. Staff were so friendly, cleaners, waiters and reception especially Jeramiah, he was so attentive and lovely. Food is a bit repetitive but it was good. Room was very clean. Plenty of entertainment for kids and a playground. Hotel is a bit of a walk to restaurants etc but taxis were so cheap, but there is a supermarket beside the hotel which was super convenient. We will be back for sure!