Villa Laredo

Great hotel, first class service from hotel staff, fantastic location

Rather basic, but clean. No armchair or dressing table in our room, the shower decides for itself from moment to moment what temperature and pressure you'll get. Cleaning staff were v helpful and kind, some reception staff have only limited English but others were v good. Recommended if you're OK with basic.

I needed a short, budget break, and so looked at Costa Del Sol. I was travelling solo. I engaged with an Independent travel agency, Johnsons Holidays, who were fantastic throughout, and I thoroughly recommend them! I chose Hotel Villa de Laredo, keenly priced and super near to the beach. The website looked good as well as the amenities on offer. I booked a 4 night stay b&b. Flight and transfer was fine. I arrived around noon, and was checked in by the morning staff. The foyer was clean and tidy. I was given a room on the top floor(5) and so went up in the lift. The room itself was basic, but I didnt expect anything more to be honest! The "minibar" stated in the webpage is just a mini-fridge, but didnt matter to me anyway. There is a small balcony with two plastic chairs, but again, not enough to have a drink on, and mine faced the street and another block of apartments, so didnt spend any time there! Aircon was good, not too noisy, and room clean. The bathroom has the oldest hairdryer ive ever seen-and ive seen them in public swimming pools back when I was a teenager! (im 62). but again, the bathroom had everything I needed. A pool on the top floor which I never visited, as it is a little windy and I want about to test a rooftop area with safety rails that lacked a little something! The beach was literally a stones throw away. Busy with Spanish families, which I loved. I chose to use loungers, which were a fixed price of 8 euros for the day, which was fine for me. The solo people were relegated to the back row though, no seafront ones for us! Again, not a problem. But as all the Spanish DONT pay for loungers and just use their parasols and chairs, actually getting into the sea for a swim can be a challenge as you negotiate around everyone! But the weather was glorious so who cares?! The snack bars were aplenty, and the food quality relatively good. I dined out to a local restaurant, which again, had good food. But I soon realised that solo women travellers can be an invisible bunch. I waited at an icecream parlour for 10 minutes before anyone noticed me, and so didnt stay. The main promenade has everything from one end to the other, I stayed the lower end as I was not there for the bars and cheap cocktails on offer! A pleasant stay all in all, but........ The morning staff were not friendly or polite. No one said good morning to me. The breakfast and the room it resided in was tired and needed urgent maintenance - the floor had tiles missing, and the food was poorly presented. In the afternoon the changeover staff were must better at customer service, and always looked after me. My tv never worked from the moment I arrived, but again, not a gamechanger for me. I did feel vulnerable though, on the top floor, near to the lift, and on my own. safety was good from what I saw, they did check everyone going in had a pass, but I still felt a little uncomfortable. When my stay was over, I left the hotel, but again, no one thanked me for my stay, or waited that I got into the transfer safely. The transfer shuttle though was great, Malaga Airport was fabulous. and the flight quick. I would summarise by saying, the website does not reflect the hotel - lower (greatly) your expectations! Customer service was poor. Food not great and with some small adjustments, this could be a better budget stay. I would compare Fuengirola to an English Clacton, and this hotel for young friends, couples and solos only. This Hotel could be a real goldmine, but the staff sadly seem as tired as the building.