Playacálida

We have just returned from a fantastic week at Playacálida as a family of 9, ranging in age from 6 to 59. Before travelling, I'd read a few reviews saying it wasn't the best hotel for British guests, but that couldn't have been further from our experience. Everyone we met, both staff and other guests, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We made an effort to greet people in Spanish, and it was always appreciated with a smile. We never felt out of place. One thing we actually loved was that the hotel was mainly Spanish and French guests, with very few other British families. It gave the holiday a much more authentic Spanish feel, and everyone was incredibly friendly. There isn't a big nightlife scene nearby or groups of people out drinking until late, which suited us perfectly. Instead, the hotel was full of families enjoying quality time together, creating a relaxed, safe and welcoming atmosphere for both children and adults. The entertainment team were brilliant, especially with the children. The evening mini disco was a highlight every night, and the energy of the entertainment staff was amazing. Our youngest preferred staying with us rather than going to the kids' club, but our older child absolutely loved the teenage club and made some great holiday memories. The food exceeded our expectations. There was plenty of choice at every meal, with something for everyone. We had both a very fussy eater and a vegan in our group, and neither struggled to find something they enjoyed. Our rooms were spacious, comfortable, and cleaned to a high standard every day. The pool areas were spotless, the views were absolutely stunning, and the children spent hours enjoying the slides. The hotel is in a quieter, more remote location, but honestly it had everything we needed, so we never felt like we were missing anything. One moment that really stood out was when we had difficulty getting back from a nearby town because of local festivals and road closures. Taxis were impossible to find, but the hotel stepped in and arranged for two taxis to come and collect all nine of us. They genuinely saved the day, and we were so grateful for their help. Overall, we had an amazing holiday and wouldn't hesitate to return. Thank you to everyone at Playacálida for making our family holiday so special!

Paola was an absolute dream she was so incredibly lovely! Had some problems at check in and she was so helpful and understanding. Great property and food.

Will definately come back again Excellent customer service Good food Good quality hotel beds. Children loved playing football by the beach There is a tennis cot, golf , swimming pools ( closed due to season) Spa facility with free gym access, however you pay for indoor swimming, jacuzzi and sauna (€40 per two adults ) A shop nearby for snacks if u need any otherwise plenty at the hotel . Reception staff - special mention to Eva who provided us with excellent service from the day we arrived Will definitely come nack

Fantastic hotel, great location and good value for money Staff are really friendly too! Hotel a little out of the main town of Almuñécar (approx 4km) but we had a car so we explored a little further. Hotel has great amenities and put on shows each night

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.

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.

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.