Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa

We had an absolutely wonderful time at the Don Carlos Hotel in Marbella – everything was simply perfect. From the moment we arrived, we felt incredibly welcome. The atmosphere was warm and personal, almost like being part of a family. A very special thank you goes to Adrián at the front desk. He did a fantastic job! His professionalism, kindness, and natural way of connecting with guests truly stood out. Adrián knows exactly how to make people feel at home – always attentive, helpful, and genuinely friendly. Thanks to him, we felt looked after and valued throughout our entire stay.

The Don Carlos Resort is amazing place, fancy looks and wonderful service, the staff are very helpful and friendly, specially Libby and Angel from customer service team Only one draw back in this place: they have a beach club called Lucia summer camp, it should have some places for the resort guests , they actually claim that all guest places are booked (while they are not) and their staff are very bad, no client respect and the club is actually a rip off, no service and all they care about is to charge you 65 euros per person just to sit around a dirty pool.

Is a pity see a marvelous location, great infrastructure and such a terrible service. Elevators did not work Beach service do not exists in a beach hotel And when I am saying that not exists is that in the beach you so not have any service from the hotel Is impossible to compare this “suppose” 5 star hotel in marbella with Los Monteros or the greats Nobu, Puente Romano or Marbella Club My fair recommendation is to avoid Don Carlos and choose another one

After a long renovation the Don Carlos has reopened. The results are stylish and contemporary and the gardens are still so very beautiful and in both the lobby and breakfast terrace the garden seems to be thriving all around in both decor and indoor planting. The views of the mountains and garden to the front are stunning from the lobby, both a new vista for this area. The most important point to mention in my opinion is the staff. The service and friendliness are outstanding. We met some ‘old’ friends (Antonio - Concierge) and made many news ones. The Guest Relations department are truly excellent in every way and this department a great addition which I think was missing previously- Itziar (Patriziar) helpful and kind in every way, her entire staff are great. Thank you to Marta for helping with vegetarian options and Franc by the pool. Breakfast was good and thank you to Pamela and her team including Luz and Isaias Gomez. There are of course good and bad features and some unfinished areas and a second visit in a few months is on the horizon for us.

I’ve been a loyal fan of Don Carlos for years and have always recommended it to friends and family — so I was excited to return after their recent renovation. I can happily say that the hotel has entered a new chapter with elegance, incredible service, and a renewed sense of energy. The renovated gym is genuinely impressive — one of the best I’ve seen in any hotel, with a fantastic variety of machines and a thoughtfully designed space. The breakfast experience is another standout: fresh, generous, and beautifully presented, with a yogurt bar that deserves a special mention. The real highlight, though, is the team behind the experience. Every member of staff I encountered was kind, attentive, and eager to make the stay special. I especially want to thank Itziar, the Director of Guest Experience, who went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable and happy. Her level of care and professionalism exceeded my expectations and turned a few initial hiccups into a completely seamless and enjoyable stay. Yes, there were some early signs that the hotel may have reopened just a little too soon operationally — but that’s to be expected with a renovation of this scale. What matters most is how quickly and gracefully the team responded. Everything I brought up was handled with care, urgency, and genuine hospitality. The new Lucía Beach Club is also a stylish and fun addition to the resort, and while it operates separately, the hotel team made sure I always felt looked after. Overall, this has been a five-star experience — not because everything was perfect from the start, but because the people here made sure it became perfect by the end. That kind of service and attention is what sets Don Carlos apart, and I’m already looking forward to coming back.