Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa

We came to Manero Bar at Don Carlos Marbella for cocktails and wine and I have to say that is The Gem of the hotel. We’ve been served by Daniel, high class. Bold service, Amazing cocktails by Hugo. Great atmosphere. So far the best spot at the hotel, shout out to Manero!! first class spot. We will definitely come back 🫶🏼.

Truly 5 start experience for our family. Clean and beautiful interiors, friendly and kind stuff, nice heated outdoor pool and good restaurant for snacks. Gym was also good, tennis courts available, adult spa calm and beautiful. We we'll most definitely come back on summer time. Kids area was still under construction, but it didn't bother us. Breakfast excellent, huge recommendation for this resort.

The hotel is very nice and positioned well in order to reach restaurants and a short walk to the beach. Advertised as 5 star and in many ways that would be correct BUT there are some important downfalls (at least to my wife and myself). Firstly, they do not have anywhere near enough staff. It is really noticeable at breakfast where the service (despite the marvellous efforts of those serving) is akin to a 3 star if that. Getting coffee takes an age and is given in a tiny cup. So you have to ask for more but no one around. For water I just go and take my own bottle now before Indie of thirst. And don’t get me started on the buffet. Yesterday there was a line of 10 people waiting for omelettes or whatever eggs of choice. I gave up. Today the same although if you go at 5 minutes before they close the buffet then there is more of a chance to get something cooked. The quality of choice of the buffet is poor for a 5 star. There is enough to eat of course even without cooked eggs but it is very limited. I don’t eat bread (as a diabetic) but I would have crackers. Problem is that there are none. So a limited buffet breakfast with limited staff (the manager confirmed that they only have staffing levels at 50%) yet we are paying 5 start prices. Now let’s move to the pool area. Not a chair to be found after 11am. I refuse to go out before breakfast and reserve chairs. I used to do that in my younger days but now I can pay for a 5 star service so I expect there to be options. Meantime, there are lovely gardens but no chairs provided to sit there. Then you have the “Beach Club”. It’s a nice area but where they simply have to play music very loud. Not sure why anyone over the age of 25 would want to sit there and indeed it is very sparsely populated. It would take the strain off of the main pool area if they could be more accommodating. Forgot to mention the second pool area where no one sits because the pool is freezing (the main pool is heated) and anyway there is no one servicing there. If you want a drink then tough. It’s really not 5 star luxury. The bottom line is that the hotel does not want to pay for proper staffing levels at least at breakfast and are happy to squeeze everyone around a smallish pool area where it is impossible to get sun-beds after a certain time. By the way, they also insist on playing music in the main pool area. It is not terribly loud but still, why do we have to listen to music all day long. If we want music almost everyone has headphones and a cell phone. We have started at the former Kempinski Hotel and at the IKOS resort. Both are greatly superior. Maybe the Don Carlos Marbella could achieve a 5 star but it means they would have to spend money on additional staff and make it possible to sun bathe utilising the full space in the hotel grounds. I tend to feel that the ownership are more interested in their bottom line profit margins than providing a real 5 start experience for their customers.

By chance we took our son for some private tennis lessons at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center at the Dan Carlos Hotel. It was so wonderful that a single lesson turned into a week of lessons and we met the most lovely people. Maggy greet you it makes you feel like a long lost friend or family member. She is cheerful, smart, lovely and so good at keeping the place smooth and efficient. Kíke is our son’s tennis coach. He’s amazing with kids. His intuitive very present and extremely generous with his knowledge and his training. But it’s much more than that. It’s very hard to describe how great this place is. I’d be happy to come here every day and just have a coffee and take the atmosphere. This is truly been one of the highlights of our trip this year and we really look forward to coming back later this year again. Maggy, Kíke, David and everybody at the Nadal Tennis Center are great.

My friend and I came out for the weekend at the last minute. Weather wasn’t great unfortunately, so we booked a spa afternoon. Wow! The team at the spa were so helpful and efficient. Our treatment were first class (tailored full body massage, reflexology and indian head massage), probably the best treatments we have ever had! Highly recommend. Huge thank you to our spa therapists Sonia & Glenda, we hope to be back very soon!