AluaSoul Costa Malaga

The location of the hotel is quite a walk to the beach area, lovely walk through the market etc however a lot of stairs and uphill. The rooms we stayed in were clean, modern and the reception area is lovely.. we however we’re awoken on our first morning by water pourinf through the ceiling and the lights we went to reception and someone attended straight away we had to leave them in the room whilst they worked on the issue but we were happy it was being resolved. When we returned we were told it was all resolved. The following morning again the same thing happened however this time some of our belongings were covered in the dirty water. This was the morning of my partners 30th birthday so I was less pleased about the situation - this time no one attended for over an hour and when we approached reception again the girl on the desk was less than helpful and quite dismissive. After waiting another few hours on the manager arriving we had to again for back to them to chase for an update which caused us to miss out on a morning trip we had planned. On day 2 the staff seemed less concerned and the manager advised they hadn’t actually fixed the issue the previous day as they couldn’t access the room above so they were aware it would happen again. We were moved to a larger room following this however the day had been impacted by then. There was also not enough beds for standard guests. They have a large area reserved for club members however each day all full length loungers were full within 15mins of the pool opening. They will then charge you for use of cabanas when the pool area is full. Nice hotel however service/experience could be improved

The hotel is in a good central location, about five minutes walk to the main part of town and about fifteen minutes from the beach. The hotel was lovely, my room was spacious with a comfy bed, good bathroom and a nice balcony big enough for a couple of chairs a little table. I was on the ninth floor so I had a good view down over the pool as well as out over the surrounding area, and I could even see the sea beyond that. The room had a fridge under the desk and a kettle and mugs with a selection of tea and coffee supplied which I appreciated. The pool area was pretty and very well maintained, the pool wasn't huge but I preferred that as it felt less intimidating when I went down there on my own. At the times I went down to use the pool, around 4pm, it was quieter and the water was warm from having the sun on it all day. The pool bar outdoor seating was alongside the pool, meaning you could have a swim and then enjoy a few drinks on an evening. I was staying bed and breakfast and although the food was similar each day, there was a big enough vareity to choose from that you could have something different each morning, and the food itself was very good. The fresh baked croissants and pain au chocolat were delicious. The staff were all very professional and friendly, from the ladies on reception who helped me when I was having trouble connecting to the wifi, to the pool bar and restaurant staff, and even the housekeeping staff who always had a smile and a greeting when they passed you in the corridors. When I was due to leave I had an evening flight and the hotel stored my luggage for me, and there was a bathroom I could use to change before getting my airport transfer. As a solo traveller I often feel awkward eating alone in restaurants and dining rooms or using the pool on my own but here I felt very comfortable. Overall I very much enjoyed my stay and would defintely return, and recommend it to others. The only thing I didn't like was the in-room safe hire. Most hotels ask for a deposit for a key which you get back at the end of the week. Here, it is a charge of 5 euros a day, not a deposit. I would have felt better if I was able to put my valuables in a safe but ended up having to keep them in my case.