Hotel Benalma Costa del Sol

We were made to feel extremely unwelcome from the moment we arrived, and unfortunately, the overall experience left us very disappointed. As an Indian family, we felt particularly uncomfortable being the only Indian guests during our stay. When I enquired about the all-inclusive package, two members of staff began speaking to each other in Spanish. The way the situation was handled made us feel judged and gave us the impression that they had already assumed we would not be interested in upgrading or could not afford it. We did, in fact, decide to upgrade, paying approximately €580 for just two days. For that amount of money, we expected a much better experience. There was no kids’ club available, the family pool was closed, and there was very little for families to enjoy. The food was also repetitive, with limited variety. What disappointed us further was being asked to pay an additional €35 for just one extra hour of late check-out. This felt unreasonable, especially considering that we saw several other guests checking out much later in the evening. I do want to acknowledge the staff members who made a positive impression. The team at the lobby bar, the person who organised the family bingo, and the staff at the Seaview restaurant were genuinely welcoming and provided good service. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about most of the reception staff, whose attitude came across as cold, dismissive and judgemental. Hospitality should be about making every guest feel welcome, respected and valued, regardless of their nationality or background. Sadly, this was not our experience. Overall, I genuinely regret choosing this hotel. Considering how much we paid, the facilities that were unavailable and, most importantly, the way we were treated, this stay was nowhere near the standard we expected.