Don Carlos Marbella♡

Lucia at Don Carlos

10.0

Juan Fran was a really nice bar renter at the Lucia beach club. He had great recommendations and was always here to make sure we had all we needed. Very nice and polite person.

Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre stay

10.0

We have visited Rafa Nadal tennis centre with our son. He really enjoyed the experience. His coach Enrique was jus emazing, paying attention to every detail and very personal touch. Maggy the coordinator extremely helpful and accommodating Would surely visit again. Facilities are also fantastic. Very well maintained courts, clean. All perfect

Tennis at Rafa , Marbella

10.0

We have been coming here for 37 years , The Rafa nadal centre is a great new addition , Greta to see the familiar and friendly faces of Maggy and Tenea who as always are really helpful , the coaches Henrique and Gabby have made thr group lessons very enjoyable and are flexible and encouraging ! Paki makes delicious smoothies! A great team ‘

Manero bar at Don Carlos

10.0

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 🫶🏼.

Great recommedation, beautiful hotel and friendly personnel

10.0

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.

Nice hotel, nice location but with several problems.

6.0

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.