Having found myself with an extra day off work in February, I booked a two-night stay in Estepona, as a treat for the whole family.
The weather was still decent enough for the middle of February, and the idea of exploring the ‘The Garden of Costa del Sol’ was enough to lure in my husband and son.
Once we figured out the transport options from Fuengirola, we found ourselves in Estepona, after 1-hour bus ride, and a 10 minutes taxi drive from the bus station.
I picked the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel based on the value for money and services they offered – a very good size room, with a sea view, extra space for a child and breakfast included in the price.
What I wasn’t crazy about was the location – it’s just outside of Estepona so if you want to venture to the old town, you have to drive or take a taxi ride (we’re a family that’s keen on walking everywhere).
My research confirmed that this is the case with most hotel options in Estepona, you’re unlikely to find anything as big as this hotel near the main coastline in the town itself. This is fine if your plan is to stay in the hotel during your holiday and don’t want to venture out every day – and you can certainly do that here as they offer all-inclusive dining, and the hotel has everything you could possibly need to enjoy your stay.
Here is my (not so short!) review!
Check in
The check-in was very fast and smooth, and I was delighted to have been offered a refreshing drink upon arrival – something you don’t see very often even in 5-star resorts.
The staff spoke perfect English, they were very professional and accomodating. There were no lengthy forms to fill in and everything was handled within a few minutes.
We arrived an hour early before check-in and our room was already prepared, so we finished our drinks in the lobby and headed to the room.
Deluxe Double Room with Sea View
After getting lost in the hallways and the wrong lift (the hotel is huge!), we finally made it to our room.
We have splashed out extra on a double room with a sea view, to make the most out of our stay. The room was fit for 3 adults, they have included a full-size bed for our son.
The room opens up through a long hallway, with access to the bathroom on the left side. The room was extremely spacious, with a generous size balcony and two chairs.
The views were well worth paying for – we were lucky enough to score a corner room, so had a lot more privacy on the balcony too. On our first day, it was so clear that you could see the rock of Gibraltar in the distance – a first time for me!
The room had two single beds pushed together to form a double bed. Unfortunately, the sleep quality wasn’t that great because the mattress seems to be an old-fashioned one with springs, and only one pillow was provided on each bed, which didn’t make for a very comfy sleep.
The bathroom was probably the biggest one I’ve seen so far, so big in fact that it was separated with different doors! With two sinks, spacious wardrobes and an extra room that was split into bath corner, shower corner, and toilet – all super roomy and divided by glass doors.
The room also came with well-stocked mini bar, coffee-making facilities, TV with plenty of channels and toiletries included in the bathroom.
I know furniture is a matter of personal taste, and to me, it felt a little dated, but in very good condition.
Hotel Facilities
Elba Estepona Gran Hotel is a 5-star hotel, so you can get all the services and facilities you can think of – including the bonus of a well-catered spa.
As we were there for only two nights, we didn’t get a chance to test out everything and we spent most of our free time exploring Estepona old town.
The hotel has a small lobby bar where you can get drinks and snacks and access to a heated covered pool which you can access just behind the lobby bar. It seemed to have been the most popular hang-out spot for all guests.
Outside the hotel, there is a very good size pool (including one for kids) and an enclosed garden area where I imagine they extend the restaurant seating in the summer.
The hotel is surrounded by an unspoiled stretch of rocky beach and a short coastal pathway, perfect for morning strolls by the beach.
The Breakfast at Elba Estepona Gran Hotel
I always judge a hotel by its breakfast, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint.
There was a vast selection of anything you can think of – all made from quality ingredients are presented beautifully. A wide selection of freshest pastries, cereals, fresh fruits, cold cuts, freshly-prepared hot meals, juices, and most importantly – free cava included for breakfast!
We were seated at a table with crisp white tablecloths and offered a pot of coffee with milk.
The food quality more than lived up to the expectations, and we spent nearly an hour chatting and filling up our plates with the breakfast treats offered.
Overal Impressions
I was very happy with my stay at the hotel, with the quality of services and food – you certainly can’t go wrong choosing them if you’re staying in Estepona.
I wish I had a chance to test the spa and dining facilities too, maybe next time!
Bonus Tip to Save Money
I normally book my hotel stays through booking.com, but on a number of occasions I actually found cheaper deals when booking directly through the hotel website, and it was the same case this time.
The hotel is a part of a big hotel group and they offer loyalty discounts if you sign up to their program, and also extra discounts for Andalusia residents, which is something I took advantage of.
It saved me nearly 60 euros in the total price of the accommodation, so well worth doing!
The hotel website also has more room types normally available, and all you have to do is to fill in their loyalty program card when you get to the hotel.
Elba Estepona Gran Hotel: Essential Information
Location: Urb. Arena Beach, Carretera Estepona – Cádiz, Km. 151 – Estepona
Booking: book directly on their website
Dining Options: the hotel has two restaurants, check the dining options here.
Spa: check the services offered at the spa at their website here.
