Hotel Imperator Guadalpin Marbella & Spa

A quality hotel

The photos do not do the hotel justice - a quality hotel, good location, friendly staff, fantastic room (2 bedroom suite with jacuzzi) and a great breakfast. The pool was ’ice cold’ and the evening buffet overpriced with a limited choice (25 Euros each including children). Previous comments mentioned the drinks very expensive, which they are but on a par with other restaurants / hotels, although no problem in visiting local supermarket and storing in the room (fully equipped). Puerto Banus only short 10 mins taxi journey, costing 10 Euros (we actually took a long stroll along the beach one evening which took 1 hour - but very pleasant watching the sun go down). I have certainly stayed in some ’poor hotels’ but would rate this as ’quality’. The driving instructions could be clearer. A couple of nice bars along the beach, very reasonable priced drinks.

Bars

We were very impressed when we got to the hotel, I was somewhat worried after reading other reviews but the staff were all very helpful and friendly and the room was spotless including the jacuzzi. Luckily the hotel wasn’t that busy so was quite peaceful and the breakfast was fantastic, a huge choice! Drinks are expensive in the hotel, but then they would be in a 4/5* in London so we couldn’t complain. We didn’t eat at the hotel apart from breakfast as we heard it was expensive.

Traveller's tip on nightlife

Whatever you do, don’t go to Port Side Bar in Peurto Banus, opposite Linekars Bar!! The awful cocktails cost 12 euros each and then they short change you! The staff are English and rude, which is a shame as all the Spanish staff in other bars were lovely and its on a really dodgy, pickpocketing street in the town centre. Do go to Orange Square in Marbella....beautiful!

Loud Music Everywhere

We have stayed at this hotel 3 times before and have been quite happy. We loved the rooms and internal parts of the hotel and spa. However, on this trip in Sep 2009, we found out the new management has decided on a horrendous policy of playing loud, heavy beat, bad disco music in all exterior places. By the pool, you cannot read, or relax, as this loud music does not allow you to have any peace. They haven’t even made the effort to download some nice music of their own, but simply play a bad radio station so you have to listen to the DJ blabbering on. We are normal people in our 40’s who like music as much as the next person, but this totally ruined our stay. We noticed that 90% of the people by the pool were i their 40’s to 60"s and were not enjoying the music. Only the young bar staff who were playing the music seemed to be having a good time. We tried to get away from it by taking the walk down to the beach to the Guadalpin’s own section of beach. And guess what? They play music down there as well! Loud, in your face, bad music. No chance of reading or listening to the waves. We ended up paying money to go further down to a small section that had no loungers, but mercifully a tiny bit of quiet. We complained twice to no avail, and were told apologetically that the management had made this a new policy at the hotel. We will never ever go back to this hotel, as no matter how nice the rooms, we like to relax in the sun without feeling assaulted.