Essence Hotel Boutique in Torremolinos

The only positive aspect of this hotel is its location. Unfortunately, everything else was extremely disappointing. The food was far from what you would expect in a 4-star hotel, and hygiene was a major issue. All our plates and cups were dirty, with visible signs of previous use. This completely ruined our appetite, and instead of apologizing, the staff simply told us to pick another cup - which is unacceptable and unprofessional.

The furniture is old, basic items such as water and tissues had to be requested, and the overall atmosphere does not reflect a 4-star standard. I have stayed in many 3-star hotels that were much cleaner, more comfortable, and offered better service.

Overall, this stay felt like a waste of money, and I cannot recommend this hotel.

Unfortunately, our stay did not meet the expectations of a 4-star hotel, as the reality differed quite a lot from the presentation in the photos.

We were aware that we had booked one of the more affordable rooms, but the room was very small and did not resemble the pictures online. Once the artificial room fragrance faded, the air smelled rather musty. We also found ants in the room, and while such things can occasionally happen, the overall condition of the walls and furniture looked rather unattractive. The room was also very noisy – at night we were woken up by loud conversations from neighboring guests on their balcony, and in the morning we could clearly hear people in the hallway.

On a positive note, the staff were always very friendly and helpful, which we truly appreciated.

However, many advertised amenities were disappointing. The hammam was only open for one hour per day and consisted merely of two showers and a very small steam room – far from what we expected. The rooftop terrace was closed without prior notice, so the welcome drink could not be enjoyed there; this would have been fine if it had simply been communicated in advance.

Cleanliness was also an issue: some of the cutlery at dinner and even the coffee cup at breakfast were not properly cleaned. At a 4-star hotel, one would expect more careful quality control.

The buffet was limited and not labeled, making it unclear what dishes were being served. The gym was extremely small – for anyone looking for proper exercise, a jog along the promenade would likely be the better option.

Considering the price, we felt that the overall value for money was very poor. We were so disappointed that we ultimately decided to check out earlier than planned and continue our stay at another hotel.