Soho Boutique Castillo de Santa Catalina - Adults Recommended in Malaga

I stayed at this hotel twice and unfortunately both experiences were disappointing. The building itself is an old palace, but the adaptation into a hotel has been poorly executed and the result is quite weird. The rooms are very noisy, especially those near the cafeteria, where there is a constant smell of food. The quieter rooms are extremely small and poorly arranged, with oversized furniture that makes them feel even more cramped. The bathrooms are in very poor condition. Although they appear to have been renovated, the materials used are of very low quality. Water leaked out of the shower and flooded the bathroom floor, and there were persistent bad odors. During my first stay, the room had a high horizontal window with no real view at all. On my second stay, I was given a connecting room, which was even noisier due to both the connecting door and the hallway door. The hotel has an outdated 1970s style. The only positive aspect is the sea view, but this can mainly be enjoyed from the garden and terrace, not from the rooms. Food is extremely overpriced for what it offers. The TV channel selection was very poor, and the connection quality was also unreliable. As for the staff, they tend to be overly familiar, which can feel unprofessional. More importantly, there seems to be little interest in guest feedback or satisfaction, as if repeat customers are not a priority. Overall, the room prices are far too high for the quality provided. I would not stay here again.

I chose Santa Catalina Málaga expecting a hotel that would live up to its five-star rating. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect that standard. The room itself was very clean, and the bathroom was excellent with very good towels. Housekeeping did a good job. However, the room was very warm. I was advised by staff that the heating/air-conditioning is centrally controlled and date-restricted. While the windows can be opened, they cannot be secured in position and repeatedly slammed in the wind. A fan was kindly offered, though I declined due to the likely noise. Housekeeping standards elsewhere were disappointing. There were cigarette butts in the geranium pots in the garden dining area. All the staff I encountered were pleasant, but there were awkward moments. At breakfast I was served a glass that was visibly dirty. When I returned it, both glasses were removed and I was then left waiting, as staff assumed my husband would be joining me rather than recognising that a woman might be dining alone. Although I made and paid for the booking, the welcome note in the room was addressed to my husband rather than to me. The room description referred to a balcony, but in reality it was only large enough for Juliette — any Romeo would have been out of luck...he'd have been hanging out with the garbage area the room overlooked. The room faced a staff staircase area, likely used by the kitchen, with a couple of toilets adjacent. Odours from this area drifted to the room. The pool is also extremely small — more of a wading pool than somewhere you could properly swim. A shame as my husband likes to swim. Overall, the hotel felt tired and somewhat tatty, and the experience did not align with what one would expect from a five-star property. On reflection, I'd likely have been better booking the aparthotel where I stayed on a previous visit.

The hotel itself is excellent, including the infrastructure and hygiene. However, as a five-star hotel, the Karen reception and ****** staff are not professional and unacceptable.