Hotel HSM Reina del Mar in L'Arenal

We visited this place as part of a school trip, and it was a complete disaster from the very beginning. The hotel wasn’t even ready for our arrival — rooms were unprepared, food was cold, stale, and simply unpleasant to eat. The staff were rude, unhelpful, and acted as if guests were an inconvenience rather than people to serve. The atmosphere was completely inappropriate for students. The walls are so thin that we could clearly hear everything happening in other rooms, including extremely private noises. Despite multiple complaints, the reception staff ignored the issue and did absolutely nothing to improve the situation. Later, we were unexpectedly asked to check out early because, as we were told, the hotel was suddenly “for adults only,” even though they had knowingly accepted a group of underage students. This behaviour was completely unprofessional and disrespectful. There are no attractions or pleasant places nearby, and the overall experience left us shocked by the lack of organization, hospitality, and basic decency. This is definitely not a hotel suitable for school groups or anyone expecting minimum comfort and respect. There are far better and safer places in the area — avoid this one at all costs.

Not suitable for a relaxing stay
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this hotel if you're looking for peace and quiet during your vacation. The sound insulation is extremely poor — you can hear everything from adjacent rooms, the hallway, the outdoors, and even from the floor above. It often felt as though all the noise was coming from inside our own room, making it very difficult to sleep.

On a positive note, the rooms are cleaned daily, which is appreciated. However, some fixtures are in need of replacement. For instance, the toilet seat was visibly damaged. While it was cleaned, its appearance remained unpleasant.

The hotel staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful — definitely a highlight of our stay.

The food offering is very basic and lacks variety. The coffee served was of low quality. A major downside is that no beverages are included with dinner — not even water. Moreover, guests are not allowed to bring their own drinks to the dining area, which was a first for me in all my travels.

Overall, I would only consider staying here if the price is significantly lower than comparable options or if there are no alternatives available — and only with a good pair of earplugs.