Monarque El Rodeo

We're just back from a week"s stay at the hotel and here is our honest but dismal review. The hotel Is centrally located in Marbella but because of the location it has no grounds. The neighbourhood is a maze of congested, noisy and busy streets. There is no view from any of the floors other than of adjoining buildings. The swimming pool is on the top floor. This is a very desolate affair. There was some green matting at the side of the pool and a few plants that looked like they were about to expire. The water in the pool looked rather green and we could see that areas of the grouting between the tiles at the bottom of the pool were discolored with mould. The instructions said to shower before getting in but we think the reverse should have been the requirement. Needless to stay we didn't use the pool. Our bedroom was the same size and layout as hotel rooms the world over. However, it's condition was far from unexceptional. In the bathroom there were numerous cracked and dirty wall tiles. Also, some floor tiles were broken. Crikey, even the wash handbasin was cracked. One of the ceiling lights was hanging by its wires and the towel rail was broken. Continuing this couldn't - care - less approach characterizing the hotel there was a large picture on the wall over the bed that was lopsided because the bracket was broken. There was only limited selection of UK television channels - one actually the BBC World News. The safe cost 17.5 E for the week which we think is pretty much extortionate and more than we have ever paid before. We had read reviews complainIng about the noise resulting from thin walls between the bedrooms and had discounted it as being a minor inconvenience. We were wrong as the noise Is a serious problem. Quite literally we heard everything. Doors banging, taps running, people using the toilet, people talking and their television. Quite literally, we were woken up all night, every night and were tired in the morning. It really was dire. SpeakIng about dire brings us onto the catering where the hotel excels in plumbing new lows. The food was invariably running in grease and every day the chips were cold. The vegetarian menu lIterally was grated cheese on pasta - and I had to ask for that. Some of the plates were badly chipped and not fit for use. On several nights the tablecloths were stained even though they had just been put on. On some occasions there were no saucers and things looked pretty dire and like an old style transport cafe. There was just no attempt to add some of the basic facilities we and probably you expect to enjoy. As you've probably guessed by now we would never even consider going back to this hotel. If you choose an alternative to the Monarque El Rodeo rest assured you will have selected a hotel that is far superior and much more likely to meet your expectations.

This is probably the most basic hotel you'll find in the area, but the location is possibly one of the best ones! it's located in the middle of everything you need, short walks everywhere, from the beach to the old town, to the restaurants etc.. So I cannot fault this! However, the hotel itself was basic, but very clean! Throughout our stay, you will see the cleaners all around the hotel making sure every inch of the place was being cleaned at all times, which was pleasing if you're staying there. The room is basic, yet spacious. Standard decorating, which could do with a lick of paint to improve it. We did have a couple next door who seemed to have their tv on throughout the night, so we had to knock on the wall a few times because we tried to sleep and all we could hear was the tv! The fridge wasn't working, so they put a massive block of ice to keep it cold, but didn't help much. The roof top/pool - if they invested right, the place could bring more money in.. a huge space for a bar area, some music, colourful plants/walls. it was standard. Food/Canteen... if you want tea or coffees, trust me, go somewhere else. It's awful and unbearable coffee. Some of the dishes didn't have names, and you couldn't figure out what it is! 2 maybe 3 nights we realised the food is sometimes kept under the light for too long that goes into a weird colour, so we didn't even touch it. Food could definitely improve!

Just returned from this hotel travelled with 3 children,16,10,6,fantastic location,everything in walking distance,so many bars and restaurants,and the old town is just beautiful. Hotel staff very friendly and spotlessly clean. No entertainment but with location didn't need it and food was very good, not a huge restaurant where there is that much choice you can't choose but what there is is very nice.Room was spacious with TV, and balcony was huge. Pool on top of roof was fab for kids,small so I could keep an eye out and was hardly anyone using it so always had a sunbed. Would defo return.