Sol Don Pablo

3 readers found this review helpful

There are 3 hotels in this complex it has lovely grounds with fountains, spa's,gym We have stayed in both Don Pablo and Don Marco, the hotels are spotless, the food is lovely with a good variety every day. and soooo much of it, It is just across the road from the beach ,and in walking distance to the town centre The holiday brochures DO NOT do these hotels justice!!

2 readers found this review helpful

We booked this hotel in July 08 6 months prior to depature on Half Board,on New Years morning was informed we couldnt have our evening meal unless we paid an extra £120.00each as the Gala Dinner was not included rubbish,there was no other meals that evening, I explained we had booked Half Board and expected our evening meal that we had paid for.We go away usually Spain, for every New Year and have never had to pay any extra it has always been included,They insisted we couldnt have our meal, we spent the whole of NYeve morning trying to sort the matter out This was just Disgusting treatment Totally ruied our holiday what we had left of it.Had this happed in Britain they would have been shut down but then this wouldnt happen here. Travel Republic informed us that they would pay for our meal that evening at a restaurant of our choice which came to a total of £135.00 not bad considering the hotel wanted an Extra £120.00each and now I am fighting to get my money back for the meals,from this company letters,phone calls and more letters phone calls,messing me about I am now reporting them to ABTA so Beware of these companies when booking I would never stay at a Sol hotel again nor would I book with Travel Republic treating me in this way Totally Disgusted

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2 readers found this review helpful

A very nice hotel, with, in the main, very friendly staff, the only exception being some of the male staff during dinner who need to get a personality and learn how to smile. Excellent food and with a choice of pools - there are also plenty of beds. If, however, someone tells you its adult friendly (meaning no children running amok and making lots of noise at all hours) don't believe a word - the first few days were idyllic with not a unruly child in sight (or sound) but it did not last.....it seemed like thousands of the noisiest kids had won a holiday to this hotel and had decided to see who was the noisiest.
The resort is ok but not the cleanest, I don't think the Spanish know what a Pooper Scooper is.
Bars....we found some British bars which had bingo (arhhhhhhhhhhhh) and quizzes and also British TV so if you are suffering from lack of the soaps. The best ones we found were " The Bus Stop" quizzes Tuesday Thursday and Sunday " The Sun Inn " Monday Wednesday and Friday, To find these turn right from the hotel and walk for about 5 minutes until you come to a roundabout, there is plenty of bars around here with one (McNally's) making the best homemade chips on the Costa del Sol.
You can walk to Benalmadena down the front, it took us about 3 quarters of an hour to get to the marina.
We took a trip to Gibraltar which cost 33 euros which was very enjoyable, but we only got a tour of the rock and missed lots of sights like the caves.
Overall a good holiday but the wrong hotel for us !!!!

2 readers found this review helpful

brillent, near everything, great food and fantastic staff We are going back again this year. We went there for my sister's wedding and the hotel organised a beutiful day for the large group that went out. Most of the party are heading back there

3 readers found this review helpful

An exellent hotel, one of the best my wife and I have stayed in. The rooms are comfortable, clean and well furnished. We chose to pay a supplement to have a room on the sunny side of the hotel which was well worth the extra cost.The staff are efficient, helpful and pleasant.
The food is of a high standard with quality fresh fruit and salads, and whilst there is not a great selection of fresh vegetables at dinner, meat, fish and pasta is always varied and plentiful. Breakfast is the usual fare, with lots to choose from, even cava if you are inclined to have a tipple in the morning.
The indoor swimming pool is a good size, was heated and has its own changing room. The bowling greens are well kept and free to use, as is the table tennis and boule. There is also supervised air rifle shooting and archery.
The area is built up but smart and the lovely promenade runs for miles along the coast. Bike hire is available and we recommend the shop by the top of the town lift for the best bikes and value. The proximity to the airport is a bonus and the cheap, clean and efficient local trains are a quick and easy way to get around.
We had a wonderful holiday, and would be pleased return to the Don Pablo

4 readers found this review helpful

Visited this Hotel in December and certainly no regrets booking it.
Hotel is situated in Banjidillo area of Torremolinos to the west of the centre.
Situated next to the Beach, it is one of three Hotels in a complex other two are Don Pedro and Don Marco but this one is far bigger than other two.
They all share a courtyard which is a pleasant environment.
The Don Pedro and Don Pablo, week I was there were using the Don Pablo restaurant which meant it was always busy but never a problem.
Rooms:
Found rooms to be of a more than acceptable standard, only slight criticism I would make is no light on balcony, but only because as a couple like to have a drink on balcony on an evening.
I would also advise booking the sunny side rooms.
Food:
Food was good usual fare though the sausage served up for those who like a cooked breakfast would not be to British taste.
I also thought that as a 4 star there may have been some show cooking, e.g. someone cooking omelettes, fresh pasta.
Entertainment:
Again usual fare one act on at about 9.30 each night prior to this there was prize bingo or quiz at 9.
Pool Area:
Ample sunbeds two pools plus a indoor pool.
There are two large bowling greens, up to 1 p.m allocated to a club but after that open to public.
You can hire a beach towel for duration of stay for 10 euro, which is returned at end.
It was not clear however and I only found out by word of mouth.
You can exchange money in Hotel but exchange rate is poor.
Getting There:
If travelling independently, it is easy.
1. Taxi direct from Airport was 17 euro
2. You can catch train from Airport to Torremolinos 1.25 euro and then a taxi 7 euro, probably worth paying the extra 6.50 euro.
Location:
It is about a ten minute walk to Torremolinos but if not into walking up steep inclines you can catch a lift cost 50 cent, lift is a 5/10 minute walk away a long beach front.
Hotel was predominately very much the more mature clientele, week but ideally suited me to be frank.
Out and About:
It is a very pleasant stroll along the front but quite long, be warned, plenty of bars and shops though along the way, promenade goes up to Benalmadena.
Torremolinos centre is a vibrant place too and no sign of any lager louts, a reputation it used to have. I believe the council have acted on that problem.

4 readers found this review helpful

I found the Sol Don Pablo one of the best hotels I have ever been to. The best part was how fun the entertainment staff were. They cater for all range of ages including the mini club to entertainment for my granddad. The only bad point was the pools, don't have slide but not many do.
So over all the rooms were lovely, the cleaners were very friendly. The food was fabulous. The entertainment was out of this world. So I rate this hotel very highly. Thank you for a wonderful holiday!

2 readers found this review helpful

My wife and I booked our holiday with Airtours for the first two weeks of October, because we wanted to make sure most of the kids would be back to school when we arrived.
The day before we were due to fly we received a phone call telling us we were double -booked and would be put up in the Sol Melia for three days,... great, we thought, 4 star, plush hotel, very nice, um yes it was all that, but boring, you bet.
So after our short stay, we moved along the road to the Sol Don Pablo where we discovered that another sixteen people had also been double-booked.
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I can freely say that the Hotel is first class.
The entertainment was varied and professional with a warm holiday atmosphere. The room cleaning service was excellent and the maids were really cheery.
The food was delicious, maybe a little too much fish if you’re not a fish lover, fortunately I am, but they had an excellent carvery too, all in all the restaurant food was of a very good standard.
The hotel is located in a prime spot for the beach and with a not too far walking distance, there is a lift which takes you up to the main town centre for only 1/2 Euro.
Maybe it was something to do with the time of the year but the tidal current was very strong and not being a strong swimmer I sunbathed a lot more than I swam.
Would I recommend this hotel, well we’ve just booked again for this year, we loved it.

1 reader found this review helpful

we went to Torremolinos for an Xmas break. Having booked just the day previously we hadn't any time to research the area.
The hotel is part of a trio of Sol hotels, right on the beach and about half way along the main strip. All the hotel facilities were very accessible, well managed and exceptionally clean.
The main restaurant served buffet food of acceptable quality with fish being, perhaps , the largest choice. The food wasn't always hot but two microwaves overcame this small gripe.
The town is probably divided into four parts. The old town isn't typically Spanish but the squares and narrow streets are packed with bars, cafes and touristy shops. Beyond the old town is where the locals live bordered to the south by the Plaza Del Sol and to the east by the Calle Europa.
Here you will find a bit of old Spain with all the shops and bars that the locals use (prices here are also a lot cheaper). The promenade is divided roughly with a round about. The Malaga end isn't very inviting.
The walk towards Benalmadena is very rewarding well worth the three mile stroll. Everything though is not all rosy. Spaniards like dogs even more than we do. However they hardly ever clean up their pet's deposits, so walking along the pavements is an obstacle course.
Be warned that if you arrive in resort at night, I suggest you do not go on your usual exploratory resort familiarisation walk, unless you packed wellingtons!
On the plus side, the Sol Don Pablo has half decent food hygiene and this was our first Spanish holiday where we didn't have the Spanish belly!

1 reader found this review helpful

This was my 5th visit and sadly will be my last in common with others this year. All three hotels now eating in one dining room entering from two sides making the room cold and so full that trying to obtain food and enjoy it was an endurance test. Food as usual was excellent but impossible to enjoy. waiters surly and I noticed did not help even people in wheel chairs.
The bar had no heating on during the day and the excellent afternoon tea was taken in a dark dank room from dirty chairs which should have been replaced long ago. Rooms a little tired but cleaning staff excellent.
The sub director Juan Diaz Oliver did agree to refund our 2nd week and we flew home at our own expense. Thomson had had many local complaints but according to the UK office they had not been informed.
If we had known the situation prior to departure we would not have travelled and have been told by their rep in Spain that we wont get the refund on the 2nd week although this was agreed with one of their directors.
We do consider that the cost of our return flight was worth it as we could not endure another 7 days.