Hotel Helios Costa Tropical

Just returned from a wonderful stay at the Helios Hotel in Almunecar. From booking to leaving the staff were helpful and friendly. The hotel is located right in front of the beach and our room had a lovely sea view. We had half board and there was always a great variety of good quality food available at each meal time. The hotel is clean and the outdoor heated pools make relaxation easy. The hotel's staff all were very helpful, professional and most of all friendly. It is great to see people who look like they are enjoying their jobs helping the guests to have a good time. We have stayed at two Helios hotels (Costa Tropical and Mallorca ) and they are both first class hotels.

Extra-friendly welcome on reception Superb super-clean room with sea view on 9th (top floor) In room, handwritten card by Tamara Rodriguez (Operations manager) welcoming us with macaroons, fresh fruit & a chilled bottle of cava … All staff: management, reception, bar, restaurant, housekeeping unfailingly smiling, friendly and helpful - and patient with our very imperfect Spanish (all speak English). Relaxed, homely laid-back feel throughout hotel (you want to take your drinks in here? It’s fine. You want to take books away? It’s fine. You want to sit here but you don’t want a drink? It’s fine …) Restaurant - already good 2 years ago has made significant improvements: More choice - heated plates provided (!) - cava with breakfast and all food well cooked, clearly identified and tastefully presented. Show cooking of eggs, omelets, pancakes, churros etc at breakfast and other dishes at dinner. A treat. Bar prices reasonable for a 4 star hotel - staff also super friendly. Parking easy and free in surrounding streets (there is a charge in summer months) A negative? Relating only to bathroom: There seems to be a trend in hotels to limit the use of shower gel to a minimum by providing dispensers that only reluctantly …dispense - and in very tiny quantities. Very frustrating. In this hotel I simply unscrewed the plunger and poured gel (a reasonable quantity!) onto my hand. Problem solved. A very minor detail. We have stayed in “good” Spanish hotels on the Costa Brava, Benidorm, Mojacar, Malaga, Estepona, Granada and Madrid but the Hotel Helios Costa Tropical in Almuñecar remains the very best in our personal experience. It is - and by far - our favourite hotel in Spain. This hotel is unique. It may sound like publicity but it’s an honest opinion and truly felt. Sincere and heartfelt congratulations to all staff for their exceptional quality of service and to management for their vision and clear priority for the highest standard of customer care at all levels. Looking forward to our next visit!