Cortijo del Mar Resort

"We have visited Cortijo Del Mar almost every year since 2016, which is a testament to how much we have enjoyed staying here in the past. Sadly, our experience this year has made us rethink, and we may now look at other options when we return to Marbella. The resort has clearly changed under the new management and, unfortunately, it felt like a “ghost town” during our visit. On arrival at night, the security guard handed us our keys but, unlike previous years, did not accompany us to the apartment. Instead, we were given a map and some directions and ended up getting lost in the dark. The apartment itself was extremely disappointing and not the standard we have come to expect over the years. The furniture was shabby (some even looked like garden furniture), there was no hairdryer, the coffee machine didn’t work, the shutters in one bedroom wouldn’t close, and unlike before, there were no toiletries provided in the bathroom. We requested a move the following day — which was agreed to — but the process took up most of our first morning, and we had to move all of our luggage ourselves with no assistance offered (not ideal given the size of the resort). We were told that not as many apartments are now available to the management, which perhaps explains the inconsistency in quality. Still, it raises the question: how does Cortijo Del Mar monitor the condition of apartments to ensure guests receive a consistent standard? The contrast between our first and second apartments was huge. The cleaning service was also not what it used to be. During our stay, there was no change of bed linen at all, and the daily cleaning was very basic — just emptying the bins and replacing towels. In previous years, this aspect of the service felt much more thorough and added to the overall comfort of the stay. Another major concern was the pool and pool bar/restaurant. On our first day, neither was open on time, and we found that the advertised opening hours are now much later than before. This is frustrating for holidaymakers who want to make the most of the facilities. On several occasions, the pool barriers weren’t opened properly and guests, including children, had to go around them to get in — not very safe. Only a handful of loungers were ever put out, with the rest left stacked, and the two lifeguards seemed disengaged, often sitting together on their phones and even taking breaks at the same time, leaving the pool unattended. In previous years, the pool opened early, loungers were all set out, and lifeguards worked properly, alternating breaks so the pool was always supervised. When we raised this with reception, we were told that “the community” now runs the pool and restaurant, so the resort has no control. This seems like a serious issue, as it directly affects guests’ holiday experiences. Overall, it feels as though Cortijo Del Mar has lost the charm, quality, and level of service that once made it such a special place. Sadly, after so many wonderful stays over the years, we are now considering other options for our future visits to Marbella — somewhere that offers the consistent quality and customer care that used to be the hallmark of this resort."

"I’ll save my full review for when I get home, but in the meantime the photos say it all. The team here have truly mastered the art of doing the absolute bare minimum. The pool area? Still fenced off with barriers, because apparently moving them is far too much effort. (Saturday 4pm)."