Hotel Ritual Torremolinos

"I think I should start by saying that we have stayed in very nice hotels and very basic ones and the star rating usually reflects the quality of the hotel. We don't mind basic if we are paying for it. Would we come here again? Yes... there is a but... Some of the reviews here are accurate but some are in our opinion quite harsh. The welcome - perfect. I had booked a standard sea view room but decided I wanted to upgrade. The hotel replied to emails quickly and confirmed our upgrade and the price. We opted for a double superior with sea view - Room 207. We had an early flight and arrived at 12pm. Check-in is at 3pm. Friendly welcome, were able to store our bags, change in the lobby facilities and were allowed to check in an hour later at 1pm. Result! The room was large, with a huge bed, the trouble was that it was that big there was only one bedside table. Not the best for both parties charging devices etc. AC worked fine albeit a bit noisy. The room was spotless and cleaned every day with fresh towels each day. The tea tray however was a disappointment. We never had clean cups or glasses for the entire week and the coffee/sugar was never topped up. I had read this from previous reviews and had bought my own and we had to clean mugs/glasses ourselves. We had a full-size fridge, but I think this is because it was a superior room... others report smaller fridges... presumably for standard size rooms. The bathroom is outdated. We had a bath with shower, it was very powerful and hot, but... no riser rail and for someone who is 6ft 1, this was a challenge. The bath screen was a learning experience. The seal was rubbish, so day one was a flood... a tweak of angle and a towel on the floor did the trick for the remainder of our stay. The bathroom is dark as the lighting isn't the best. That said... hot and powerful shower... adequate. Clothes storage was poor. For such a large room it was clear that the previous wet bar had been permanently blocked off... simply removing it and providing more storage would have been a lot better for us. We had breakfast included and to be fair, we thought it was quite good for a 3 star... I've had far worse in a Holiday Inn Express or Travelodge. There was plenty of choice, it was fresh, there were fruits, meats, yoghurts, the usual hot buffet as well pastries, toast etc. The coffee machines and fresh juices were also good. The staff in the restaurant were super friendly! The pool area has plenty of sun beds, but they are outdated, some were a bit grubby and you do have to get down by 11am to secure your spot. Parasols are in short supply in places. Simple attention to detail is what the pool area needed. A parasol and a table between two should have been standard. The sticking point is that it wasn't cleaned very well (as per other reviews). We watched staff in the evening doing a less than mediocre lazy job of sweeping up, missing areas and not bothering to fully hose down each night or resetting the beds and parasols to neat order. Its a large area, I get that, but this is basic and was a disappointment. The pool itself was lovely and warm and the water was clean. Overall, not terrible, but attention to detail was lacking. The pool bar was well stocked and you could get pretty much anything you wanted, but... I felt it was slightly overpriced compared to normal Spanish bar prices. Again the staff were friendly. I feel that the hotel website is a little misleading about being fully refurbished. The rooms and communal areas have clearly had a lick of paint... but the bathrooms and room storage let them down. Other reviewers have commented similar and we agree. Value for money wise... The Ritual being a 3 star is charging room rates that I would say are the very top end of what should be a higher end three star, or entry level 4 star. The Ritual felt a little expensive primarily for the quality of the room. I think you are paying partly for the location, it's super closer La Nogalera and the centre of town, so the location is a selling point. I would also say the atmosphere seemed good, quite lively, but not over the top and it was certainly friendly. Its a busy hotel during this season! Oh yes, the onsite barber was excellent for a beard trim at 20 Euro's. We also had a relaxing massage in the Spa... whilst we didn't use the spa facilities themselves, they looked lovely and they were very clean, the massage was excellent at 55 Euro's for an hour. Would we go again... Yes, we would... but not for another couple of years. If they get on top of the details... two bedside tables, hostess tray topped up and the bathrooms upgraded this place could be absolutely amazing and could command the room rates, but it's not anywhere near as terrible as many have described."

"A really fun and social stay at a gay‑first hotel with great views, a lively pool scene, and lovely staff. Rooms are simple but fine, breakfast is excellent, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. A few things could be improved — especially the Sunday entertainment and the strict drink rules — but overall it was a very enjoyable trip and I’d happily come back. Service: Very friendly and helpful throughout. Cleanliness: Generally good, with a couple of small misses. Value: Fair overall, though the party‑day pricing felt off. Location: Excellent — close to the airport and right in the middle of everything. Expectations: Mostly met; the drag entertainment didn’t match the international crowd. I stayed at Ritual Torremolinos with my husband as part of a group of five from the UK, and the whole place had a fun, social vibe from the moment we arrived. It’s only about fifteen minutes from Málaga airport by Uber, so getting there was really straightforward. The hotel sits in a lively area full of gay bars and shops, but there are also plenty of casual restaurants and family‑friendly spots around, so it never feels too one‑note. It’s definitely a gay‑first hotel, and if that’s what you’re after, it hits the mark. We arrived just before midday, but check‑in wasn’t until 3pm, so the wait felt long. Reception were great though — they let me get changed into my swimwear and store my bags so I could head straight to the pool, and I ended up getting my room a little earlier anyway. The main pool area is big and lively, with a brilliant view over the beach because the hotel sits up on a cliff. Just a heads‑up that you need to bring your own pool towel, as they don’t provide them. There’s also a nudist deck on the top floor, which is definitely for the more confident crowd. It can get a bit “fruity” at times, but anything too much seems to be discouraged, and the view from up there is honestly fantastic. The crowd is very international too — I met people from the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, the US, Australia, Cyprus and more — and it ends up being a surprisingly easy place to chat because everyone’s relaxed and friendly. Getting down to the beach is easy if you get a special key from reception — it’s a €50 cash deposit and gives you access to a gate and lift. If you don’t get it, the alternative is a brutal set of steps. I didn’t even attempt them. The rooms themselves are functional but fine for this kind of stay. Storage space can be tight if you’re sharing (and like your fashion!), and the bathroom lighting is surprisingly dim. Room cleaning was generally good, though a couple of times our glasses weren’t replaced, which wasn’t ideal. Sunday was their big pool party, and by midday it was absolutely packed, with lots of non‑residents too. It was loud, fun, bold, and very lively. They had a drag show and bingo, but the whole thing was entirely in Spanish. Normally I wouldn’t mind that (you’re in Spain, after all!), but the crowd was also incredibly international and plenty of European and English‑speaking visitors too. Everyone was excited for some drag, but the show relied heavily on fast Spanish chatter and in‑jokes, so most of us couldn’t follow it. The queens felt quite entry‑level too, which surprised me, because the hotel could easily bring in performers who appeal more broadly. A bit of bilingual hosting or clearer structure would make a huge difference. As it was, the bingo was confusing, the pacing was messy, and we ended up leaving early. What really bothered me was the strict no‑outside‑drinks rule — even water. As a hotel guest, not being allowed to bring my own flask of cold water felt unreasonable, especially since they increased drink prices for the party. It came across as a money‑grab, and I think resident guests should get some kind of concession. Breakfast was a real highlight. It’s a buffet with loads of choice, and we loved sitting out on the terrace by the pool to enjoy it. On Sundays they offer cava, which is such a fun way to start the day. Apparently it used to be daily, but now it’s just Sundays — maybe only during peak season. The poolside playlist during the day definitely needs work. It jumped from Rocky Horror to Greek pop to Unholy with no flow at all. It felt like someone hit shuffle on a random playlist, which didn’t match the chilled pool vibe. Staff throughout the hotel were lovely — reception, pool staff, restaurant staff, all really welcoming. On our last day, checkout was at noon but our transfer wasn’t until 7.30pm. They stored our bags securely and let us use the gym showers, which made a huge difference. Overall, despite a few frustrations, I genuinely had a great time. The nudist deck is a standout feature with incredible views, the breakfast is excellent, and the whole place has a warm, social atmosphere. It’s not luxury, but it’s perfect if you want a fun, gay‑friendly base with a good pool, a relaxed community, and plenty going on. I’d happily stay again."

"Great location Beds: Mattresses old and uncomfortable- could feel the wire pocket springs in my back. Pillows seemed damp and probably never cleaned Room Condition: Clean but the decor and furnishings extremely out dated, paint peeling off tiles, desk chipped, noisy tridge. Do not get a room with locked connecting door to next door room - you can hear absolutely everything!! Gym - 3m x 3m max and half the room taken up by a multi purpose weights machine that was out of order Poor quality restaurant food Communal areas - in need of maintenance - water leak on ground floor caught by buckets there for my entire 6 day stay"