Gran Hotel Guadalpin Byblos - Mijas, Spain     

Just returned from a break and true for the previous reviews this is definitely NOT a 5 star hotel by any standards, I would rate it a very good 3 star with a 5 star price list. On the plus side the hotel location is second to none and entire hotel was spotless both the bedrooms and the public areas and housekeeping visited rooms each evening to re-do and tidy which was a nice touch. On the negative side, I found the restaurants extremely expensive and the menus very limited so we ate out throughout our stay, it was noticeable that many of the guests also did the same particularly for lunch and evening meal, (presumably many had booked for bed & breakfast). The d?cor is typically Andulisian and very beautiful and the building is spacious and airy however despite moving rooms neither balcony had sunlight which meant that we were really unable to use them. The showed leaked badly in the second room flooding the floor each time we used it, I pointed this out to housekeeping but nothing was done despite the fact that a simple rubber seal would solve the problem and might prevent an accident.. I found the staff attentive and helpful for the most part but very removed and impersonal also. I visited the spa on one occasion only and was extremely unimpressed with both the dated facilities (indoor pools and steam room) and the staff, none of whom were able to communicate in any language apart from Spanish and came across as being totally disinterested. I think the hotel has huge potential which is not maximised. Pity the food situation is so poor it was the main topic of conversation between the guests. Some useful information...there is a taxi rank at the end of the driveway which is very useful if you don't want to rent a car and there are at least 3 restaurants nearby which have fantastic menus friendly staff and fantastic food. You can have a full english breakfast down the road for ?9. Having read previous negative reviews before going on holidays, as an experienced traveller I was intrigued by this hotel and I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and try it for myself with an open mind, I am sad to say however that I wont be back.