Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Beautiful setting, luxurious rooms very family friendly |
| Disadvantages: |
"Golf view" rooms can also overlook the car park ! |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
We went to The Marriot La Sella Golf Resort in August 2005 with our two children 12 & 7 for 5 nights.
The hotel is stunning. Immaculate in every way, beautiful pool area and the rooms were excellent with adequate air-conditioning, all the facilities you could possibly ask for but best of all... 2 x double beds in the room with plenty of wardrobe space, it meant no rollaway beds for the kids and a good nights sleep- You don't get that in many Spanish Hotels!
Although travelling with our two children we try to always stay in quality accomodation. Sometimes we find that hotels of 5* standards are not particularly well suited to families but La Sella is possibly one of the most child friendly hotels we have ever been to. The kids rep Christina was amazing! She was there all day from 10am to 10pm as far as we could tell, and kept the kids entertained. Maybe we were lucky, but the kids were all really well behaved and were welcomed even by the more adult-themed entertainment (usually a duo) We saw 3 different acts whilst we were there and they were all different and all were excellent.
My husband played golf and did remark that the golf course wasn't perhaps at it's best, but he still enjoyed his game- he also found the driving range useful and very reasonably priced. In total, for one round of golf including club hire and golf buggy, it was 100 euros. The driving range was just 9 euros for 220 balls. He thought that was reasonable.
The Spa was also excellent. They did a special offer of 12.95 euros for the basic spa facilities, I thought that was ok. Any treatments were extra but were fairly on par with what you'd expect and very reasonable.
Depending on the accomodation rate you pay, you'll probably be allocated a deluxe room overlooking the front of the hotel. Not all of these have balcony, but the view is actually very nice. On check in, the receptionist will try to get you to upgrade to a golf view room. In my opinion, if you are offered POOL and GOLF view, these are the best in terms of something pretty to look at, but may not be as quiet as the GOLF ONLY view (bearing in mind that some overlook the car park!) These are both priced at 25 euros per room per night, but if you book with Marriotts website- you can be given them without extra charge. I personally felt that GOLF only wasn't worth it unless you absolutley HAVE to see the golf course. The problem is that you also see all the cars in the golf club parking lot, you only see part of the course from some rooms and you may also see the bins!
When we were there, at one side of the hotel, (the side where the spa and hot-tub are) there is building work in the shape of a new hotel/large building and there are cranes and noise which you will hear if located at that side of the hotel from 8am. If you're on the 3rd floor, you'll also have the pleasure of the crane arm passing right in front of your balcony! They tried to give us those rooms AND charge us 25 euros a night extra at first, but changed us to another room when I complained.
In all, if you're on the other side of the hotel, the building work is barely noticeable and it did not affect our holiday (or anyone elses) that we spoke to in any way, so please don't let that deter you from going!
The one thing that lets this fabulous hotel down is the food in the evening at the buffet restuarant. It can't be described as being 5 star. They have different themed nights. Our first two nights were "Barbecue" and "Pizza & Pasta". Travelling on HB with kids, we find buffets easier so did not opt to eat in the quieter more exclusive a la carte restuarant, but those nights were brilliant. Howvere, the "Wine & Dine" , "Mediteranean Fiesta" and "Argentinian Buffet" night were awful. In common with most Spanish hotels, there is little for vegetarians. The quality of the food was fine, just not enough variety. For example, on the Med Fiesta" night- if you do not like Fish, then eat elsewhwre as there is nothing else- fish was even in the salad!
In all, we had a very lovely trip. Yes it's a 5 star hotel in every way except the food, but if you eat out in the evening, breakfast and the pool bar snack menu is excellent. We found drinks to be 5* prices- as we expected but were very happy with the value for money overall and would definatley return. If you get the chance to go- take it and you will not be dissapointed.
