Despite its four-star claims, the Essence Hotel in Torremolinos delivered a disappointing experience from start to finish.
The front desk staff were consistently rude and unhelpful, making even simple requests feel like an inconvenience. Although I was given a voucher for a welcome drink, I was met with eye-rolling from the bartender when I tried to redeem it — which made me wonder why they offer it at all.
Towel service was frustrating: not mentioned at check-in, only available at the front desk, and limited to one exchange per day before 3:00 PM. When I inquired, I was ignored for five minutes while the staff took a phone call, and I eventually walked away. I was also given no help when I asked for dining recommendations near the beach, assistance with mailing a stamped postcard, or even directions to the nearest mailbox — ironically, my Uber driver was far more helpful than anyone at the hotel.
Because of the poor service, I avoided spending another cent on the property, including dining. The dismissive attitude left no desire to support the hotel further.
The facilities looked nice but didn’t function well — the A/C had no fan control, and the bathroom fan blasted every time you turned on the light. It’s more a three-star property wearing a four-star label.
Overall, a stylish exterior couldn’t make up for the lack of hospitality. I won’t be returning — and wouldn’t recommend it.