Pez Espada

As a hospitality professional with 20 years experience in hotels and restaurants, mostly at senior level I like to think I know a thing or to in this industry. There are things the hotel does well and there are things where improvement is most certainly required. I will break my review down into segments.

Reception- initial request for a nice room was dealt with by the call center, I was allocated a nice room but one that was on the side of the hotel that gets no sun. Although it was a nice room and had a good view the room they allowed me to change to was far better for me as it had the sun on most the day. I credit the reception team with Thier professionalalsim and attitude in general.

Bar- service at the pool bar was sometimes slow as there is not always someone around. The pool side truck was not open in November, the bar at the pool didn't open till 12 noon, far too late in my opinion. Should be open for 10:30am. The attitude of the bar staff was generally ok but not amazing.

The pool- the fact that the pool staff doesn't take down the barrier till 11-11:30 is shocking, that's the only time the sun hits it. It's freezing and I mean freezing, almost pointless. This should be open at 10:00-1030am. The sunbeds need a good wash and the bali beds are filthy and poorly positoned, right next to the trees in the shade, where all the algae hit them. They need to be moved to a more suitable position. The whole pool set up is wrong and the pool shouldn't have been built in such a shaded spot, no sun to naturally heat it, means it's freezing and half the longers don't get sun past the afelternoon, yet all the bar tables and chairs do, I would switch this.

The restaurant- this for me was the area requiring most imporvment. The food had a good selection but some of it had left a lot to be desired, dried out and Luke warm, a bit of a concern if it's high risk food. The main issue in dining room is the amount of flies in the dining room, all over the food. There seems to be a lack of management in the dinning room, if the person in the waistcoat who appeared to be the manager is the manager then I would re think his person, he appeared to be speaking to other staff in a disrespectful manner and was hastily removing cutlery and knifes and forks from tables. The fact they section of tables and chairs and areas that you can't use because they're setting up for dinner or visa versa is just not right, guests should be allowed to sit where they please. I know I could fully set that restaurant with 2 team members in 15 minutes flat and so there is no need. There is a lack of love and heart to the guests, all guests should be greated with smiles and passion and have a small conversation with the guests. The restaurant team are that pre occupied with setting tables for the next service they forget to clear plates and ask for more drinks, so as well as losing those moments to interact with the guests, they're also losing revenue. The fact they do the credit card terminal reconciliation at 20:30/21:00, no, big no, you wait until guests have left before you cash up, you don't make guests who wish the pay card sign a slip and have to pay at the reception, cash up is at the end. The prices weren't always correct, we had the same two drinks daily and some days charged 2.50 euros and some days 2.75 euros. I could manage this restaurant better tommorrow and I know the guest feedback would be instantly better. Perhaps they would be better going all inclusive, increasing rate, with beer and wine on draft so guests service themselves and the staff can be more attentive.

Housekeeping- One day I put a play note money from my daughter's toys on the side which I had left in my pocket and it went missing, the housekeeping took it thinking it was a top, so be cautious if you tend to leave any actual money out. This was reported to the reception. And they dealt with it well. The Houskeeping are good when the come in but one day I put a DND on the door and they still came in, allegedly it was on the floor.

The rooms, they are a nice standard, some have no views, some have side seaviews with no sun and some have side seaviews with sun, some are full seaview facing and some of the junior suites suites have a jaquzzi bath but you won't get this unless you pay the full upgrade, so if in doubt make sure you know what you're getting. The air con is off from end October and the side seaview with sun are still roasting hot, so I advise the hotel that they should put fans in all the rooms as standard. Certainly ask for one if you're in one of these rooms.

The location- it's ideally located, close to benalmedenana and close to the marina, spoilt a little by a massive fly issue that the area seems to steam from.

All in all it's an ok hotel that could be much better with some changes. I agree with a prevouis review that the one in benelmedena (used to be TUI blue riveria) is much better.

Recently returned from a 4 night break at the Medplaya Pez Espada booked with Tui. Having stayed at previous Benalmadena Medplaya Hotels, (Tui Blu Riviera), we were expecting a similar standard of service at the Pez Espada. Sadly, this was not the case! There was no TUI welcome party or welcome drink on arrival. We asked for a empty glass to take to our room and were advised that there was a charge of 1 .5 euros per glass. The room was clean but very small with a tiny balcony. Bathroom was good with a nice walk in shower although this lacked power.
The Safe didn't work. Poor quality beds - the leg on my husbands bed broke twice within a 4 night stay. The hotel does not have a Spa and nowhere to shower and change on the last day. We asked to purchase a late check out but the hotel was fully booked. The grounds are quite basic with sunbeds on the grass inviting the mossies to bite you alive. Food was ok in general. Limited chouce but you would always find something to eat. We had to queue to get into the restaurant in the evening unless we arrived before 7.20pm We emailed the hotel beforehand to inform them that it was both mine and my husbands birthday. The email was not acknowledged and there was no sign of any celebratory extras in our room. The Med Playa, Tui Blu Riveria in Benalnadema is far superior, less expensive with beautiful grounds, a lovely Spa and outside Jacuzzi, complimentary bottle of wine and fruit in your room and a welcome drink on arrival. These little touches make a huge difference to make your guests feel welcome. Sadly, I did not experience a welcome feeling at this hotel and would not recommend or return. I feel it promotes itself on the previous "famous" guests who have stayed there. This is very dated. My advice is to look after todays guests.