Av de Rio Frio, Islantilla, Spain | (618) 248-8274
All-inclusive resort that's a two-minute walk to beach and lovely promenade
Lots of supervision for children, so parents can relax
Plenty of activities and entertainment, including a game room
Enormous outdoor pool, along with a children's pool
Big, bright fitness center with an array of cardio and weight-training machines
Holistic spa with indoor pool
Larger pool-view rooms can be very noisy
Most staff is not fluent in English
City center is an hour away
Fee for the safe, fitness center, indoor pool, and parking
The mid-range, 346-room Ohtels Islantilla is an all-inclusive resort hotel, part of a chain of Spanish hotels, catering to a predominately Spanish clientele. Located a two-minute walk from the beach, this hotel has a large conference and trade show facility and a Zen-themed spa. The lively hotel is geared toward families and groups, and the pool can get busy and noisy. Rooms are colorful and cheerful but quite basic, with tiny dated tube TVs; this is certainly not a four-star property, as advertised.
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Scene
Families, groups, beach bums, and partiers
The Ohtels Islantilla is a resort hotel that is short on sophistication but long on recreational activities. Everything is big: lots of dining tables, large conference center and auditorium, huge pool, and gigantic kids' club, so parents can enjoy the more adult amenities. The crowd is mainly Spanish, and not all the staff is fluent in English. The lobby cafe bar is furnished with blue wicker chairs, many of which look a bit dinged and worn, but the area is low-key and inviting. The salon bar, where nightly entertainment takes place on a red-curtained stage, is an enormous space with lots of tables and chairs for drinking and congregating. The Level 5 Lounge Bar is more stylish, with white sofas, hanging basket chairs, and sheer curtains blowing in the breeze. The fact that this is an all-inclusive resort means there can be lines for bar service or crowds at dinnertime by the buffet.
Location
Close to the beach and promenade, near bars
The Ohtels Islantilla is located in the town of Lepe, and is a two-minute walk down a pretty wooden walkway to the gorgeous Islantilla Beach. A short walk brings guests to shopping and an assortment of bars, restaurants, and movie theaters. The beach promenade is a lovely place to walk. There are several nearby hotels with cocktail lounges for guests who want to get off the grounds when the sun goes down.
Rooms
Private balconies, sitting areas, cheerful decor
Rooms at the Ohtels Islantilla are simple but large with ample sitting areas but no kitchen facilities. They have tile floors and plain but adequate furniture, including sofas, and bright orange walls and striped bedspreads. Each has a private balcony. Some rooms overlook the pool, but the pool area tends to be noisy, even in the evening, and these rooms are not recommended for light sleepers. The TVs are tiny and old, not four-star resort material. There is an extra fee for safes.
Features
Massive conference center with theater, full service spa, fantastic kids club
The conference center and meeting rooms at the Ohtels Islantilla are large and flexible, and include a genuine theater with state of the art seating. The swimming pool is large, and there is a poolside bar. The spa has Zen flavor, with rock gardens and scattered rose petals, a hot tub, pretty tile work, and a variety of spa treatments. The kids' club is a resort in itself, including go-karts and trampolines. Food lacks variety, and the buffet offerings tend to get cold, but it is all you can eat, and a microwave is available.
