Calle de Diego de Almagro 1, Urb. Nuevo Portil, Cartaya, Spain | (888) 252-0567
On-site spa with dipping pools, saunas, and a steam room
Simple but bright guest rooms, with option for suite upgrades
Large main outdoor pool and hot tub
Two outdoor children's pools--one with two water slides
Medium-sized, heated indoor pool with hot tub
Two buffet restaurants, a seasonal a la carte restaurant, and three bars
Expansive grounds with plenty of space for sunbathing
Steps to a small, still river beach
Nudist rooftop solarium
Kids' mini-club for daily and nightly entertainment
All-inclusive dining package
All-inclusive drinks don't include cocktails or certain wines and beers
After free 30 minutes of Wi-Fi at reception, Internet must be purchased
Tricky charges, including for pool towels and spa flip-flops
The 290-room Playacartaya Spa Hotel is an
expansive, upper-mid-range, comprehensive resort geared toward vacationers and families. About
a mile away from any kind of commercial area, the hotel seeks to provide a
full-service haven for guests, offering all-inclusive dining, a daily mini-club
for children, and nighttime theater and entertainment for all ages. While the
rooms are nothing fancy -- fairly standard for a chain hotel of this size -- everything
is clean and bright, and the large outdoor pool, two waterslides, mini-golf,
table tennis, and more offer a wealth of fun. Note that is is a seasonal hotel and there are some tricky exclusions and charges. ****
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Property geared toward relaxation and family fun
The main foyer of Playacartaya is actually a large
internal courtyard. Bright and grand, the foyer has several stories of sunny
walls and orange columns, with ivy hanging from the encircling hallways and a
somewhat lackluster fountain in front of white marble staircases. The smattering
of black couches around the humongous lobby seem dwarfed by the extra space; typically there are a few guests milling about or reading. On either side
of the staircases are the hotel's two buffet restaurants -- the bright, beachy
La Marisma and the woody, salon-like Rio Piedra.The expansive green
grounds of the Playacartaya offer several different places to lounge in the
sun, with endless blue chaise lounges scattered both near and away from
the pool. (Some vacationers might opt to avoid the children and continuous
entertainment found poolside.) There's also a rooftop naturist solarium for adults craving sun
sans bathing suits.
Location
In a remote, suburban area, with a few beach options available
Outside
of the town of Islantilla, the hotel is fairly removed from commerce in a
suburban area near a golf course. There isn't much in the way of dining or
entertainment outside of the Playacartaya’s grounds. The resort has a private
beach at the mouth of the Piedra River, which is beautiful and calm (there are
no waves), although a bit muddy at low tide and not great for swimming. A 10-
to 15-minute walk east improves conditions significantly, or guests can take a
boat across the river to a lovely, less populated beach.****
Rooms
Moderately-sized, with the decor of a large chain hotel
Standard rooms at the Playacartaya are moderately-sized and simply
and brightly designed. The blue and gold bedspreads are no better quality than standard chain-hotel
fare, but the colors work nicely here with burnt-red floor tiles and seascape
scenes above the beds. Each room comes with a desk, TV, and mini-fridge. While
there's no extra seating inside, there's a sizable balcony with a table and chairs
that looks out on greenery, the pool, the ocean, or some mix thereof. Bathrooms
are simple with green marble countertops and white marble floors as well as separate baths and showers. Hotel-brand toiletries are also fully stocked. Upgrading to a
Junior Suite will offer much more space and an in-room extra-large tub, while a
Family Suite has a kitchenette, dining area, and living room in addition to a bedroom.****
Features
A range of activities, three restaurants, and nighttime entertainment
The Playacartaya offers a range of activities for all ages. The mini-club, with its entertainment team and playground, will keep children running all day
long. There are also two outdoor children's pools, one of which is equipped
with two waterslides. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the large, multi-depth
outdoor pool or the quieter, smaller indoor pool, both of which are flanked by
hot tubs. The resort also has an
array of games such as mini-golf, table tennis, and billiards along with a card
room and reading room. Meal options come in the form of two buffet restaurants
as well as an a la carte seasonal eatery. Nighttime entertainment consists of a
small theater and bar. The Acquaplaya spa has a beautiful, cave-like atmosphere
with several dipping pools, saunas, and a steam room. The spa also offers
beauty and body treatments and there's a hairdresser on-site. Overall, there are a few pesky
extra charges to be aware of, such as fees for Wi-Fi (you get 30 minutes free at reception), pool
and spa towels, and flip-flops for the spa if you don't have any. Fees are also
charged for billiards and outdoor games.
