Sol Don Marco by Meliá

Sol Don Marco is the more quieter and tranquil of the three hotels that make up The Don Hotels Complex. With a full-service spa and quieter pool areas, Sol Don Marco is a good fit for couples and older guests who are looking to unwind. The common areas are a bit more upscale than what is found in surrounding accommodations, with marble pillars and colorful stained glass skylights, but the feel is still dated (which is common for the area). There is lots of lounge space as well as plenty of areas to sunbathe, which enhances the low-key, relaxing vibe.

The upscale resort is planted directly across the promenade from the beach, where guests can lounge and relax on the waterfront. Downtown Torremolinos is a quick walk away down the promenade where there are shops, restaurants, and bars to be enjoyed. The hotel is centrally located in Costa del Sol and guests can easily explore the rest of the coast via train or car. Malaga International Airport is a 10-minute drive away. Crocodile Park and Aqualand are both within a 10-minute drive, and there are six golf courses nearby.

Sol Don Marco has 182 clean rooms, all with terraces and most with partial ocean or pool views; 27 have direct sea views. The rooms are decorated tastefully if not luxuriously, with warm red accents, wood furnishings, terra-cotta tile floors, and headboards with iron accents and large pastoral scenes. Rooms and bathrooms are comparable in size to those at other hotels in the area near the same price point. Rooms that face Sol Don Pedro and Sol Don Pablo may get too noisy for some tenants, as those resorts have outdoor entertainment nightly. There is in-room WiFi access for a fee.

As one of three hotels that make up the Don Hotels Complex, Sol Don Marco has access to a range of features. Most notably, the hotel offers eight outdoor pools (including two children’s pools) and one indoor pool that are spread throughout the three resorts. The pools themselves aren't all that large, but if desired, guests could visit a different pool each day of their stay, or stroll across the promenade to the beach. The pools are surrounded by gardens and there is ample lounge space in each respective pool area.

The full-service Spa Delfinus offers massages and body wraps among other services, as well as a Roman bath, whirlpool, and sauna. Resort spas are not common in the area, making this a major asset for the property. Facilities also include a convention center with 10 meeting rooms and a maximum capacity of 500 people. There is nightly entertainment on the outdoor stage that seats well over 1,000 people, though this can cause room noise for those not attending. The Don Hotels Complex offers an activity center for children age five and up in the summer.

Recreationally, patrons can participate in a variety of on-site activities and off-site activities that the hotel offers. On-site, the hotel has everything from free table tennis, dance classes, and lawn games to a sports pitch for tennis, basketball, and soccer (for a fee). If guests are interested in activities outside of Sol Don Marco, the hotel can help arrange day trips to nearby Mijas, Marbella, Fuengirola, and Nerja. Organized excursions to Ronda, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Gibraltar, and Morocco are also offered from third parties. Guests can also go horseback riding with a guide along the beach or through the mountains.