55 Paseo Maritimo, Calle del Bajondillo, Torremolinos, Spain | (888) 551-4925
Spacious rooms with terraces; some have ocean views
Located directly on promenade across the street from the beach
Amenities and features of three hotels available to guests
Eight different pools (including two children’s pools and an indoor pool)
Two buffets with show cooking; the Italian corner has pastas and pizzas
Five bars, including a pool bar
Mirrored fitness center with cardio and strength training equipment
Full service spa with Roman bath, whirlpool, and sauna
Mini Club for kids with arts and crafts and organized kid shows
Better and cheaper food options available in nearby downtown
Limited rooms with ocean-facing terraces
Fee for Wi-Fi in room
Some drinking and dining venues may close seasonally
Sol Don Pablo is an upper-middle-range resort that sits directly across from the beachfront promenade from Bajondillo beach. It shares its features with two neighboring Melia Hotels (Sol Don Marco, Sol Don Pedro), which together make up the Don Hotels Complex, so guests get access to the amenities of three hotels for the price of one. There are eight outdoor pools (two children’s pools) and one indoor pool (for during the off-season), all of which have ample lounge areas and are surrounded by gardens. The two buffets have show cooking, and there multiple bars, including a pool bar -- just note that some venues may close in the off season. Other features of note include a small mirrored fitness center and a full-service spa with Roman bath, sauna, and whirlpool. Sol Don Pablo is the largest and one of the more family-friendly options in the complex, offering entertainment and activities for all ages.
Scene
An upper-middle-range, family-friendly resort across from the beach
Upon arrival, Sol Don Pablo looks like the more modern of the three hotels that make up the Don Hotels Complex. The hotel entrance is contemporary, with an asymmetrical awning held up by chrome poles and surrounded by LED lighting and stylish waterfalls. Once in the lobby area, however, the decor is much more traditional, with brick archways and mosaic tile along the open concept room. The wood-beam ceilings and tufted black leather sofas add sophistication.Sol Don Pablo is the largest resort in the complex, and though the Sol Don Pablo draws more couples than families, it's still more family-friendly than the Sol Don Marco, thanks to having the complex's largest pool on-site as well as lots of space and activities. The grounds here are lovely, with terra-cotta tile pathways winding by grassy lawns, bright flowers, and mature palm trees.
Location
Beachfront access and close to downtown Torremolinos
The Don Hotels Complex is across the street from the sandy Bajondillo Beach. The beachfront promenade, which spans the entirety of the beach, can take you to downtown Torremolinos' shops, restaurants, and bars in a matter of minutes. Sol Don Pablo is centrally located in Costa del Sol and guests can easily explore the rest of the coast and outlying towns and areas 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.
Rooms
Clean and adequately sized rooms with partial ocean view terraces
Sol Don Pablo has 443 rooms, all with terraces; some have partial or full ocean views, and others face the pool. The rooms are decorated tastefully if not luxuriously, with warm red accents (furniture, curtains, bedspreads), wood furnishings, white tile floors, and headboards with iron accents and large pastoral scenes. They're not as upscale as the lobby, but they're clean and comparable in size to other hotel rooms in the area. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads. Rooms facing the interior of the resort could face some noise issues from the outdoor entertainment that takes place every night.
Features
Three hotels' features for the price of one
As one of three hotels that make up the Don Hotels Complex, Sol Don Pablo 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 largest pool is located here, which makes sense, considering that this is the largest resort in the complex. 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.