Senator Marbella Spa Hotel

This lively property occupies a seven-story, modern white building with glassy panels that give it a slightly corporate feel. But, the property hosts a diverse mix of guests -- vacationing families who enjoy the spa and nearby beach, business travelers attending events at the convention center across the street, and groups of golfers and other male/female groups on getaway weekends. It can be a busy place at times, but the spacious lobby handles the influx of guests well -- there are even black leather massage chairs. The entrance to the lobby features brown and tan granite floors and a rectangular wood reception desk. This one-story entrance yields to a multi-story, atrium-like space with hardwood floors and a massive bank of windows that enables a cache of tropical plants to thrive. The sunny yellow walls and fuchsia columns give the space a festive, tropical ambiance, while a huge, modern chandelier with dangling white globes draws the eye skyward. To cap it all off, the glass elevators give guests sweeping views as they ascend to the upper floors. But some of the decor is a bit of a misstep, such as the floral-print, wingback armchairs that feel far too grandmotherly for such a lofty space. There's a bar in the lobby as well with simple wicker furnishings and a spacious terrace with more seating on clay tile -- although guests sometimes complain that it shuts down at midnight. 

The Senator Marbella Spa Hotel is just off the N-340, the main road that runs through Marbella and along the coast. Buses stop along the road, and a few shops, bars, and restaurants are a short walk of five minutes or less from the hotel. The Palacio de Congresos (convention center) is only four minutes away on foot. The beach and the bustling Paseo Maritimo promenade that overlooks it are about a five-minute walk. It's about eight minutes by car to reach Marbella's Old Town, where guests can visit Alameda Park with its tropical gardens, and the Contemporary Spanish Engraving Museum, featuring works from Picasso and Dali. Other Old Town sights include the Plaza de los Naranjos, a square of Castilian Renaissance design, and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in the city. The Bonsai Museum and the Plaza de Toros bullfighting ring can be reached in around eight minutes by car, while Puerto Banus Marina is a 10-minute drive in the other direction. It will take 35 minutes to reach Selwo Marina Delfinarium, with its dolphin shows and penguin exhibits. Malaga Airport is a 40-minute drive, while Malaga city is around 50 minutes away.

Guest rooms at Senator Marbella Spa Hotel vary somewhat in decor, but common elements include handsome hardwood floors and wicker-style furniture in the Standard and Superior rooms. Desk units hold 32-inch flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges, while safes (fee for usage) are tucked away into tall closet units. Each room has one upholstered desk chair that serves as the sole seating option, and one or two double beds. Textiles are kept simple for the most part, in solid beige or bright red, but some rooms have tropical-print curtains or fuchsia-striped bedspreads. A couple of framed pieces of art depicting beachfront scenes decorate some walls. Suites have nicer Mission-style wood furniture as well as sleeper sofas and king-size beds. Suites also add minibars and espresso machines; Superior rooms have kettles for coffee and tea.

Overall, the rooms are clean, spacious, well maintained, and pleasant, but the wicker furniture and some of the textiles look a bit dated. The roomy bathrooms include decorative green marble vanities and beige marble floors and walls. Bidets, toilets, and shower/tub combos are included. Suites have large granite vanities, walk-in showers, and separate whirlpool tubs on granite platforms in the bedroom areas. There are robes for Suite guests, and Senator-brand toiletries in all bathrooms. 

The rooms are generally quiet, but the hotel is a popular destination for bachelor/bachelorette parties and other group gatherings that can get a bit noisy at times. Some rooms offer nice views of the coastline from furnished balconies, while others overlook the pool or parking lot. All rooms have free Wi-Fi.

The Senator’s marquee attraction is its 10,700-square-foot Acquaplaya Spa & Wellness facility. It features a huge indoor swimming pool and several other whirlpools, Turkish baths, fruit pools, and ice baths. Massage and other body treatments are available, as are a sauna, relaxation rooms, and locker/shower facilities. Guests receive one free pass to the spa facilities and get a discount for subsequent visits. Despite the large spa, the hotel's fitness center is rather small, with only a few cardio machines and some free weights. Other recreational facilities include the rooftop pool, whirlpool, and sundeck with lounge chairs and cabanas with great views. The pool area also has bar service during the summer months. 

There's a small bar in the restaurant as well. It offers a hot breakfast buffet (not included in room rates) that gets good marks from guests and features a variety of pastries, cereals, bacon and sausage, an omelet station, Nespresso coffee, and more. Buffet-style lunch and dinner are also served and feature live cooking stations. 

Family-friendly features include a baby area in the restaurant, babysitting, and self-serve laundry facilities (plus valet-laundry/dry-cleaning services) A variety of meeting space is available, and free Wi-Fi can be accessed throughout the property. A premium-speed Wi-Fi also is offered for a daily surcharge. The lobby has a computer station with Internet for guest use. Parking is available for a fee at the hotel’s garage, and there's limited free parking along the road immediately outside the hotel.