StuartAfter spending a week in the Andalusian countryside I decided to go to the coast to stay at the Iberostar Malaga Playa for a couple of nights.
The Iberostar Malaga Playa is situated in Torrox Costa, just a 45-minute drive from Malaga Airport. The hotel has its own chargeable underground car park, but you can park for free at the open-air car park next door (except Mondays when the market is on).
Check-in was very simple and quick. I arrived at 2pm and my room was ready (check-in is usually 3pm). Within 10 minutes I was in my room.
Rooms at the Iberostar Malaga Playa
My Apartment
I stayed in a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony which included a basic kitchen, lounge diner with sofa bed and a separate bedroom. The bed was so comfortable and I had an amazing sleep. In addition, there were TVs in both the lounge and bedroom that had a range of channels including BBC and ITV. I had access to the balcony from both the bedroom and lounge. The apartment also had air conditioning and a bathroom with a bath and shower. The toiletries supplied were also excellent. There is also a 2-bedroom apartment option with similar amenities.
The kitchen includes a coffee maker but I needed to supply my own ground coffee for this. Also, I had an issue with the coffee machine but, once mentioned to reception, it was replaced within 10 minutes.
Other Available Rooms
The Iberostar Malaga Playa offers a range of comfortable and stylish rooms to suit every guest’s needs. Whether you’re travelling alone, as a couple, or with your family, there’s a room option that will make your stay enjoyable. Other room types available at the Iberostar Malaga Playa are:
- Standard Room: The standard room is a cosy and well-appointed option, perfect for solo travellers or couples. It includes a comfortable bed, a private bathroom, and all the necessary amenities for a pleasant stay.
- Family Room: If you’re travelling with your family, the family room is an excellent choice. It features a spacious layout with separate sleeping areas for adults and children, ensuring everyone has their own space.
- Garden Room: These are similar to the standard rooms but have a lovely small garden with loungers.
- Junior Suite: For those seeking a little extra luxury, the Junior Suite is a great option. These suites provide a separate living area and bedroom, offering more space and comfort. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a private balcony or terrace, a mini-bar, and a spacious bathroom with a bathtub.
- Superior Sea View Room: wake up to stunning views of the sea. These rooms offer breathtaking vistas of the Mediterranean, allowing you to soak in the beauty of the surroundings.
- Presidential Suite: For the ultimate indulgence, the Presidential Suite is perfect. This luxurious suite offers a spacious living area, a separate bedroom, and a private terrace with panoramic views. It’s the epitome of comfort and elegance.
No matter which room type you choose, you can expect exceptional service, modern amenities, and a comfortable stay at the Iberostar Malaga Playa.
Food and Drink at the Hotel
I opted to go all-inclusive which includes:
- all non-alcoholic drinks
- three meals a day at the main buffet restaurant
- burgers and hotdogs at the snack bar
- alcoholic drinks between 10am and midnight in various bars
Restaurants
The food in the main buffet restaurant was exceptional and catered to a wide variety of people of all nationalities.
Breakfast included a range of hot and cold items including cereals, eggs, meats and fruit and unlimited juices, tea and coffee.
At lunchtime, you could pour your own wine, beer and soft drinks if you were on all-inclusive and again, you had a range of hot and cold food including exquisitely cooked jacket potatoes.
In the evening, they had a mix of themed nights including Mexican night where you could create your own tacos, burritos and fajitas. This was an extremely popular night. I could get a range of wines, beers and soft drinks in the evenings served to me at my table.
Bars
There is a range of bars to choose from at various times of the day. These include the pool bar, salon bar (which had entertainment), snack bar (which also had food at a la carte pricing) and the lounge bar just off the main reception area. All these bars had outdoor seating available.
The Pool Area at the Iberostar Malaga Playa
The hotel has indoor and outdoor pools but as the weather was quite hot I decided to make use of the outdoor pool. It was the end of September and there were plenty of loungers available even if you arrived at the pool in the afternoon. These were very comfortable and there was space between them so you didn’t feel hemmed in.
Entertainment at the Iberostar Malaga Playa
The Entertainment Team worked hard throughout the day and night to entertain guests. Some of the many activities I could do were cocktail making by the pool, aqua aerobics and salsa dancing to name just a few. In addition, there are table tennis tables by the pool and a gym to work off the food (so I’ve heard!)
At night, the entertainment centres around the Salon Bar. It starts with a mini disco for the little ones followed by the main stage entertainment which was a mixture of Entertainment Team performances and guest entertainment. One night during my stay, there was a vocalist duo who sang a selection of songs from the 50s to the present day.
There is also a kids club at the hotel but as I wasn’t travelling with children I didn’t experience this. However, there is also a small waterpark and a playground for the kids to play in.
The local area of Torrox Costa
The local area surrounding the Iberostar Malaga Playa has many bars and restaurants, particularly along the coast. This is great if you are not on all-inclusive and they seemed good value as well. There are also some tourist shops and a couple of larger supermarkets within a 10-15 minute walk of the hotel to get those essentials. The beach also has loungers and parasols that you can rent for the day if you are a beach lover.
In Conclusion
The Iberostar Malaga Playa is a great hotel for families and couples alike. I love the fact that there were many choices of things to eat and drinks and all the staff you spoke to were friendly and helpful. I would recommend this hotel and would definitely stay here again.
