Hotel Encinar de Sotogrande

I would like to say, despite all the big talk from other hotels in the area, this small but very friendly and cute hotel is my favourite. I am from Florida in the U.S. and am used to staying at some very grand hotels but Encinar is just so cute and even more welcoming, I would advise anyone visiting Sotogrande to stay here. Thats the good news. However, my rating is just for the hotel and not the area. Other than the great golf courses, there is nothing about Sotogrande that fits the descriptions you read about in the magazines or Google or the advertisements by the realtors. In fact much of what they say is untrue. In particular, although Hotel Encinar is peaceful, Sotogrande, in general is a very noisy place. I have stayed in the hills where building work, cranes and heavy vehicles cause a lot of unwanted noise, unbearable noise that seems to never stop. Much worse than that is in the port where my friends live. They have two houses they are trying to sell and cannot sell because of the continuous noise from the very loud machinery that is used by the gardeners who are relentless, starting at 8 every morning and going on and on all day, every day of the week. Sure they make it look pretty but its not worth it, the noise never stops. My friends are fraught with stress due to this and the other noise from the private swimming pools all around the resort that are full of screaming children playing with inflatables. No one every does anything about it. The security is just 1 car that goes around but there is no security on foot. They are not able to take their young children even for a walk as most of the roads are built only for cars, there are no sidewalks, only drains or the road (where cars and motorcycles speed) to walk in. The summer in Sotogrande is unbearable now because they have booming, ear-piercing music from live concerts and DJs that perform from midnight to 6am all through the summer. This place is anything but tranquil. The bars and restaurants are nothing special and there is nothing else to do but play golf. There are no places of interest. You cant get out anywhere without a car, there are no trains and barely a bus. Dont believe what you read about this place. Maybe sixty years ago it was OK but its now become unbearable. All the people from Marbella descend in Sotogrande for the concerts then hundreds and hundreds of people walk around the beach and streets in the early hours drunk and looking revolting, doing things that make my stomach churn. I feel very sorry for all the property owners who thought they had made a good investment and are now driven from their homes by the downfall of this place. This year was the worst yet. I was talking to some business owners in the nearby village who have had to move away due to the influx of people and the unbelievable noise. Next year, I shall be staying in Malaga and driving down for the golf. I

This hotel has recently been refurbished and it is now very pleasant to stay here - comfortably four star. Breakfast is good - more than adequate selection of cold and hot food, fresh fruit, muesli, pastries etc etc. We stayed three nights for a golfing break. It is well located for all the top golf courses in the area and very near the Sotogrande port which has many good restaurants.

Lovely hotel and gardens. Breakfast had plenty of variety. Evening meal service was a disaster. Only one waiter on duty for the week we stayed. Hotel was busy due to Solheim Cup in the area. Didnt improve all week. This was a pity as its a lovely hotel and fabulous friendly staff.

Lovely looking hotel, rooms are very modern.nnStaff are very friendly and helpful, especially the receptionists, arranged for a local company to bring us a rental car at a great price, pointed us in the direction of pretty much anything we asked for and spoke great English.nnPool and seating very clean, didn’t struggle with beds atall.nnWould definitely return in September again as it was quiet.

We have stayed at this hotel a number of times in recent years. Despite the apparent need for a massive overhaul of the whole complex, we had always appreciated its location, the grounds and the lovely swimming pool.nSo we were thrilled to learn the much-awaited renovation had been finished earlier this year. nAnd what a great job the owners have done. nThe hotel has been well and truly brought into the 21st century with its stylish neutral decor, timber floors, beautiful bathrooms and incredibly comfortable beds.nSome very tiny things still need to be addressed in the rooms; there is no place as yet to put your shampoo, shower gel etc in the shower cubicle. Also the smoke detector alarms have incredibly visible flashing lights which at night, with the black out curtains can keep people awake as their reflection bounces off the ceiling. They just need to be relocated in the entry way or replaced with ones without such annoying lights.nSlightly more important feedback .. the food at breakfast is perfectly fine but perhaps could be improved in terms of choice to reflect the brand new decor. nAnd finally the service too. We just think this beautiful hotel now needs to be accompanied with a friendly, highly-responsive staff. The service has always been perfunctory over the years; nothing more, nothing less. We had put that down to the fact the hotel was clearly in need of a overhaul. Yet now that the hotel is really lovely, perhaps the time has come for a rethink about service.nBut hurrah, Sotogrande now has another beautiful hotel; it’s reasonably priced too so would highly recommend it.

Very pleased with our room (split level as per main picture and nice patio). Not 5 stars as staffing levels were too low, 2 ladies trying to serve meals and man the bar, which was up a flight from the restaurant - not fair on them. All in all, very satisfied.

My golf friends and I were warned off a new Sotogrande hotel as it had been a bad experience for some of us on the recent golf tour. We thought we would stay at Encinar as it was close to the golf courses. It appeared quite basic in the brochure but it was awesome. The staff are really professional and very friendly. Our room was tranquil, all we could hear were the birds. It overlooked a calm pool and everything was so clean and comfortable. I would recommend to stay here if you are heading out to the golf courses in Sotogrande. (I am told the food was a lot better here than the new hotel up the road)

I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights. Reception staff were fantastic and very helpful. Cafe was great too. Just slight hiccup that one of the girl there was adamant for me not to sit in near cafe bar but downstairs in restaurant if I want to eat. I thought that was actually bit odd.nRoom was great, clean although bathroom may do with some upgrading. nClose to motorway, Gibraltar only 15 minutes away.nGoing there again on the 27th this month for 3 more nights of stay.

Great hotel reasonably priced and in good positionnStaff friendly and outside facilities great Hotel looking a little tired but still good. Great for golfers and holiday makers alike. Short taxi ride from Sotogrande Port.

Stayed here with friends, good location to visit local golf courses, rooms clean and rest of hotel good. Nice buffet breakfast. Lovely pool area not overcrowded and good number of sun beds. Staff very helpful.

Hotel was very reasonable, has all the facilities you need though location a little far out from Sotogrande. Pool area was nice though initial exterior/car park area not the prettiest which might put people off.

The staff at this hotel was exemplary. After getting rained out at a local golf tournament (wet, cold, and tired!) we were greeted at the beautiful NH Sotogrande with friendly, accommodating receptionists (Paula and another young lady), provided with a fantastic suite with hot bath, robes, slippers, and lovely terrace. We stayed warm and dry with a bottle of wine (good selection) and a very pleasant dinner in the contemporary design restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out onto a tropical forest. The restaurant staff was also absolutely lovely. We would absolutely stay there again!