Just returned from a week at this charming hotel. A very compact 4 star hotel which must only have a maximum of 40 rooms. We stopped (my wife and our 2 young girls) for a week in late August 2010 and we all had a great time.
The rooms are big, air condition, which copied well with the heat wave at the time. Rooms are clean well daily, with a change of towels and generally meet our needs. There is a small fridge we stocked with our own water, drinks etc, it would have been nice if it was bigger.
We stayed on a half board basis eating out on the terrace. The breakfast was nice; with a good selection of hot & cold food which can be eat at a leisurely pace. Evening meal was also OK, a good selection of salads and a buffet selection of a pasta, meat, fish and a vegetation option. Our children enjoyed the different choice each night but if you only holiday for fine dining you may wish to consider dropping the HB option. We saw others eating from the normal restaurant menu which looks good. One bonus is the Hotel lets you swap your evening meal to a lunch option which we tried and was good.
Generally the hotel is very clean with friendly helpful staff. The pool area, though small, was never crowded. The pool was a good size for out 2 girls. Also the small grounds are well kept.
I found the Wi-Fi very easy to use, with a strong signal anywhere in or outside the hotel. The 2 tennis courts were also in good condition.
You need a car to fully enjoy the area but in walking distance there are 2 good restaurants, one a South African bar (The Boma) serving good bar bq food, which we all enjoyed, also you can get your fix of SKY sports there. The other is a good Spanish Venta. Plus there is a BP service station where you can pick up basic supplies plus newspapers.
Overall we had a great week. Very relaxing, with the beaches of the Costa are about half an hour away downhill. Would recommend for golfers, couples and families who want a slightly quieter, more “Spanish” holiday than what is on offer on the coast.

Trip report to Alhaurin resort in Alhaurin El Grande, Spain. Its just a few minutes West of Mijas. It is up in the hills.
Hotel - extremely clean and beautifully decorated. Service was very good. This is more like an old Spanish Hacienda than a hotel. The lobby area is organized with many sitting rooms with fireplaces and books. People tend to gather in the evening before dinner.
Food -
The restaurant has posted hours for each meal, but wont refuse you anytime, night or day. The chefs were Spanish and they prepared authentic Spanish food and it was fantastic!
Amenities-
There is a small pool, but it was a bit too cold for me. A large "Day Room, with pool table sofa's, etc. i didn't use it, but it was well arranged. (with bar service)
Free internet, and it was pretty fast.
The rooms are a little small if you're used to modern 4 or 5 star hotels. The TV is tiny, i don't watch much tv, especially after being on the golf course all day and then off to the bar and dinner.
Rooms have a mini bar, prices are better than the hotels in town.
The Other Guests - It was an international crowd with people from many different countries. generally everyone was over 30, with most in the 45 + range. It's a quiet place. I would not reccomend this one for an active holiday with children unless you have a car and are going to drive somewhere each day and want a peaceful place to call home.

Location - It's out of the way and you really need a car. There is a small store and a gas station within a half mile, but that's about it. It's too far to walk to the golf course with clubs, etc
It costs 15 Euros for a taxi to Fuengirola, and that's to the center of town. A trip to the beach would be about 25 Euros.(each way)

Golf - OMG!!! I didn't know Seve was evil! (He designed this course)
take extra golf balls. Even you low handi cappers. You will need a buggy, this one is like a roller coaster. It's definately interesting and the scenery is incredible, but Boy Howdy, this aint no walk in the park. (Me - 15 Handi cap)

This is a wonderful place to chill out, play some challenging golf, and escape the maddening and drunk tourists down at the beach.
Alhaurin town is small and pretty with everything you need and want. You could grab a taxi there for 6 or 7 Euro's and just forget Benalmedina and Torremolinos altogether.

I had a great time and truly enjoyed the people and the food at the hotel and i'd go back again.

tom

I mainly chose this hotel, as it is close to where my friends live in Alhaurin. I have stayed here before, but this stay was even more enjoyable. The hotel was only half full, so we were given a free room upgrade. The room was huge with a balcony, 2 very large beds, a separate sitting area and a jacuzzi bath in the bathroom.
The buffet breakfast was the usual Spanish format, but still very good with hot and cold choices
The pool area is one of the hotel's best features. We spent a few hours around the pool drinking Tino de Verano and my friend's kids even braved the pool. Too cold or me in May
I believe the golf course is very good. The ongoing roadworks are noisy during the day, but it will improve the road down to Fuengirola significantly
Good choice if you want a more Spanish hotel away from the coast

Stayed for 10 nights. Very clean. Great room - well presented. Breakfast is plentiful with lots of choice (hot and cold). Staff are friendly and always willing to help. Pool area is well kept and was never busy. Very quiet and relaxing. A major road scheme is in process which could cause some noise when surfacing near the hotel. No problems when we were there. The evening menu is limited so it is worth visiting Mijas which is located about 10 minutes drive away. Lovely place with plenty of restaurants that have amazing views of the coast. Tennis courts, gym and sauna have additional charges if you want to use them. Would use this hotel again.