We stayed at Hotel San Fermín for five nights in October 2026, on a half-board basis, having booked a superior room.
Arrival, reception and accommodation
Following an early start to our journey, we received a lovely, warm welcome from reception. The staff were friendly, smiling and approachable, and we were given clear directions to our room along with the restaurant opening times.
There were a few minor issues with the initial room’s presentation and facilities, which I raised with reception. These were acknowledged and dealt with promptly, and everything had been addressed by the time we returned to the hotel.
After our first night, we requested a room change, as the original room’s position and pool view weren’t quite what we had expected. Again, reception handled this exceptionally well.
The receptionist took the time to show me the location of the proposed room from outside in the pool area, checked that I was happy with its position and explained when it would be ready. She apologised that the room wasn’t quite ready and expressed how much they wanted to get everything right for us.
For me, this was five-star customer service delivered within a three-star hotel. It wasn’t simply the efficiency of arranging the room change, but the attitude, reassurance and genuine willingness to please that accompanied it. The entire process was managed with professionalism, warmth and care, leaving me feeling that our comfort and satisfaction genuinely mattered.
The change was arranged smoothly, without any difficulty, and we were very comfortable in our new room for the remainder of our stay.
A particularly heartfelt thank you to this same lovely receptionist, who was also on duty when we departed on the morning of 27 October. It was especially nice to see her again at the end of our stay, having made such a positive impression earlier in the holiday.
One point worth mentioning is that sound does travel between rooms. We experienced some noise from neighbouring guests, although this was manageable during our quieter, late-October visit. I imagine it could be more noticeable during the busier summer months.
Restaurant, food and service
The restaurant staff were absolutely wonderful throughout our stay. From the waiting staff to the chefs preparing food at the live cooking stations, everyone was welcoming, hardworking and helpful. Nothing seemed too much trouble.
It was particularly refreshing to see so many women working across the restaurant service and live cooking stations, roles that can often appear more male-dominated elsewhere.
Although English wasn’t extensively spoken by all staff, this wasn’t a barrier for me personally. I have a reasonable understanding of basic Spanish and found that being able to communicate even a little in Spanish was warmly received by the restaurant staff and made everyday interactions easier and more enjoyable.
The food offered a reasonable selection, although I agree with other reviewers that some buffet dishes could have been served hotter. The live cooking stations were a welcome option for freshly prepared, hot food.
A microwave was available for guests who preferred their meals hotter. This isn’t unusual in my experience, as we’ve stayed at other hotels of similar ratings where microwaves were also provided. Personally, while I appreciate having the option, I prefer freshly served food to be sufficiently hot without needing to reheat it.
From my experience, the restaurant and dining areas were generally clean and well maintained. I didn’t encounter any significant issues with the cleanliness of the crockery or cutlery. There were occasions when plates were still slightly wet after washing, but nothing particularly concerning.
Regarding the bread station, appropriate utensils were provided, including tongs, a bread knife and a chopping board. However, there wasn’t a designated bread cloth or paper towel provision for guests wishing to hold the bread while cutting it. When I asked a member of staff, she immediately showed me where tissues were available, which resolved the matter without difficulty.
A special mention must go to Rosa, one of the chefs, whose wonderful personality made our visits to the restaurant particularly enjoyable. We exchanged greetings, little conversations and even hugs during our stay. Her warmth and friendliness were genuinely appreciated.
Hotel grounds, pools and housekeeping
The grounds surrounding the main swimming pool and smaller pools were beautifully maintained. The lawns were neatly cut, the surrounding areas were tidy, and there were plenty of sunbeds available.
Although we visited during a quieter period, the number of sunbeds suggested that availability should generally be reasonable even during busier periods, provided guests aren’t reserving large numbers of them.
We actually saw the lawns being cut during our stay, which was lovely to see. It demonstrated that the hotel continued taking pride in its appearance even towards the end of the season.
A special mention also goes to the female lifeguard, who was on duty throughout our stay. She was friendly and clearly worked hard maintaining the pool area, particularly as it was being closed down each evening.
We didn’t use the swimming pools because the water temperature was too cold for our preference, but we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing on the sunbeds and soaking up the sunshine.
Housekeeping staff were also pleasant and efficient. We only required room cleaning on a couple of occasions, and the service was perfectly satisfactory.
Throughout our stay, the hotel grounds and communal areas were consistently clean. We didn’t encounter discarded rubbish, dirty plates or other obvious signs of poor upkeep.
Location and surrounding area
The hotel is situated on an incline, something worth being aware of, but we found the walk manageable. It’s certainly not the only hotel in the area positioned on a hill, and we regularly saw other guests and families with pushchairs making their way up and down.
The beach and surrounding attractions are within walking distance, and although the return journey involves walking uphill, we didn’t find this particularly problematic.
There are several useful shops and amenities nearby, including a small supermarket around the corner near Panda Express, local bazaars selling everyday essentials and souvenirs, and places to enjoy pizza or watch football.
We found the location convenient for getting out and exploring Benalmádena.
Entertainment and atmosphere
We enjoyed watching football on the hotel’s large screen on a couple of evenings.
There was also evening entertainment, although we chose not to participate. We could hear some of it from our room, and while attendance appeared relatively small during our visit, the guests taking part seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The overall atmosphere around the hotel was pleasant and relaxed, which suited us well.
A special mention for reception
The reception team deserve particular recognition for their consistently helpful and approachable manner.
I especially enjoyed conversations with Luis and another male receptionist, covering everything from travel and different countries to languages and tattoos! These friendly, natural interactions made the hotel feel welcoming rather than impersonal.
Whenever we needed information, directions or assistance, the team were happy to help. Nothing felt unnecessarily complicated, and the way our initial room concerns and subsequent room change were handled was particularly impressive.
I hope the individual members of staff mentioned throughout this review recognise themselves, as their efforts certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
Overall experience
Unfortunately, we did experience a very upsetting incident towards the end of our stay, which was extremely disappointing given how positive our experience had otherwise been. However, the matter has already been raised directly with the hotel, and they have communicated that it is being addressed. For that reason, I don’t feel it would be appropriate to discuss the details within this review while that process is ongoing.
I also don’t believe it would be fair to allow that experience to overshadow the genuine hospitality, kindness and professionalism we encountered throughout the rest of our stay.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Hotel San Fermín and would happily have stayed longer. Despite the unfortunate experience towards the end of our visit, I would not rule out returning.
Having also stayed at a four-star hotel in Salou earlier this year, where cleanliness and hospitality were equally good, I can genuinely say that Hotel San Fermín distinguished itself through its attentiveness, personal interactions and exceptional handling of our requests.
I sincerely wish the hotel continued success and hope it continues to build upon and expand the excellent standards of service and hospitality we experienced.
A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff whose efforts made our stay so enjoyable. Your kindness and professionalism certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
