Elba Costa Ballena Beach & Thalasso Resort

I'd say this place made a very good effort to be amazing, but fell just short. The best thing was that the staff were all very friendly, polite and helpful. Checkin took a long time because so many people arrived at the same time on a busy weekend. The food was adequate, not great. The highlight was the overpriced hamburger at the pool bar. It was good though. The rooms are comfortable, nice sheets, comfortable beds and pillows. The only problem was that one of the bathrooms had a foul odor that never went away, Maybe something with the plumbing. We gave that room to the kids and they spent little time there. The pool is very nice, and it's a very short walk to a beautiful beach. Overall, would recommend.

Great place to stay in mid May, before the hordes arrive. Parking is free about 100m away (but costs in Summer). Easy walk to the glorious beach (though with the near constant Cadiz province breeze). Room was excellent with a view to the sea (though it had a stale musty smell to it). Bed was the usual two singles bolted together (but worked fine) - just the right amount of hardness for a good sleep. Great views all around the hotel. Shower worked fine. TV didn't have the same channels as advertised on a leaflet in the room (i.e. there were no English channels). Spa was a waste of time for me (as I don't really enjoy saunas). The heated Spa pool was not for swimming, but for sitting in getting pounded by water jets (which is far more relaxing that it sounds, if the great night's sleep I had following it was anything to go by). Food was a mixed bag - some was absolutely excellent, some pretty poor. The evening meals always had something that was superbly tasty and well cooked. Omelette chef in the mornings didn't seem to care about his job and omelettes were often over or under cooked. Cooked breakfast options (bacon / sausage) were dreadful (though that is true of most places in Spain). Breakfast pastries were remarkably good, as were the dinner deserts. Much better than average.

We recently stayed at this hotel and had a mixed experience. The Good: The bathroom was in good condition, clean and well-maintained. We enjoyed nice views from the room window, which added a pleasant touch to the stay. The reception team was helpful with our requests, although you often have to queue—queues seem to be a regular feature throughout the hotel. Rental bikes are available at reception (cash only), and there are Bird electric scooters nearby, which made it easier to get around. The nearest shop is a 10-minute bike ride or 20-minute walk. Rooms come with a fridge and, upon request, a kettle for boiling water. Sun loungers by the pool were always available, probably because pool towels come at an extra cost, so people tend not to leave them unattended. Food quality was acceptable, though not particularly exciting. The Bad: Long queues at check-in, and again for omelets and fried eggs at breakfast. Grumpy and unwelcoming buffet service, with chaotic scenes during breakfast hours. Night shows lack seating, and poor acoustics make it hard to enjoy. The children’s concerts are scheduled far too late (starting at 22:30 and running until midnight), which seriously affects sleep routines for younger guests. Beds were uncomfortable, with flimsy frames and squeaky mattresses. No beach service—no sun loungers, umbrellas, or towels provided. Pool towels require a €15 deposit, and the in-room safe costs €2 per day. Very limited drinks selection—if you don't drink wine, your options are beer, two juices, sangria, or water (same every day, and all at an additional cost). Language barrier was a consistent issue: most buffet staff speak very little English, and nearly all signage, timetables, and instructions are in Spanish only. Be prepared to use Google Translate frequently. The kids’ club operates only in Spanish, leaving international children unable to join in. No adult-oriented entertainment was offered, which might be a plus for some but a downside for others. The beach has a somewhat wild atmosphere—some may enjoy it, but it may not suit families with young children. Overall: This is a decent hotel with good views and some practical amenities, but it suffers from long queues, weak service, and a lack of international friendliness. It could benefit greatly from better staff training and more thoughtful planning, especially to accommodate non-Spanish-speaking guests and families with children.

Overall, the experience was very good. The separation between adult and children’s areas was clear and well thought out, although at times there were children in the adults-only pool and staff did not enforce the rules. The food at the restaurant was of good quality, with a variety of options available at each meal. Breakfast was also very complete and satisfying. The beds were particularly comfortable, contributing to a restful stay. However, the bathtubs were not very practical — the glass partition was insufficient to prevent water from spilling onto the floor, which made showers somewhat inconvenient. Additionally, under a full board arrangement, it would be reasonable to expect at least one basic drink per person to be included with meals. Not including any beverages at all does not align with the standards typically associated with full board service.