Estival Torrequebrada Hotel Review: Is It Worth It?

Is Estival Torrequebrada a good hotel to stay at? Does it have a good location? Is it worth the money? If you’re looking to book this hotel and have these questions, I’ll get them answered for you in this review.

I recently stayed at Estival Torrequebrada for two nights and visited the hotel quite a bit for my wedding, so I have first-hand experience and know what it is like to stay here. 

While I don’t stay at many all-inclusive hotels, this is definitely one to check out.

Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Estival Torrequebrada before booking. 

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Location

Estival Torrequebrada is in a very good location. It’s just a 30-minute walk from Benalmadena’s main attractions like Bil Bil Beach and Parque de la Paloma. I like it here because it’s very accessible, but there aren’t as many crowds as in the centre. It’s nice to get away from the hustle and bustle!

At the same time, restaurants and beach bars are within walking distance, so you don’t really need to leave the area if you don’t want to, but I recommend exploring beyond the resort, especially Benalmadena Pueblo, my favourite part of the town.

Rooms

The hotel is really big, with over 340 rooms, including singles, doubles, and suites. You can easily get lost. In fact, it took me a bit of time to find the right wing and take the lift to my room.

I stayed in The Royal Suite as part of my wedding package, as I got married here. I didn’t know I’d be given this room, and the wedding coordinator even said they never guarantee it; it depends on availability. 

I was amazed by the room. The moment I entered, I couldn’t believe how big it was, and the sea views are breathtaking. That was the highlight of my stay!

This suite features two separate bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, connected by a lovely and comfortable living area. You can literally get this room for two couples or as a family of four and have plenty of space for everyone. 

Both bedrooms look similar: spacious, bright, and modern with minimal decor. The beds are comfortable, and there’s plenty of space in the wardrobes to store your clothes. And the best part is the access to the balconies. I loved waking up, getting out of bed and heading to the balcony to enjoy the views and sea breeze. 

The bathrooms are completely different. One is the modern standard bathroom with a double sink, a big mirror and a shower. The other bathroom is more old-fashioned but charming, with its white tiles. However, I did prefer this one because it had a shower and a massive jacuzzi.

Some close family members stayed at the hotel for a night in double rooms. While they weren’t as big as the room my husband and I got, they were set up and decorated similarly, and they had beautiful sea views too.

Food

Buffet breakfast

The buffet breakfast is spacious and offers plenty of options. You’ll need to scan your room card to access the breakfast area, which is open from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. 

You don’t need to worry about tables as there are many; however, I don’t recommend turning up last minute as you’ll have fewer options to choose from, and some of the stalls won’t be cooking anything else; you’re left with whatever was made earlier compared to “freshly made”.

I liked that I didn’t have to wait long for my tea because there are quite a few coffee/tea machines, and some sections repeat, which made things run smoother.

As I said, the selection is big; you can have anything from a full English breakfast and churros to Spanish omelette, cold meats and cheese, and pastries.

If you have an intolerance, you can find gluten- and dairy-free options too.

Things I tried were the pancakes, which actually tasted better than I thought, considering they aren’t made by a person, but by a machine. 

The churros were nice, though they can’t compare to those made in a proper churrería.

I don’t drink or barely drink alcohol, but if you fancy some booze with your breakfast, you can have champagne.

Lunch and dinner

I didn’t have either lunch or dinner at the hotel, but my husband and I had family staying here for a few days and enjoyed the food. It’s in the same place where you have breakfast. You can expect Mediterranean dishes, including local dishes, as well as international dishes.

If you have an allergy or intolerance, they can adapt dishes, but let them know in advance.

Drinks aren’t included during lunch and dinner service, so set aside some money for drinks, especially if you want to order alcohol.

Cafes and bars

If you want a quick bite, the hotel has the Saphire Cafe, next to the reception area, a good place to have a drink and watch sports, and the Snack Bar, ideal for grabbing something quick after spending time in the pool. 

Facilities

As most all-inclusive resorts, it isn’t short on facilities. You have everything you need, but you’re also a short walk from Benalmadena Centre.

Here is a list of all the facilities available at Estival Torrequebrada:

• Restaurant
• Bars
• Swimming pools, including kids’ pool
• Vending machines
• Shop
• Arcades
• Casino
• Gym
• Spa
• Nail salon 
• Sports court

During my two-night stay, I didn’t have time to enjoy all the facilities, but I can talk about the ones I used. 

My special shoutout is to the nail salon. I did my gel nails here, and Natalie was very professional and friendly. I can easily say I had the best nails ever. I really loved them. 

The swimming pool area is good, but it fills up quickly with sun seekers taking over the sunbeds early in the morning. This is something to bear in mind.

I liked the bar next to the reception area because there’s always space, and it’s good for chilling out. However, it gets busy when they stream live sports, especially football.

I would have loved to use the spa facilities, but I didn’t have time. 

Events

While the hotel relies entirely on all-inclusive stays during peak season, the events side is also quite big. For example, if you come in months like June, September or October, you’re likely to witness a wedding. As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, I got married here, and I felt like everyone was watching from their room balconies and other hotel spaces.

Weddings will not affect your stay, as only a small portion of the hotel is closed for the ceremony if the couple gets married here instead of in a church. The celebration is inside, and as it’s on the ground floor, you won’t hear music or people from your room.

If you’re interested in getting married here, I advise booking your date way in advance. It’s very popular. I mean, I won’t get into the details as this isn’t a review of my wedding experience, but the sea views where the ceremony takes place are magical, and the food is 10 out of 10.

Besides weddings, the hotel also hosts events like major congresses and business talks, and also for guests like Halloween, which I was told is pretty good.

Things to do near Estival Torrequebrada

One of the things I love the most about Estival Torrequebrada is the location. Here are some of the activities and places I recommend if you want to explore Benalmadena beyond your resort.

• Enjoy drinks at Tulum. It’s literally a 5-minute walk from the hotel. I love the lively atmosphere, live music and direct sea views. 
• Have lunch at Restaurante La Cala, another restaurant a stone’s throw from the hotel. It’s a good place for fish and seafood. I recommend the pil pil prawns and sardine skewers. 
• Spend time exploring Parque de la Paloma. It isn’t just a place for kids. I love walking here and seeing the cacti garden, the lake and the animals.
• Walk to Puerto Marina. I mean, if you love walking as much as I do, you’ll love this. It’s a 45-minute walk (one way), but it’s a nice route along the beach promenade. 
• Explore Benalmadena Pueblo. Many travellers miss the historic centre, and it’s a shame because it’s worth seeing. It’s charming and offers a more authentic experience than the coast. 
• Discover Castillo de Colomares. This monument in the shape of a castle is a gem. It’s small, but the architectural details are so intricate. I personally love it.

If you come to Benalmadena with kids, you might want to add Selwo Marina or Sea Life to your list. 

Estival Torrequebrada or Hotel Best Benalmadena?

Some of my friends and family stayed at Hotel Best Benalmadena since it is next to Estival Torrequebrada, where we had our wedding. Because they’re so close, you’ll likely look at both and ask which one is better, so I wanted to compare them.

I actually asked one of my friends, who also spent time at Estival, for his opinion and here’s what he said:

“Having spent time in both hotels, I’d say both are in great seafront locations, close to the promenade, bars and restaurants, and both offer pools, entertainment, buffet food and fantastic Mediterranean views.

Hotel Best was exactly what we needed. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable, the balcony views were excellent and the food at both breakfast and dinner was good. We found that the hotel was excellent value for money. The only slight downside was the limited hotel parking, although we always managed to find somewhere nearby without too much trouble.

Estival Torrequebrada felt a step up in terms of quality and facilities. The pool areas were larger, and the hotel and rooms felt more modern. Overall, it felt a little more luxurious.

If budget and value for money are important, I’d happily recommend Hotel Best. If you’re prepared to spend a bit more for better facilities and a slightly more premium experience, then Estival Torrequebrada probably has the edge.”

Conclusion: Is it worth it?

In my opinion, it depends on the type of holiday you want. If you don’t like half-board or all-inclusive hotels, I wouldn’t recommend it.

This isn’t a small, family-run boutique hotel that offers a unique, more personalised experience. I prefer the latter, but I’m not opposed to staying in a resort like this every now and then. It sometimes makes things easier for families, especially those with kids.

From an all-inclusive perspective, it’s a very good hotel. It’s very complete, the location is great, and aside from one staff member (I won’t disclose his role or name), everyone was friendly and attentive.

Have you stayed here? If so, let me know your experience in the comments below.

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Read more guides about Benalmadena

• Incredible Things to Do in Benalmadena
• Things to Do in Benalmadena for Families
• A Guide to Benalmadena Pueblo
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• Benalmadena or Torremolinos, Which is Best?