I recently stayed at Occidental Atenea Mar and overall had a positive experience, with a few areas for improvement.
The location is excellent—quiet, clean, and very safe. It’s about a 5-minute walk to the beach, 15 minutes to the nearest metro, with local buses and the City Tour red stop right next to the hotel. There are also plenty of great restaurants nearby, especially seafood options.
Before arrival, I emailed the hotel with my schedule but didn’t receive a response in time. I arrived about an hour early and was told I’d need to wait or pay extra to check in early, which felt a bit inflexible. Also, the city tax charged at the hotel was higher than what was stated on my Expedia booking.
One staff member, Adil, really stood out. He was incredibly helpful, friendly, and professional—offering great local tips (including halal food), suggesting I relax at the beach while waiting, and assisting with my luggage. His service truly made a difference.
The room was clean and tidy. There were a couple of bathroom issues, but these were fixed quickly once reported. The mini fridge wasn’t working, although I didn’t report it.
The rooftop was a highlight—great sea views, plenty of sunbeds, and a good food bar. The pool wasn’t heated, so I couldn’t use it.
Checkout was smooth, with Adil again offering helpful support. Overall, a good stay with minor drawbacks and definitely room for improvement for the staff and management.