Hotel Monarque Fuengirola Park

Hotel Monarque Fuengirola Park has curb appeal, standing out among neighboring buildings with its colorful purple, orange, and pink exterior. There is no lack of color inside, either, with well-worn and awfully dated furniture in shades of red, green, and orange, as well as purple accent walls. The overall design and decor is disjointed and desperately in need of a modern update. The outdoor pool ups the hotel's appeal with its well-maintained deck and surrounding trees. The hotel offers a decent base for couples and families, but there are other properties in the surrounding area with a better value, including the Hotel IPV Palace & Spa.

Guests of Monarque are just a five-minute walk from the beach -- the hotel has an underpass so that travelers don't have to cross the street to get to it. It's proximity to the promenade is a pro, too, allowing guests to access plenty of bars and restaurants in the area. For exploring farther attractions, Los Boliches train station is just a 15-minute walk away. The Fuengirola Street Market, Sould Park, and Miramar shopping center are all a bit too far to walk to, but about 10 minutes away by car. The Malaga airport is about a 25-minute drive. Parking is free at the hotel.  

Comfortably sized rooms are dated but cheerful, featuring wood furniture, wooden floors, and yellow accent walls. The blue-and-yellow-striped bedding and curtains coordinate with artwork in blue frames above the beds. All rooms have furnished balconies, some with distant sea views. Also standard are free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges. Use of safes incurs a charge. The bathrooms have more of an up-to-date aesthetic with crisp floor-to-ceiling tile work and a marble vanity. All bathrooms have shower/tub combos, bidets, hairdryers, and free bath products. 

Hotel Monarque offers a few quality amenities, though some are so-so. The outdoor pool is pleasant and gets a fair amount of sun, though it has the typical problem of guests reserving loungers early. Adjacent to it is a small wading pool for little kids and a snack bar. Just across the street is the beach, but the hotel has made it much easier for guests to access by creating an underpass that avoids the intersection. Unlike the pool, guests will have to pay for sunbeds at the beach. The indoor pool area is attractive with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the garden on one side and fountains. A whirlpool tub is also available in this area. Spa offerings, such as massages and beauty treatments are available, plus there's a sauna. There's no gym, but there is a game room. The buffet restaurant is convenient, but it receives mixed reviews for both quality and quantity. Entertainment such as live music is provided some nights.