NH Marbella

Despite not being directly on the beach, this hotel lures many business travelers, couples, and families with its quiet location away from the bustle typical at area oceanfront resorts. The hotel occupies a boxy, white five-story building with a clay-tile roof, surrounded by leafy and tropical trees. The lobby exudes a serene ambiance, with beautiful, white polished marble floors with green marble accents. The glistening steel elevator doors and rich wood paneling that lines many of the walls add a classy feel. The large front desk itself, made of nice wood trimmed in green marble, is also impressive. But some of the rose-colored couches and chairs feel a bit dated. Still, sitting areas are positioned far enough away from each other to offer peace and privacy. The tone is immediately set for this sophisticated property that's made all the more enticing by the brick pathways that wind throughout the immaculately gardened grounds. 

The NH Marbella is between Marbella and Puerto Banus, just off the N-340, the main road that runs through Marbella and along the coast. It’s a relatively quiet location, with only a few restaurants within a three- to five-minute walk, and several more within a 10-minute walk. A grocery and pharmacy also are five minutes away on foot, and buses stop nearby. The beach is a 10-minute stroll, and the bustling Paseo Maritimo promenade that overlooks it is about 15 minutes on foot. For business travelers, the Palacio de Congresos (convention center) takes about 10 minutes on foot or three minutes by car to reach. Most travelers will want to head into Old Town at some point, and fortunately it's only about 10 minutes away by car (a 30- to 35-minute walk). Old Town sights include Alameda Park with its tropical gardens, and the Contemporary Spanish Engraving Museum, featuring works from Picasso and Dali. Other must-sees include the Plaza de los Naranjos, a square of Castilian Renaissance design, and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in the city. Both the Bonsai Museum (north of Old Town) and Plaza de Toros bullfighting ring (south of Old Town) can be reached in around 10 minutes by car, while Puerto Banus Marina is about 10 minutes' drive west. Selwo Marina Delfinarium, with its dolphin shows and penguin exhibits, is around 30 to 40 minutes away. It also takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the Malaga Airport. 

While there's nothing fashion-forward about the guest rooms in the NH Marbella, they provide a comfortable and pleasant space. One highlight is the wood floors and furniture: The variegated hardwood floors range from reddish to deep brown, and the matching reddish-brown furniture includes headboards, ottomans, nightstands, and small oval tables. Spacious desk units hold flat-screen TVs and hide well-stocked minibars with drinks and snacks. Even the hallways are lined with luxurious wood paneling, and the doors and trim are nice hardwood as well. The color scheme is a harmonious blend of white walls and bedding with matching, light-green accents for the upholstered chairs, ottoman pads, bed skirts, and pads on portions of the headboards. Drapes also are green and gold stripes. 

Rooms are clean and offer ample space for comfort and plenty of storage (including closets that hold electronic safes). Guests report the beds to be comfortable. They come in double, twin, and king options in Standard and Superior categories. Some of the Superior rooms offer views of the ocean or mountains, while other rooms overlook surrounding (mostly) residential buildings. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and narrow, unfurnished balconies. The bathrooms are equally nice, but only average in size. Cream-colored marble vanities have magnifying mirrors and are placed immediately outside the bathrooms, which have cream marble floors and walls. Bidets, toilets, and shower/tub combos with clear glass doors are simple and lack any ornamental fixtures. NH brand toiletries are stocked. 

The rooms, like the hotel, are typically quiet but weekend getaway groups can occasionally be a bit noisy. 

Guests rave about the selections at the expansive hot breakfast buffet that’s included in the room rates. It’s served in the lovely, white-tablecloth restaurant that also serves a la carte international cuisine for lunch and dinner and offers outdoor seating amidst flowering plants and other tropical greenery. The classy lounge has a dark-wood bar and comfortable seating including a long sofa bench along one wall. A nice covered bar is also adjacent to the large outdoor pool that’s surrounded by tall shrubs and lounge chairs. The bar also serves snacks and offers loaner books for reading around the pool. A sundeck with more loungers is near the pool area, and there's a solarium with loungers and umbrellas on a lawn. The fitness center is well equipped with cardio and weight-training machines and free weights. It also has showers and a sauna that’s free for guests to use. 

Newspapers are free in the lobby, where there’s a computer station with Internet access and a printer that serves as the business center. Three meeting rooms are available for groups of various sizes (up to 130 people), and free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property. The front desk is staffed 24/7 and has a safe deposit box for guest use. Concierge, babysitting, and valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available, and guest laundry facilities are on-site. Parking rates are rather expensive in the hotel’s garage, but free street parking just outside the hotel can be found at times. Note that this hotel has designated smoking areas.