If you’re planning a trip to sunny Malaga and looking for a stylish city centre place to stay, I have the perfect hotel for you – Hotel Catalonia Puerta del Mar! This chic hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay, plus its ideally located in the heart of Malaga with most of the city’s main attractions and landmarks just a quick 10 minute walk away.
This Spanish hotel had a relaxed aura with a slight boho vibe, and I felt welcomed right off the bat. I couldn’t wait to check in and see where I would be calling home for the next 3 days.
In this article...
My First Impressions of Hotel Catalonia Del Mar
Hotel Catalonia Puerta del Mar is modern, comfortable, and located right in the heart of Malaga for easy walking access to all of Malaga’s best bits. Even the exterior of the hotel is beautiful, with pink floral walkways guiding you into the reception where you’ll be greeted with a friendly smile.
Are The Rooms Comfortable at Hotel Catalonia?
I stayed in room 101 (thankfully I didn’t get banished forever), a family room which included a third bed, and the main bed was made up of two singles pushed together. They do have normal kingsize beds in the regular rooms though, which looked a little more polished than mine.
Regardless of the bed configuration, my room was beautiful, spacious, and thoughtfully designed. I loved how there were plenty of lighting options, from bright lights for getting ready, to soft cosy accent lights for winding down after a day of exploring Malaga.
The hotel’s styling felt a little boutique, like the stunning Imperial Riding School Hotel we stayed in when visiting Vienna’s Christmas Markets.
Overall, I had everything I needed: a comfortable bed, excellent blackout blinds and easy to control air conditioning which was much appreciated, even in October!
I also loved the modern “Make Up Room” and “Do Not Disturb” switches that you operate from inside the room. They are so much better than the traditional door hangers that dangle outside, I always worry theres going to be some idiot who decides to flip them over in the middle of the night for a laugh!
Useful info: There’s a EU plug socket and USB-A port either side of the bed. I took my handy travel charger, which folds down to nothing and charges my phone and watch all in one.
Take a Shower in The Bougie Ensuite Bathroom
Can we just take a moment to admire how gorgeous this bathroom is? Not only was it beautiful, but it’s spacious too. I loved the large blue basin and how they incorporated the same blue into the swirled tiles in the shower, plus all the gold accents made the end result feel premium.
The shower itself is huge, and I always appreciate when the controls are at the opposite end from the shower-head. No accidental cold water splashes or wet sleeves if you haven’t yet stripped off!
The only downside was that the hot water took a good 5–10 minutes to kick in, so you had to waste a lot of icy cold water before you could comfortably step in. I also had to take a chilly shower one morning as I didn’t have enough time to wait. It woke me up though!
Toiletries were generously provided, I had shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap, body lotion and of course some soft fluffy white towels, nicely branded with their logo. Plus they provided some eco-friendly extras like biodegradable toothbrushes, a comb, and cotton buds.
Read more: 9 Best Places to Eat in Malaga for Tapas and Sweet Treats
Was There Enough Space to Unpack?
The wardrobe was a good size to fully unpack my things with plenty of hangers, shelves, and cubbies for folded clothes too. As this is a family room though, this could be a little snug with more people wanting to unpack. I’d say its more suited to a solo traveller or a couple.
The room safe was also impressively roomy to keep anything valuable locked away. It easily fit my 13-inch MacBook Air, which isn’t always the case in hotels! Sometimes you can just about fit your passports and perhaps a Kindle or Ipad inside. Thankfully It was simple to set up and use and added peace of mind.
Never Go Thirsty With a Fully Stocked Mini Bar
My room had a well stocked mini bar, with bottled water, fizzy drinks in glass bottles (can someone explain the science behind why glass bottles taste better?) along with crisps, and biscuits. I didn’t use the mini bar, but the prices seemed reasonable, and not overly inflated like they can be at some hotels or onboard cruise ships.
There was also a kettle and coffee pod machine that you could use, where individual teabags came displayed in fancy little cardboard boxes.
Keep Active at The Hotel Gym
We didn’t get a chance to use the gym as we were too busy exploring the city (and eating our way around it). But if you can be more dedicated then me, it has an elliptical trainer, stationary bike, treadmill and weight bench inside. Sadly there’s no pool at this hotel, but Malagueta beach is only 15-20 minute walk away if you fancy a dip.
Tuck into a Buffet Breakfast at Hotel Catalonia
Hotel Catalonia put on a great breakfast spread each morning! There were fresh pastries, Spanish classics and everything in between. For lighter options there was thick yoghurt, freshly cut fruit, and plenty of cereal choices with different seed toppings. There was also cold cuts of meat and cheese, a continental cooked breakfast, and even an egg station where you could order eggs however you liked them.
My breakfast favourites were the croissants, they were buttery, flaky perfection, and the fresh orange juice machine that squeezed oranges right in front of you. A serious hit of vitamin C to start the day!
Opening times: Monday to Friday 7.00 am to 10.30 am, Bank holidays and weekends: 7.30 am to 11.00 am
Enjoy a Smooth Check In at Reception
There was no waiting around at Hotel Catalonia, the reception staff were friendly and efficient and got us checked in quickly. They also provided me with plenty of useful information like the breakfast opening times and of course the much needed WiFi code! My room was ready on arrival, so I could drop off my bag and head straight out to enjoy exploring Malaga in the sunshine.
Read more: 14 Best Things to Do in Málaga: Including 3 Day Itinerary
Is Hotel Catalonia in a Good Location to Explore Malaga?
You couldn’t ask for a better location to base yourself in Malaga. Hotel Catalonia is around a 10-minute walk from Malaga’s main attractions, close enough to the action but far enough to avoid the noisy nightlife crowds.
The airport taxi transfer took about 15–20 minutes, and it was a short five minute walk from the drop off point to the hotel. The gated entrances also made it feel extra safe and secure.
Useful Information About Hotel Catalonia Puerto Del Mar
- Star Rating: 4*
- Number of Rooms: 74
- Distance From Airport: 10.6km
- Website: Hotel Catalonia Puerta del Mar
- Address: Puerto Del Mar, 5, Distrito Centro, 29005 Málaga, Spain
- Phone Number: +34 951560222
- Check In Time: 3:00pm
- Check Out Time: 12:00pm
- Reception: 24 Hours
- Room Types: Standard Double, Superior, Junior Suite, Superior Triple, and Superior Family
Nearby Places to Visit From The Hotel
Most of Malaga’s hot-spots are walkable from the hotel, you can easily reach Malaga Alcazaba, enjoy a tuk-tuk tour, or catch a flamenco show and the Mercado Central is just around the corner. For a full list of things to do, check out my post The Best Things to do in Malaga: 3 Day Itinerary I’ll leave some links below to the exact tours that I went on.
Final Thoughts on Hotel Catalonia Puerta del Mar
I absolutely loved my stay at Hotel Catalonia and wouldn’t hesitate to book again next time I’m in Malaga. It really had everything I look for in a hotel; stylish interiors, comfy beds, great breakfast and a location that couldn’t be more perfect. It made the ideal base for exploring the city and coming back to unwind after a busy day of sight-seeing. If you’re heading to Malaga and want somewhere modern, friendly and super convenient, I honestly couldn’t recommend it enough and think Hotel Catalonia is a fantastic choice for solo travellers, couples and even families who aren’t worried about having a pool.
This hotel was my base during a recent press trip with Jet2. I wasn’t required to write about it, but it really impressed me so I had to share!
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