Hotel Mar Blau

“Great place to stay over the weekend.”

Great hotel. We stayed for a weekend in a renovated room at the 7 th floor with a stunning sea view. We enjoyed buffet breakfast and dinner. Plenty of healthy choices. They even started breakfast as early as 5 for athlete before the race. Very friendly and helpful staff at reception.

“Family stay during Ironman”

Stayed for 5 days over the Ironman weekend, as my son was competing. Hotel was good, good location just up off the beach front ( about 10-15 min walk). Rooms were spacious and comfortable but a little bit tired, the premier rooms were lovely but didn’t like the bathroom. Food was good but not a lo… more

Stayed for 5 days over the Ironman weekend, as my son was competing. Hotel was good, good location just up off the beach front ( about 10-15 min walk). Rooms were spacious and comfortable but a little bit tired, the premier rooms were lovely but didn’t like the bathroom. Food was good but not a lot of choice for children. Pool and pool area were good clean and lots of beds. Would stay again Thank you x

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“Great hotel, great location (not veggie/vegan/gluten free though)”

We stayed in the Mar Blau Hotel for 7 nights. Pros - A lovely hotel, spotlessly clean, lovely friendly staff (who work very long days!) - Approx 3-5 minutes walk into town with lots of shops. - Approx 5-6 minutes walk to the beach. - There are stairs but it's set on 7 floors. There are also 3 lifts… more

We stayed in the Mar Blau Hotel for 7 nights. Pros - A lovely hotel, spotlessly clean, lovely friendly staff (who work very long days!) - Approx 3-5 minutes walk into town with lots of shops. - Approx 5-6 minutes walk to the beach. - There are stairs but it's set on 7 floors. There are also 3 lifts so easy to get one. - A good size pool, loads of sun loungers all around the pool area. - On level 5 is an adult only area with a jacuzzi. - Rooms have a fridge - Two large supermarkets very close, one right next door - Great venue for the Calella Ironman, it's literally in the next street. And the whole event is in the same area. Cons - I'm vegetarian and dairy intolerant. The buffet is self service but almost all options are meat/fish. A couple of nights there was a cheese pizza squares option. There is a pasta station where they will cook pasta to order. I spent the week eating chips/bread and salad..... Nothing is labelled so definitely no good for any gluten free people out there. - No kettles in the room (this maybe a Spanish thing, but I really missed my first thing morning coffee) - The gym has to be booked in advance, and when my friend tried to book she couldn't as it was full (2 people in there who were both in the Jacuzzi and not even in the gym!) Meal times - breakfast 07.45-09.45 Evening meal - 19.30-21.00 Would we go again? Yes we have already booked. I will bring a travel kettle and some veggie food!!

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“NOT FOR THE NEXT TIME DEFINITELY”

The transfer from the airport was delayed and stressful: the bus ride took over an hour, and on both arrival and departure the bus was delayed by more than an hour. On the way back, this caused a lot of stress, since we had to call the tour operator — after all, the plane would not wait. The bus wa… more

The transfer from the airport was delayed and stressful: the bus ride took over an hour, and on both arrival and departure the bus was delayed by more than an hour. On the way back, this caused a lot of stress, since we had to call the tour operator — after all, the plane would not wait. The bus was due at 5:30 in the morning, and came at 7:10. The hotel itself is clearly popular: while we were there, a full bus of Polish guests was leaving and another of Dutch guests arrived. Inside, you constantly hear Russian, Polish, Dutch, and German being spoken. The location is both a plus and a minus: the beach is only about half a kilometre away, but the walk back is uphill and quite tiring in the heat. A big positive was the service. Manager Shaima deserves special thanks — she solved our problems quickly and efficiently. For example, when we reported a broken tap, a technician came almost immediately. At first, three of us were placed in one very small room, which was cramped and uncomfortable. On top of that, noise from trucks unloading containers under our window kept us awake. We eventually paid extra to upgrade to a superior suite on a higher floor. It was much quieter there, although the constant hum of the restaurant’s exhaust system could still be heard. I cannot image how we could survive - the three adults - in a standard room all this time. The restaurant looks stylish and pleasant inside. Unfortunately, breakfasts were the biggest disappointment: the same food every single day, with absolutely no variety. Dinner was much better, especially on special occasions or guest arrival days, when more refined dishes like pork ribs were served. The downside is that the restaurant is always crowded and noisy, and there is no outdoor terrace where you could eat more peacefully. Among the positives: umbrellas for the beach are free, and towels can be rented for €5 and exchanged daily without extra cost. We really enjoyed the beach: it’s very large, with plenty of space for everyone. The sand is coarse, and the sea gets deep quite quickly. Weather, of course, makes all the difference. There are two adult pools and children’s pools as well, though we didn’t use them — we came only for the sea. **Pros:** * Excellent manager Shaima, very fast and helpful service * Large, beautiful beach with free hotel umbrellas * Stylish restaurant interior * Spacious superior suites available * Towels can be rented and exchanged daily **Cons:** * Long and delayed transfer from the airport * Small and noisy standard rooms * Breakfast is always the same, no variety * Restaurant is crowded and noisy, no terrace * Uphill walk from the beach back to the hotel

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