In an expensive town like Marbella, a good deal can be hard to find--and we mean that quite literally. While our stay at The Town House was easy on the pockets and the eyes, with its under-$200 room rate and roof top terrace, finding the place was a bit harder.

The nine-room pensión is located off a square inaccessible by car, so it may not be ideal for disabled travelers or travelers with lots of and/or heavy bags. Otherwise, The Town House provides a practically flawless stay. ]]> jennm 2008-06-26T12:09:34-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/5/29/105630/002 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/11725/22934879095ca2f64d9c.jpg" class="imgborder".<p>"<i>Um, wow</i>," were the first words that came to mind when we first laid eyes on <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Villa+Padierna+(Golf+&+Spa)/ian/218902"><b>Hotel Villa Padierna</b></a> in Marbella, Spain. A destination unto itself, the Ritz-Carlton property has 112 guest rooms and suites, a 21,000-square-foot Thermae Spa, beach access, two pools and an 18-hole golf course. &nbsp;<p> Despite our initial impression (and really, look at that picture--who wouldn't have that reaction?) it seems the hotel leaves something to be desired among some past guests. One recent reviewer said the hotel is a retreat for "golf lovers only," which likely ties into other guest complaints that Villa Padierna is "within walking distance to nowhere." <p>Surprisingly, some complain about the price of food and drinks onsite. (Honestly, jennm 2008-05-29T11:23:35-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/12/12/2114/7887 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/icon_small_hell.gif" align="right">What's the best way to impress a big bunch of British travel agents being hosted by the Spanish Tourist Board at a Marbella hotel in southern Spain? Well, we're not sure what the <i>best</i> way is, but the <i>worst</i> way was definitely demonstrated this week: give them all food poisoning.<p>Whether it was the less-than-well-done pork or just some suspicious prawns that did the trick is unclear, but what is clear is that a large proportion of managers and other important members of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) who attended the final dinner of the convention in Marbella were stuck in bed (and near the bathroom) for at least 24 hours.<p>The hotel where the dinner was held amandak 2006-12-13T09:30:01-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/