Having just stayed at SO/ Sotogrande, I can honestly say that I would not return. Considering the price point, the experience fell well below expectations and did not feel like a luxury resort.
The room was not properly cleaned on arrival and the overall standard of housekeeping was disappointing. There was dust visible throughout the room, including on surfaces that clearly had not been attended to for some time. The table in particular looked as though it had not been wiped down for weeks, which immediately gave a poor first impression and raised concerns about the general cleanliness standards. For a hotel positioning itself as a luxury resort, this level of housekeeping was simply not acceptable.
While the food included in the all-inclusive package was adequate, it was certainly nothing special. One of the first disappointments was discovering that despite paying extra for early check-in, the only benefit was access to the room itself. The all-inclusive package did not begin until the standard check-in time, meaning we had to pay separately for all food and drinks until then. This felt misleading and poor value for money.
Families with young children should also be aware that there is no real kids’ club to speak of. There is a small sectioned-off area by the pool with a few activities, but it is far from what most people would expect from a dedicated kids’ club. That said, the ladies working there were lovely and did their best.
The lowest point of our stay came one evening when our three-year-old son had fallen asleep and we wanted to have dinner in our room rather than wake him. I went to the Society Clubhouse restaurant and asked if I could take some food that was already included in our all-inclusive package back to the room myself. I was told this would be classified as room service even though the room service menu is different, and because room service was not included within the all-inclusive package, I would need to pay for it separately at the normal menu price.
What I found particularly frustrating was that I was repeatedly told this was covered by the all-inclusive terms and conditions. However, after raising the issue with the hotel, they acknowledged that the wording is not clear and does not explicitly state that all-inclusive excludes takeaway food or guests collecting food themselves to take back to their rooms. The same policy also applied to drinks, which had to be consumed within the restaurants or designated areas and could not be taken back to the room, as this too was considered room service.
Regardless of the policy, it seemed completely unreasonable that a guest on an all-inclusive package could not collect their own meal and take it to their room without being charged extra, especially given the circumstances. The idea that me personally carrying my own food to my own room somehow constituted room service was baffling. After a lengthy discussion, the food was eventually provided, but the entire interaction left a very sour taste.
What made matters worse was the attitude of the manager at Society Clubhouse, who came across as rude, arrogant and unnecessarily confrontational. At one point she suggested that she had no way of knowing whether I was taking the food to someone who was not entitled to the all-inclusive package. The level of suspicion and lack of customer focus was astonishing.
The following day, my three-year-old son wanted to take a banana with him after lunch. This was also refused because all food had to be consumed on the premises. Refusing a banana to a toddler felt incredibly petty and perfectly summed up the approach we encountered.
Drinks around the pool were served in cardboard cups, which again felt at odds with the premium prices being charged.
One thing prospective guests should be aware of is that the restaurants appear to operate independently from the hotel itself. This means the hotel has limited control over the policies, service standards and customer experience within the restaurants. While this may explain some of the inconsistencies we experienced, it ultimately makes little difference from a guest’s perspective, as the restaurants form a major part of the overall holiday experience.
To be fair, most of the staff were pleasant enough, and the ladies looking after the children’s area were particularly kind. However, nobody went above and beyond and the overall experience never felt special. For a hotel positioned as a luxury resort, we expected far more warmth, flexibility and attention to detail.
For anyone considering this hotel, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere. We have just returned from OKU Andalusia, which costs a similar amount, and the difference in service, hospitality, family friendliness and overall quality was night and day.
Unfortunately, this was not a luxury experience and certainly not one I would repeat.
Jonathan G2026-06-21
