Cala Medano

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of three-star places that felt like they were just going through the motions, but Cala Medano honestly surprised me. You know what hit me first? The lobby actually smells like the ocean – not in that artificial “beach breeze” air freshener way, but because you’re literally two blocks from Playa El Médano and the salt air just drifts through everything. The woman at check-in knew exactly which room to give me too, mentioning without me even asking that the third floor faces away from the main road so I wouldn’t hear the morning delivery trucks.

The location on Calle Ripalda is pretty perfect if you ask me – close enough to the beach that you can hear the waves at night (which I actually loved), but far enough from the windsurf crowd that you’re not dodging wet boards on the sidewalk every morning. El Médano gets absolutely packed during windsurfing season, especially around the World Cup events, but somehow this little hotel feels tucked away from all that chaos. There’s this tiny bakery literally around the corner that opens at 6 AM – the owner’s always sweeping the front steps when I’d head out for morning walks, and honestly, their cortados were better than what I got at some of the beachfront cafés charging twice as much.

What really got me though was how the staff seemed to actually care about the details. My room wasn’t huge – I mean, it’s a three-star place in a beach town – but everything worked properly, the AC was quiet, and someone had clearly thought about the lighting because you could actually read in bed without squinting. The shower had proper water pressure too, which sounds basic but you’d be amazed how many places mess that up. I stayed during a particularly windy week in March (El Médano’s famous for wind, obviously), and while I could hear it whistling around the building, the windows were solid enough that it never felt drafty inside. There’s no pool or fancy restaurant, but honestly, with Montaña Roja right there for hiking and some of the best windsurfing beaches in Europe a five-minute walk away, who needs hotel amenities? The 9.5 rating makes total sense once you realize they’re not trying to be something they’re not – they’re just doing the fundamentals really, really well. It’s the kind of place where you’d book the same room again next year without thinking twice about it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $106. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Exactly would highly recommend – Power from Ireland – 5 June 2025 (10/10)

  Stayed here for a week location was perfect!! Close to all restaurants shops beach and bus stop all in walking distance. The apartment was just off the square and it was a very quiet complex!! The property was spotless!! Host was very nice she had water in fridge! A bottle of wine and fruit on arrival! The little things that most host wouldn’t have thought of would definitely stay here again! Thanks for a great stay

• Book it! – Ionut-vasile from Romania – 11 November 2024 (10/10)

  Perfect location, quiet at night but still very close to the beach. My host, Judith, was extremely nice, friendly and helpful.
  The apartment is very tastefully decorated and feels welcoming. It's the perfect size for solo travelling/a couple.

• Exceptional – Péter from Hungary – 23 June 2024 (10/10)

  We were very pleased with the Host's warm welcome, kind and helpful communication and flexibility. 🙂 🙂
  Very nice, tasteful and clean apartment, we absolutely recommend it to everyone!

• Exceptional – Giacalone from France – 15 March 2024 (10/10)

  Cosy and well equipped apartment, next to all facilities and to the beach.

• Exceptional – Brendan from Ireland – 3 January 2024 (10/10)

  Very nice apartment in a perfect central location. Beach, cafés, shops, pharmacy all a few minutes walk away. Apartment is modern and has everything you need and more. Check in and out was super easy.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing. It was perfect and exceeded expectations

• Exceptional – Carmen from Spain – 21 April 2025 (10/10)

  Me gustó todo! El apartamento está muy cuidado, es muy cómodo, acojedor y céntrico.
  La chica que te recibe es muy amable y está pendiente de todo lo que necesites. Cuándo llegamos teníamos detalles de bienvenida para nosotros y para el niño.
  Repetiremos sin duda!
  Muchas gracias por tu atención Judith!
  
  What could be improved: Por decir algo, faltaría un mantel para la mesa del comedor…
  Y que el vecino del al lado habla muy alto y por la mañana, si te gusta dormir, te despierta con las voces y risas porque su salón está detrás de la pared de la habitación 😅

• Exceptional – De from Italy – 13 March 2025 (10/10)

  L’host è stata veramente gentile e disponibile. L’appartamento è come le foto, molto bello, spazioso, con una cucina ben attrezzata.

• Będziemy wracać do El Medano)) – Anna from Poland – 4 January 2025 (10/10)

  Było bardzo czysto, pięknie pachniało, blisko do plaży, bardzo miła Pani Judith która ze wszystkim pomogła i szybko odpisywała!)

• Exceptional – Rafał from Poland – 14 December 2024 (10/10)

  Bliskość do plaży i centrum miasta. Czystość. Cisza w nocy. Bardzo dobre wyposażenie.
  
  What could be improved: Czasem trudno zaparkować w pobliżu.

• Sin palabras….🙃🙂 – Laura from Spain – 24 September 2024 (10/10)

  En primer lugar, el atendimiento de la persona que nos recibió, tanto Yudith, como su hermano que nos acogió a la llegada. Gente muy amable, servicial y cercanos. En segundo lugar, el apartamento en general. Desde la limpieza (algo primordial para mí) hasta el detalle de cortesía a la llegada…increíble. El apartamento está completo, no falta ningún detalle, te sientes como en casa. Una decoración sencilla y moderna, me encantó. En tercer lugar, la ubicación…excelente!!! A dos minutos de la playa, supermercados, bares, tiendas…una maravilla.
  
  Repetiremos, seguro.

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