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Don Carlos Marbella opens with two-storey spa on the Costa del Sol

The hotel and spa have undergone a €45m renovation, led by the Selenta Group

Spain

By Wendy Golledge

28 July 2025

doncarlosresort.com
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The Don Carlos Marbella hotel has reopened on the Costa del Sol after an extensive €45m (£39m) renovation. The reimagining of the hotel, a symbol of Marbella’s exclusivity since 1969, has been led by Selenta Group.

Designed by interior designer Jaime Beriestain, the 308-room property now boasts an exclusive two-storey spa and is home to the first Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in Spain.

Spa facilities at Don Carlos Marbella

On the ground floor there are ten treatment rooms with Nilo treatment beds.

These include a VIP Spa Suite, a Thai massage room and a hydromassage room. The VIP suite offers a private hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room.

On the first floor there is a water circuit and thermal area complete with vitality pool, Finnish sauna, aromatic steam room, hot and cold plunges and a tepidarium, supplied by Freixenet Wellness. There are also indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, and a terrace.

Loungers in a spa
The two-storey spa is part of an extensive €45m renovation led by Selenta Group

A destination designed for wellness

The 1,600sqm indoor spa offers guests exclusive treatments by Natura Bissé.

The brand has devised a series of facials and body treatments that capture the vibrant energy of the Mediterranean. The Don Carlos Charm Ritual, for example, is a sensorial experience that combines an exfoliation with crystals and fresh petals plus an orange blossom massage with warm stones.

Therapeutic services including physio and osteopathy are offered in partnership with local physiotherapists, and the spa runs monthly regenerative aquatic therapy sessions.

Alqvimia’s natural products are used for holistic rituals. Technology-enhanced treatments include radiofrequency by Indiba and vacuum therapy by LPG Spain.

Fully spa booking and operations systems is supplied by Concept and SAP. Uniforms are by Trotinete Portugal and spa linens are by Bassols.

A spa vitality pool
The vitality pool forms part of the spa's thermal area

“At Don Carlos Spa, we don’t just offer treatments, we craft transformative wellness journeys inspired by the soul of Marbella,” said general manager Sandra Caballé.

“We blend advanced skincare with deeply restorative rituals, creating a sanctuary where true luxury feels personal, and authenticity touches every sense.”

Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre

Don Carlos Marbella plays host to the seventh Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in the world.

The nine-court tennis centre has seven clay courts as well as two padel courts and is created using Rafa Nadal’s training methodology.

The centre is the first in Spain to use the Wingfield System, which tracks and analyses gameplay, providing statistics and performance insights to help players improve.

A plunge pool in a spa
The spa has hot and cold plunges as well as a Finnish sauna and an aromatic steam room

Situated in a beachfront location, Don Carlos Marbella is surrounded by five acres of tropical gardens, with rooms, suites and residences offering panoramic views of the sea and garden.

It’s design is inspired by the essence of Andalusia, the waves of the Mediterranean Sea and the horizon line.

The new lobby now boasts enhanced panoramic views of the sea, so guests feel its presence from the very first moment. Meanwhile, materials such as raffia, stone and natural wood have been used to create an immersive experience of comfort. The colour palette is inspired by the iridescence of seashells.

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