Our 3 night break at the Reina Cristina didn't get off to a great start, - an hours wait outside a slightly dodgy looking MacDonalds for the Hotel transfer, combined with some less than favourable Trip Adviser Reviews, didn't bode well for the service we were to expect....HOWEVER.. When we entered the Hotel gates things improved dramatically, Reina Cristina is a beautiful colonial style Hotel set in immaculate grounds.
At check-in we were offered a larger room by way of an apology for the delay in pickup & were more than happy with it, older traditional style bedroom furnishings, but spotlessly clean, with masses of storage space, a modern bathroom & a double balcony, there was no noise at night & we slept like logs, the Air Con could have a little more effective, but was adequate for the time we were there. There was also the added bonus of free Wi-fi.
Our next 3 days were mainly spent relaxing in the sun on comfortable loungers by the pretty pool. We ate & drank at the Patio Bar as well as in the Buffet, Food was nothing flashy but nicely presented & always served with a smile. Bar Staff were always cheerful & polite, despite not always speaking a great deal of English.
All in all, our stay at the Reina Cristina was amazing value for money, we booked a bargain break for some last minute sun, our expectations were not high, but we were very pleasantly surprised, & would definitely go back again.
For those who have poorly rated this Hotel, I would question just how much they paid for their trip, (everyone we spoke to were either staying with Secret Escapes or other such like bargain deals), you do get what you pay for & our stay at Reina Cristina was definitely worth far more than we paid for it, a great base for visiting Gibraltar & the surrounding areas, or for just unwinding in the Spanish Sun.

Following a 6 hour delay from Manchester - (thank you Monarch) we stayed at this hotel 29th September for a week - we were ready to come home after the first night
Our room was something like you granny's granny would have lived with, dark painted cheap wood - scratched and chipped. A thin bed covered with an tired thin pink cover, and inexplicably a small fridge standing in the middle of the room, yellow inside - not dirty just old.
Everything about this hotel is tired, threadbare carpets cracked tiles, flaking paint.

We had two attempts to move rooms, eventually we paid a supplement for an upgrade. A slightly more stylish room - until we discovered we had one single wardrobe and no drawers - creased clothes all week.
The air conditioning unit was switched on, it sounded as if it was working but it blew only warm air - not what you need at 28 degrees - we asked for a fan. It arrived on the third time of asking.

The food quality in the buffet restaurant is so poor that we chose to eat out of the hotel, The bar lunches were better quality.

After some persuasion we were allowed to dine a la carte at a supplement - mistake.... our first evening in this restaurant was ended abruptly when a mouse ran in front of my husband. Our second attempt proved that the food in there was no better than the buffet - my "duck delight in a fruity sauce " was in fact a broiled duck leg with a cold lumpy white sauce with dried fruit - not a delight at all. My husband tried twice to enjoy his steak cooked to medium the second time it was returned from the kitchen still bleeding he decided to leave it.

The indoor pool and the gym were "out of service" for the full week.

The staff are friendly but there is no management presence in the hotel. We were given a bottle of sparkling wine as an apology for the mouse and bought a drink for the poor quality of food in the a la carte restaurant - a kind gesture but really they just need to sort out their issues.

I did seek an appointment with the General Manager to discuss my issues but she declined to meet me.

I booked this break through Secret Escapes, I am not sure that I trust them enpough to use them again following this horrible holiday at what they call a 4* hotel

Truly a unusual experience if you have been use to modern hotels. Built around 1902 this hotel is just three floors high in true Spanish style with big tiled over hanging roofs and good size rooms with high ceilings, limited air con but room fans supplied. All situated in large grounds with swimming pool. Food of a very good standard buffet style with good variety of choice. Wine (house very good from around euro 8.50 bottle) and drinks at very reasonable prices. Staff all very helpful and friendly.
Immediate area is a port town which has built up around the hotel but there are plenty of places to visit all with in about 100 km area, Gibraltar, Cadiz, Ronda, etc.