Well we have just returned from four weeks in this hotel (nearly all of January). This hotel is like home from home, everything in my opinion is fist class. The staff are all very helpful and are very kind when I try speak to them using my limited but hopefully inproving Spanish language. Everthing is just as good as the previous years, food good, rooms clean and staff excellent. One very big inprovement is the wifi which works in the rooms very well, I had my ipad and this worked well all the time.
There are two entertainment venues and this year they are probably sorted out better than previously so most people should be happy. The happy hour in the Bar Miami is now 20:30 to 21:30 which suits us much better, we can eat dinner, go for a walk afterwards and still manage to get a drink in the happy hour.
One small point is the Tannoy system which is too loud and a bit offputting when you are eating dinner.
One again a great hotel and when we stay in Fuengirola we would not stay anywhere else.

I don't know where "Geordies713" stayed in his December 2011 review. It could not have been the Florida Spa. We paid a second visit at the begining of January 2012, taking friends with us. They were more than pleased. Said they had stayed at 5* hotels that were not as good as the Florida. Food was as good as our first visit. Happy hour was 8.30 -9.30. Staff were more than obliging. Bar staff in the evenings even danced with guests. Two things that was different....The locals only came into our dance area on Sat and Sun. They were in the lower bar on the Monday, and we didn't see them again until the following weekend, and all beds now have foam toppers (They did tend to be very firm) .We will certainly consider a third visit.

Recently returned from our third holiday at the Florida. We had a great time,We were even very lucky with the weather in January, 12 out of 14 days were sunny.

I have read a number of reviews regaring this hotel, most are fair and honest but some people have a great big bee in their bonnet about non resident Spaniards using the hotel lounges to listen to the entertainment. I saw a classic case of this when we had the farewell meeting with Thomson. A Welsh couple ( I am also Welsh by the way) tore into the rep about the Spaniards having taken over the place. This is certainly untrue, even to the point that the main lounge has signs up to restrict access to residents and the Spaniards are directed to the basement lounge when there is a duo playing a mix of Spanish and British Music ( brilliant by the way). Ironically who did we see late evening , were this couple coming down to listen and dance to the music - talk about being two faced. By the way most residents found the restriction very annoying , since they are happy to mix with the Spanish. This person also thought that this hotel is restricted to Thomson guest which is incorrect since they only have an allocation of rooms..

Other points:

Happy hour - this is now back and runs from 8:30 to 9.30 in the main lounge.

Food overall was very good , by the way food was hot but if you wanted if really boiling there is also a microwave there

IF I want to be petty, can they please turn down the volume when the Thomson rep makes her announcements on the dining room tannoy and when they call bingo, The bingo caller could be clearly heard in the dinning room., one floor up. Unforunatly, she was not as good as Gladys Pugh of Hi di hi.

Rooms are spotless, Staff are brilliant, especially Maity who is a one off.

Even though we have travelled the world and stayed in many 5* hotels, I have to say it will take a lot to beat the Florida and we will certainly be back.

We stayed in the hotel 11th - 17th December 2011.
Couldn't find even one nit to pick.
Our room was on the tenth floor overlooking the pool and the balcony turned out to be a good suntrap.
All the staff at the hotel were excellent - so very friendly and helpful.
The buffet meals were always presented well and of a good quality.....can't understand if people don't find something they like.
We will return to this hotel....what more can I say.