The 95-room Grand Hotel and Spa in Benahavis near Marbella used by wealthy Brits is now full of weeds and frogs after 15 months of being abandoned during lockdown
Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
A luxury hotel in Spain used by wealthy Brits on holiday has been left to rot during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now inhabited only by weeds and frogs.
The four star Grand Hotel and Spa in Benahavis near Marbella has been called one of the jewels of the Costa Del Sol with its idyllic mountain landscape and exotic facilities.
But pictures reveal the 95-room hotel has fallen into disrepair after being closed for 15 months during the pandemic.
They emerge as villagers complained that the UK’s ‘amber’ rating for Spain – meaning people have to quarantine when they return – is keeping tourists away, and have turned the hotel into a “ghost ship”.
The hotel’s lawns and pools have been overrun by weeds and algae and have become home to frogs.
The hotel summer house with a ‘swim-up’ bar is empty with sun loungers thrown into the water.
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Outside corridors lined with plants are now full of overgrown or dead shrubbery.
In March last year the hotel said on Facebook : ”Dear followers, due to the coronavirus pandemic situation, the Grand Hotel Benahavis will remain temporarily closed.
“We appreciate your understanding and hope that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible, and we can welcome you and receive your visit again.”
A message in April 2020 added: ”For the well-being of our clients and colleagues, now it’s time to stay home, thus helping to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
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Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
”We are convinced that this situation will emerge more strengthened as a society, and we are looking forward to more than ever meeting again, enjoying all the beautiful surroundings we have, and welcoming them back to the Grand Hotel Benahavís. We will be back.”
It had been hoped the hotel would reopen for this summer but travel group Expedia is not taking bookings until January 2022.
The village of Benahavis has 8,500 residents and has been called ‘The Dining Room of Costa Del Sol’ for its swanky restaurants used by British ex-pats.
It is a favoured holiday destination for actor Hugh Grant, singer Rod Stewart and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin owns a hillside compound and vineyard in the area.
The hotel has a football training camp used by the German and Belgian national Teams and Aston Villa.
Villagers this week blamed the hotel being closed partly on Spain being on the UK government’s ‘amber’ list of countries.
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Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
One said: ”The Grand is the jewel in the crown when it comes to hotels in the Costas yet it is now a sad shadow of its former self.
“The place is overgrown with weeds and the pools are only any good for tadpoles and frogs.
They add: “The fact Spain is still on amber surely is a factor in it not reopening as many Brits would book in there.
”There are beautiful hotels elsewhere in the village but the Grand is still an important part of the area and needs to reopen again. It’s currently like a ghost ship.”