The Rock Hotel

, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Explore Gibraltar
Nearby Airports
Review this Hotel
Popular Travel Destinations

Recently Reviewed Hotels Around Gibraltar

The Rock Hotel

, Gibraltar
3 Europa Rd - Gibraltar - n/a - Gibraltar 73000
527 Traveller

Reviews - The Rock Hotel

1/10
Noise, sewage and unhelpful staff
Submitted by: Michael in 25/10/09
  • Age Group: 51 - 60
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Mature Couple
Road and dockland noise 24hours a day with doors, room 428, that do not close or lock, leaking sewage from the lavatory reported but left and staff when you report faults tell you there is no money as the plans are to demolish the hotel and build apartments.
We have been twice before, now it is a run down dive.
Check Rates and Availability for the The Rock Hotel
10/10
Unique character, very comfortable
Submitted by: Chris in 02/02/08
  • Age Group: 60 +
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Business Traveller
Well furnished and appointed bedrooms with lots of little touches and elegant spacious public rooms. Loved the little time warp bar with wisteria festooned terrace beyond it, excellent bar snacks. Wholesome breakfast with bewildering options. Very attentative staff in all departments. Free e-mail facility. Fabulous views over the town and bay. Dockyard noise could be annoying sitting out on one's balcony. Easy walk into town, but a bit of a grind to back again, but a bus passes the door and taxis are cheap.
Good short break flight and hotel deals available. Will certainly use the hotel again.
10/10
Excellent hotel
Submitted by: Michael in 22/01/07
  • Age Group: 51 - 60
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Mature Couple
We stayed for 9 nights over the Christmas period at this superb hotel arriving on the 22nd Dec. First impression of reception was bright clean and inviting, at check in we were offered mince pies and a glass of port by very friendly staff. We were shown to a large sea view room with a small balcony, it was clean, well equipped with a bed seven feet wide, the bath room was again very clean and bright with rubber ducks by the bath and the usual hotel extras, soap shampoo etc. We even had lolly pops by the bed and a decanter each of Sherry and Whisky, both refilled each day.
The bar is small with an outside terrace with a pagoda covered in wisteria, the staff are friendly and efficient, the choice of English beers very good and the bar snacks were first class.
Breakfast left nothing to be desired, full English or Continental and as much as you like.
The Hotel location is to the south of the town, just a short stroll down hill to the Main Street, docks and marinas, the walk back is quiet a climb and we found after a few days not as tiring as before.
We have stayed at the Caletta Hotel before and although we enjoyed or stay with them the Rock seems so much more British and the time warp they are stuck in suits us fine as it has so many famous people whose faces you will recognise whilst drinking in the bar.
GREAT PLACE TO STAY!
9/10
Worth the money !
Submitted by: Lisa in 19/05/06
  • Age Group: 26 - 30
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Honeymooners
Fab service overall from the staff and the room was a really good size. View over the docks/marina was amazing. The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom at home. The only downsides and the reason i haven't given the Rock 10/10 is that it's on a really steep hill which is a nightmare for those of us that aren't too fit and the pool, albeit lovely is across the road and not on site.
Check Rates and Availability for the The Rock Hotel

Historical Traveller Reviews of The Rock Hotel

Avoid. Not a 4star Hotel.

from ps
We found this hotel not up to the standard of a 4 star Hotel. The room we stayed in was dated and needed a good lick of paint. The back of the Hotel was a mess, a private dumping ground for the Hotel. There was building work going on at the time of our stay, which did not reflect in the price of the room.
We feel we paid too much for a room, at a hotel which was not up to standard.
Gibraltar itself was ok in the centre, next to the shops, but if you venture out, you will find dirty streets, derelict houses and waste grounds.
We will not be returning.

Far from perfect, but far from awful as well!

from Xantia56
All reviews of hotels in Gibraltar seem very variable I opted for the Rock, hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.
The first thing is that, whatever some reviews say, I found the staff to be excellent, friendly and genuinely helpful. The hotel's 'public' areas are well furnished and in good repair if international in style.
Our rooms were on the first floor and each benefited from a very large balcony, the rooms were large and well equiped though somewhat tired with chipped paint on doors, a bathroom that could use fresh tiles and some exposed wiring in the corridor lights! We only ate breakfast at the hotel this was fine - though the usual buffet
All rooms overlook the harbour and its shipping, The location is a little out of the centre and too hilly for my (generally fit & healthy) 82 year old mother to venture out on her own.
There was evidence of refubishment, though no work appeared to be happening over the four days I was there. We enjoyed our stay there and I wish I could praise it more, but it does need freshening up.

All ship-shape on the rock!

from gatwickchap.
Was cautious about staying here after reading reviews but am glad I did. I took the trouble to phone the hotel after booking on the Net, and ask for a "nice" room!!
On arrival reception were fine and said if I was unhappy with the room assigned, they could move me or I could upgrade for a modest fee.
Room was on the first floor with huge terrace/balcony overlooking the bay with Morrocco in the distance. Bedroom was clean with robes, complimentry sherry, scotch and rubber ducks in the bath!!! bed also comfortable and I enjoyed a peaceful nights sleep. Breakfast was the usual buffet affair, but service was good and tea arrived quickly, plates were cleared whilst at the buffet.
The hotel is a few mins from the Trafalgar cemetry and cable car to the top of the rock, and the start of Main Street that leads in to the main shopping area and down to Case Mates, a large square with many restaurants and Pubs being about 15 mins walk away.
If you are infirm the hotel is up a hill, but there is complimentary transport, & taxis seem to cost about 3 euro and busses stop almost outside.
The Hotel was undergoing some refurbishment when I stayed (26th-27th Jan) but it made no impact on my stay other than being able to secure a bargain room rate via Air-miles. If you are very budget concious stay in one of the hotels in Spain in either La Linea or slightly further away, in Algerciraz and cross the border on foot.

Perfect position and views

from A TripAdvisor Member
I, and my partner, have been travelling the World each year on vacations since 1992 from the Sates to the Far East; Australia, etc and we have just returned from staying at this Hotel. We found it was PERFECT from the reception right through to the room with superb views across the Bay and the Straits. The breakfast was more than adequate that suited all tastes and appetites and was the most substantial for choice that we have seen. ALL staff were very good and polite and nothing was too much trouble including all services in the Restaurant, the Barbary Bar and Room Service. Having read some of the other reviews we almost cancelled but I am glad we did not. I think those who have written the bad reviews were either staying at another Hotel or, more likely, are in competition and making out they have stayed there. With the Cable Car on the doorstep plus two superb bus services everywhere in Gib is in easy reach. After a days shopping or visiting the night life at Casemates Square a Taxi to the Hotel was only 3 Gib Pounds. On leaving they even supplied free transport to the Airport. All tours can be booked from the Hotel. A really great place to stay.

A bit removed from the action . . .

from WiseWorldTraveler
I stayed in this hotel last weekend on a trip that included the Costa del Sol, Sevilla, and Granada. The hotel very well may be the nicest hotel in Gibraltar, but if I had had a chance to do it all again, I would have just stayed in our hotel in Marbella and visted Gibraltar as a day-trip. If you are accustomed to luxury hotels and are a world traveler, this hotel will be "just okay." On the day we were checking out, the maid knocked on our door at 9:30am and again at 10am to find out what time we planned to check out -- even though checkout time was not until 11:30am. The other drawback is that it is about a 15 minute walk from the main pedestrian street. We did, however, have a beautiful veranda overlooking the Bay.

The Best Hotel in Gibraltar

from Julin
We have stayed at The Rock many times and also The Elliott and Calletta which is further out of town and not so nice. The Rock is by far the best experience though admitted the beds are a bit hard. The lounges are excellent with comfortable sofas and lovely views. They supply lovely thick towels and bathrobes, rubber ducks, mini-bar and complimentary whisky and sherry. You don't get any of these at the Elliott. The staff are very helpful too.
We are staying at The Rock tomorrow for a week and are really looking forward to it.

Loved this hotel

from A TripAdvisor Member
I stayed at the Rock Hotel in 2001. I had intended to make the trip with my husband as we had been based in Gibraltar in the mid-70s when he was in the Royal Navy. Unfortunately he died in 1999 so I made the trip on my own. I found the Rock Hotel a lovely place to stay (having read the review of one of your travellers I just cannot believe he/she stayed at the Rock). The bedrooms are lovely - comfy beds, plenty of room, and very attractive. The staff were very friendly. The meals I had there were fine. There is a courtesy bus to various places on the island. There is a lovely large lounge with views across the bay. I would certainly recommend this hotel.

A wretched, dilapitated shadow of a colonial dinosaur

from A TripAdvisor Member
Having traveled to more than 40 countries, and having a particular appreciation for grand old hotels, particularly of the British Imperial genre, I consider myself a fair judge of properties. Older hotels carry with them a sense of history and continutiy which is lacking in modern hotels, and although one expects smaller rooms and slightly fewer amenities, this is usually easily overcome by the charm and grace of an old grande dame. Not so with the Rock. Without risk of overstatement, the Rock can only be considered a colonial nightmare of the first order, and should more appropriately be called the Pebble. For those who hope to find in the Rock a cousin of such colonial thoroughbreds as the Raffles, the Penninsula, the Grand Hotel d'Angkor, the E&O, or even the Mt. Nelson, you will be sorely disappointed. Filthy and dilapitated, with unispiring service and a complete lack of decorum, the hotel is crying out for renovation or demolition. The lobby, the focalpoint of the establishment is depressing at best, having been peppered with "modern upgrades" devoid of continuity and resulting in an overall appearance reminiscent of a regional Spanish airport. The carpets and draperies, filthy as they are make a lovely companion for the tired, outdated furniture, and when paired with the abysmal food, make for a memorable stay that will have you wishing you were in an Amsterdam youth hostel. The upstaris floors of the main hotel exist in such a state of disrepair that I questioned the structural soundness of the entire establishment, and the guestrooms, or cells if you prefer, are so dreadfully ugly that only the profound discomfort of the antiquated beds relieves ones sense of dismay. If you are headed for Gibraltar, which I do recommend, steer clear of the Pebble, and head for the far superior Elliot, which is much closer to town and at very least won't leave you feeling as if you've survived the last seige of Gibraltar.

Ducks!!!!

from A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed here for a week during the very busy time of July and found it to be excellent. The staff were very courteous and couldn't do enough to help us.
The rooms were basic but had everything you needed and there were nice little touches such as the rubber ducks in the bathroom, complementary brandy, sherry and lollipops.
The hotel pool was relaxing, the food excellent and all in all i would change is that it was not at the top of such as steep hill( very difficult after a night at Casemates!)

A gentle touch of fun

from cbush
My wife and I stayed here for three nights in early November. A delightful mixture of tradition and gentle touches of humour (and a nice view from the room).

General waiter service in the restaurant, bar and terrace varies from excellent to slow (or vague).

Food was terrific, whether you dined in style, or on the terrace, or from room service.

Reception and Managerial service was perfect.

Room quality and maid service could not be faulted.

Top Local Tips for Gibraltar

driving your own car arrive mid morning or before 16:00 as those pesky motorbikes seem to come out of the woodwork after teatime and it scary to say the least when you don't know where you are going- even our sat Nav had a problem.We did not have a problem at the border.

Taxi Taxi rank outside airport. British Airways do the best flights from Gatwick at good times and you can book a return flight from as little as £85 per person.

Explore the Upper Rock Go to the top of the Rock by cable car or get a taxi to St Michaels Cave and walk down to the town visiting the attractions and admiring the views en route. Avoid the monkeys if possible!

(hotels)loading

Other names for The Rock Hotel

  • rock hotel gibraltar
  • rock gibraltar
  • gibraltar rock hotel
  • Address: 3 Europa Rd - Gibraltar - n/a - Gibraltar
Travel Library Traveller Rating?
7.0/10

See All 527 reviews

Review this Hotel
Candid Traveller Photos
  •  Loading Image...
  •  Loading Image...
  •  Loading Image...
  •  Loading Image...
(hotels)loading

Hotels Near The Rock Hotel