Senator Banus Spa Hotel is a long building that not only emulates the look of a cruise ship -- with big arched windows and an imperial staircase -- but all the luxury associated with sea travel. The chic hotel is popular with couples and bachelor/bachelorette parties -- which can get loud. Dining areas are sleek and modern, and include a buffet restaurant surrounded by glass windows that offer panoramic views of one of the pools, where breakfast and dinner are served, and an a la carte restaurant whose focus is Asian cuisine. Live piano music is played at the cocktail bar inside. Outside, guests can relax with drinks on the cushioned chairs and couches at the open-air bar next to one of the pools.

The hotel is located just off the Autovia del Mediterraneo between Puerto Banus and Estepano, in a residential area within a 10-minute walk of the beach. There are a handful of restaurants nearby, and there are three golf courses within a 35-minute drive -- Flamingos Golf Club is the closest, and it's about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. It’s a 45-minute drive to Malaga Airport. (Note, there's no public transportation to the airport.) 

Rooms at Senator Banus Spa Hotel are spacious with pretty parquet floors and brown tufted headboards. Chic furnishings include paper floor lamps and trendy vases holding bamboo. All rooms have minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, 32-inch wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Two bottles of water are provided upon arrival. Rooms have big tile terraces furnished with tables and chairs; they offer views of the garden and picturesque palms. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and double sinks. They include thoughtful touches like magnifying mirrors and generous toiletries. A penthouse suite is available with a private whirlpool on a huge terrace.

Senator Banus Spa Hotel has a breakfast buffet with a variety of tasty items, including cooked-to-order eggs, and a dinner buffet that earns less-glowing reviews. There’s also an Asian restaurant and piano cocktail bar on-site. The hotel has two pools, including a lap pool and another big pool with a bar. There’s a fitness center with a variety of fitness machines, and the spa includes a fitness center, a contrast pool, hydromassage beds, showers, a sauna, and hamman, but spa facilities are free for guests only two hours a day -- after that guests get a 50 percent discount. The hotel also has a gift shop, a pool table, ping pong table, and dart board for entertainment. Parking is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.