Pool & VIP Sunbed FAQs

Pool & Terrace FAQs — Everything You Need to Know Before You Book

Planning an afternoon at El Oceano's Polynesian Pool? Our Pool & Terrace FAQs answer the questions we hear most often — from what's included with a VIP sunbed reservation to the age policy, the heating, and how non-residents can book.

The individual FAQ entries below cover all the essentials clearly and in full. Whether you're a first-time visitor wondering what to expect, or a returning guest with a specific question about booking or availability, everything you need is here.

If your question isn't answered below, the fastest way to reach us is via our Facebook page at facebook.com/oceanohotel, where the team responds promptly throughout the day. You can also email info@oceanohotel.com or call (+34) 952 587 550 — though please bear in mind that reception is often busy, so Facebook or email is usually quicker.

VIP sunbed reservations can be made directly through the El Oceano website at any time. We strongly recommend booking in advance, particularly for weekend afternoons and during the peak season, when availability fills up quickly. For hotel, restaurant and wedding FAQs, please use the relevant pages linked in the navigation above.

The Polynesian Pool — El Oceano's Most Talked-About Feature

Ask almost any guest what they remember most about El Oceano, and the Polynesian Pool will be somewhere near the top of the answer. It is, in the most straightforward sense, a heated outdoor pool right next to the beach. But in every other sense, it is considerably more than that — a fully realised leisure experience that has made the phrase 'Awesome Afternoons' something guests use without irony, because it is exactly what an afternoon here delivers.

The pool sits at the heart of El Oceano's beachfront terrace, positioned to make the most of the setting — the Mediterranean on one side, the hotel behind, and the open Costa del Sol sky above. It is heated throughout the season, which means it is genuinely inviting regardless of the time of year. Spring afternoons by the Polynesian Pool, when the air is warm but the season is not yet at full pitch, are among the most pleasurable experiences El Oceano has to offer — the water perfect, the terrace unhurried, the drinks cold and the music, on entertainment days, exactly right.

VIP Sunbeds — The Full Experience

The VIP sunbeds are what transform a pool visit into an occasion. Spacious enough for two, positioned to take full advantage of the view, and equipped with everything needed for an exceptional afternoon — towels, personal waiter service, and direct access to both the pool and the swim-up bar — they represent poolside luxury at its most accessible and most enjoyable.

Each VIP sunbed reservation covers the afternoon from midday until 7pm, at €80 per sunbed Monday to Thursday and €100 Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. Both guests sharing a sunbed must be aged 14 or over. Drinks and food ordered from the pool bar and waiter service are charged separately, but the towels, the service, and the pool itself are all included as a matter of course.

The personal waiter service deserves a particular mention. It is one of those details that, once experienced, becomes immediately indispensable — the ability to order another round, or a change of drink, or something to eat, without leaving the sunbed or interrupting the easy flow of the afternoon. The waiter is attentive without being intrusive, present when needed and unobtrusive when not. It is a small thing that makes a very significant difference to the overall experience.

VIP sunbeds are available to both hotel guests and non-residents, and are bookable directly through the El Oceano website. Booking in advance is strongly recommended — particularly for Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the main season, when availability fills up quickly. The pool team does their best to accommodate last-minute bookings where possible, but securing your reservation early is always the better option.

The Swim-Up Bar — Cocktails in the Water

The swim-up bar is one of those features that sounds appealing in principle and proves to be even better in practice. Positioned at the poolside edge, accessible from the water and from the terrace, it is staffed throughout the afternoon by a team that takes its cocktails seriously.

The classics are done properly — Mojitos with real mint, Aperol Spritz with the right ratio, Piña Coladas that taste exactly as they should on a warm afternoon by the sea. Ice-cold champagne is available and, on the right afternoon, hard to resist. Cold beers, chilled wines, sparkling water and soft drinks are all on hand for those who want something lighter. Whatever you order, it will arrive cold, well-made, and with the kind of care that reflects El Oceano's approach to everything it does.

For VIP sunbed guests, much of the afternoon's ordering is handled through the personal waiter rather than a trip to the bar — but swimming up to order is very much encouraged, because it is exactly the kind of thing that makes an afternoon at the Polynesian Pool what it is.

Poolside Entertainment — The Soundtrack to Your Afternoon

Throughout the season, the Polynesian Pool terrace comes alive with live entertainment most Thursdays through to Sundays. Live performers and DJs bring music and energy to the afternoon in a way that lifts the atmosphere without overwhelming it — upbeat and enjoyable without being intrusive, social without being demanding.

The entertainment programme varies throughout the season, with different acts and formats keeping the calendar varied and worth checking in advance. The full schedule of upcoming poolside entertainment is available on the El Oceano entertainment calendar at the website. If you have a specific act or date in mind, checking the calendar before booking your sunbed is always a good idea.

On the busiest entertainment afternoons — particularly summer weekends — the pool terrace has an energy that is genuinely special: the warmth of the day, the music, the water, the cold drinks, and the particular contentment of a group of happy people sharing a beautiful space. It is the kind of afternoon that guests describe, in reviews and in conversation, as one of the highlights of their time on the Costa del Sol.

A Note on the Age Policy and Access

The Polynesian Pool area — including the VIP sunbeds, the swim-up bar, and the immediate terrace — is an adult-oriented space with a minimum age policy of 14 years for all users, including hotel guests. This policy is in place to maintain the tranquil, relaxed atmosphere that makes the pool the place it is, and it is one that El Oceano's guests consistently appreciate and support.

The hotel's restaurant has no age restrictions and is warmly welcoming to families with children of all ages. The age policy applies specifically and only to the pool area and terrace.

A restaurant reservation does not include access to the Polynesian Pool or VIP sunbeds. If you would like to combine lunch or dinner in the restaurant with an afternoon at the pool, we recommend booking a VIP sunbed separately to guarantee your place — the two experiences complement each other beautifully, and many guests make a full and very satisfying day of it.