"I recently stayed at Blue Sea Club Martha in Mallorca in order to review the package holiday experience for my auntie’s travel agency company. Upon arrival at the resort, despite arriving late at night, the check-in process was smooth and straightforward. The reception staff were welcoming and helpful in directing us to our accommodation. However, it would have been beneficial if more information had been provided at check-in regarding what drinks and facilities were included within the all-inclusive package, particularly as there are two separate bars on site.
Our initial room was spacious, however it appeared quite run down and in need of refurbishment. The bathroom had visible mould within the grout, the kitchen appliances were outdated, and one of the cupboard doors appeared damaged and poorly repaired, as though it had previously been glued back onto its hinges. The floors throughout the room were also noticeably dirty, leaving our feet and socks black after walking around barefoot. Additionally, the room only offered two single beds pushed together rather than a proper double bed, which was not ideal for couples.
There were also a few maintenance and safety concerns. A screw was protruding from the floor behind the door, which we could only assume had once acted as a door stop. Unfortunately, this was not immediately noticeable and my partner ended up standing on it. The outdoor balcony area for the ground floor room was also disappointing, consisting mainly of dead grass, a dead bush, and a view overlooking the car park, with only a couple of plastic chairs provided.
After speaking to reception regarding our concerns, the staff were extremely helpful and accommodating. We were advised to leave our luggage with reception from 11am and were told a new room should be ready by approximately 1:30pm. Unfortunately, there were several delays throughout the process. After returning at the advised time, we were informed the room was still not ready. We were later told at around 2:20pm that the room was available, however upon arrival the cleaner was still inside and informed us it was not yet ready for guests. We therefore had to leave our belongings and continue waiting until approximately 3:30pm before we were finally able to settle into the room. As a result, a large portion of our first day at the resort was unfortunately spent waiting around without access to our accommodation.
The second room was an improvement overall, particularly due to its better location overlooking the pool and being situated on the second floor. However, there were still some cleanliness and maintenance issues present, including rust in the bath, soap residue remaining on the shower walls from previous guests, and a dirty plughole. The hairdryer in the room was also not functioning, which we unfortunately only discovered after washing hair.
One point worth noting is that the room safe does not include a lock unless guests pay an additional charge for a key from reception. This was not explained during check-in and may be useful information for future guests.
In terms of entertainment and facilities, the resort appears to cater more towards families with children than adults or couples travelling alone. The entertainment provided was suitable for children but relatively limited for adults in the evenings. However, the additional facilities such as snooker, table tennis, and air hockey were a nice touch and reasonably priced at approximately €2 per game.
The all-inclusive drinks system required guests to pay a €1 deposit per cup, which was refunded upon returning the cup for another drink. While this is clearly an effective way of keeping the resort tidy and reducing waste, it did occasionally become inconvenient if cups were accidentally left in the room. The drink selection itself was acceptable, although the cocktail options could have been more extensive.
The buffet restaurant offered a reasonable range of food choices, although the quality and variety varied depending on the day. Some evenings provided a much stronger selection than others. The dessert section, however, was fairly limited and could be improved.
The resort itself has two pools, with the larger pool situated furthest away from the main all-inclusive bar. This meant guests relaxing by that pool often had quite a long walk to collect drinks. Day beds were also available for approximately €25 per day.
The location of the hotel was reasonably good overall. The nearby harbour is within walking distance and offers a wide range of restaurants and bars. During our stay we visited The Old Steakhouse at the harbour, which offered excellent food and a good atmosphere. However, guests should be aware that there are very limited beach options nearby, with only a very small sandy area located on the walk towards the harbour.
Transport to and from the airport is another factor worth considering. We opted to use a taxi service which cost approximately €85 each way. There was also an optional coach transfer available during booking for around £30, which may be preferable depending on personal preference and budget.
Noise levels around the resort were generally acceptable in the second apartment we were moved to, as it was located further away from the entertainment area. However, guests staying closer to the entertainment stage may find the evening noise levels disruptive, as entertainment typically continued until around 11pm.
Overall, while the resort did offer some positives including helpful staff, decent facilities, and a good location near the harbour, the accommodation itself felt more reflective of a 3-star standard rather than a 4-star hotel based on previous experiences at similar resorts. The outdated rooms, cleanliness concerns, and maintenance issues did impact the overall experience. Nevertheless, the staff throughout our stay were consistently friendly, approachable, and helpful whenever any issues or questions arose."
