"We recently stayed at Aubamar Palma Resort, and while there are some positives, the overall experience unfortunately didn’t live up to the expectations of a five-star resort.
Our first impression came at check-in. Three receptionists welcomed us and explained where our room was located (Tower, room 10607). Without us asking, they pointed out that we had booked the smallest room (18 m²) and that the other accommodation options were much larger. While this may have been factually correct, it felt like an unnecessary and unprofessional way to welcome guests who had just arrived.
During our stay, we had lunch at the hotel several times. Service consistently felt understaffed, with waiting times of 15–20 minutes before anyone came to take our order. The staff were clearly doing their best, but with only two servers looking after more than 50 guests, the responsibility lies with management rather than the employees. Several guests had to walk over to the waiters themselves just to get assistance.
The food was another disappointment. Dishes lacked seasoning, the pasta was bland and uninspiring, and one day the gyozas I ordered were still frozen in the middle. On multiple occasions, we also ordered items that were listed on the menu or cocktail list, only to be told they were unavailable.
Lunch for two regularly cost around €50, which in itself is perfectly reasonable if the quality matches the price. Unfortunately, it rarely did. Instead, we often left feeling that we hadn’t received value for money and, quite frankly, felt ripped off considering what was served.
We also used the fitness facilities in the Tower every single day, and they were far below what we would expect from a five-star hotel. The gym was clearly being used by many guests, yet it wasn’t kept clean, there were no disinfectant wipes or cleaning supplies available for guests to wipe down equipment, and I actually had to fetch paper towels from the public restrooms myself. In 2026, hygiene and well-maintained fitness facilities are not a luxury—they are a basic expectation, especially at a hotel that presents itself as a premium resort.
The breakfast buffet raised similar concerns. There was no hand sanitizer available anywhere before entering the buffet area. After everything the hospitality industry has learned over the past few years, this is difficult to understand and, in our opinion, below the standard expected of a five-star property.
The resort itself is located very close to the lively area where many German tourists go out at night. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it does influence the atmosphere. It never really felt like the boutique resort the hotel markets itself as. There were many families with children, while a DJ played by the pool every afternoon. It felt as though the hotel couldn’t quite decide what kind of experience it wanted to offer. There is plenty of potential, but the identity and execution don’t match the branding.
Finally, while we certainly met some friendly employees, many staff members appeared tired, disengaged, and lacking enthusiasm. Whether that’s due to workload or management is difficult to say, but it inevitably affects the guest experience.
We’ve stayed at many excellent hotels across different star categories, so our expectations are always based on the overall experience rather than the number of stars alone. Unfortunately, this stay simply didn’t feel like a genuine five-star experience. Aubamar has plenty of potential, but stronger management, better staffing, higher food quality, greater attention to hygiene, and a clearer identity would make a significant difference."
