"Room:
adults only suite in Area A: comfortable with two separate areas, two tvs but only BBC 1 and 2 English channels. Shower had slippery floor but a non-slip mat was cheerfully provided within minutes of asking at reception.
NO DRAWERS at all. I like a bedside drawer and drawers for underwear etc but there were only open shelves in the wardrobes and small bedside tables. As I use a CPAP to sleep safely I need room for the machine by the bed as well as my book, tissues, phone and tablet (both on charge overnight), water, hand cream and a soothing cream for my knee.
There is a small empty fridge but no tea/coffee making facilities. I understand a kettle can be had on request from Reception but as we were only staying 4 nights we didn’t bother. The balcony is adequate and has a table and 3 chairs and a small drying rack. Another chair is in the room. We were above the theatre bar so could hear the entertainment from the balcony. Luckily it finished by ten and with the balcony door closed it wasn’t too audible.
Entertainment at night was way too loud and not interesting to us at all. We did ask in Reception if there was a quieter bar but at this time of year (end of April) only the Theatre and Sports bars were open. Nowhere with a nice relaxing vibe, sadly. Next night I asked a man in reception about bus times and after he explained that to me he asked how my day was going. I said it had been good but was about to get noisy. He asked why and I explained that our room was above the theatre and the lack of quieter venues for an evening drink. After I rejected his suggestion of the sports bar he asked if he could send a bottle of cava to our room! It arrived a short while later and we put it in the fridge as it was by then nearly bedtime. David was his name! I’d heard good things about him from previous reviewers!
Pools: the adult only pool was pleasant except that it could get noisy when the animation team were running activities in the main pool. I did have a lovely peaceful time by crossing the road into area B where the pool area was silent and deserted. Of course there was no catering there!
Food:
We ate in the main buffet restaurant in Area A. We found the food surprisingly good, though limited in choice compared to other places we’ve stayed. Breakfast had a vast array of choices including fruits, salads, meats, cheeses, fish, breads, cereals, porridge, pastries including churros, and of course the English breakfast options. Drinks were not exciting. Juice from machines was poor, better to take fruit. At lunch and dinner red white and rose wine, beer and soft drinks were available, but not of a high standard. Lots of food choices again with soup, salads, pasta, pizza, chips, grilled meat and fish, vegetable dishes, stews, local specialties one night, Arabic another and Oriental a third. Ambiance was not great, with a rush when they open and sometimes the “good stuff” is taken very fast! There is a small adult only eating area outside which was ok. I loved the fridges full of ices to help yourself from. Allergy labelling is a bit hit or miss. I imagine if you have a serious allergy you would have asked about the food before travelling, reminded reception on arrival, and checked with staff every meal time. I did ask about the omelettes in case there was milk in them and staff went to great lengths to check for me. As my allergy is not serious, leading to minor inconvenience rather than being life threatening I found it easier to use my common sense and avoid obvious trigger foods. The food truck by the adult pool was good with a small à la carte menu to choose from. Included if you are in an adult only suite (gold wristband), otherwise to pay for.
Drinks:
Cocktails from the menu were poor. Premixes with crushed ice. Better to order a Gin and Tonic or Rum and Coke from the bar! Alcohol free beer and cocktails only available from main bar but wine and normal beer was also available from the food truck by the adults only pool.
Spa:
The “indoor pool” is very small with powerful massage jets that spray into the middle, leaving little room to actually swim. The jacuzzi is quite big. I tried to get in to the left of the support rail, only to realise that the steps were only on the right hand side. It could have been made more obvious. We didn’t try out the sauna, steam room etc but they looked clean. Lockers in the changing rooms were locked with a number keypad similar to those used in room safes. You do need to remember which locker you used though, there is no numbered key! I didn’t shower there, preferring to use the room but I poked my head in and saw an enormous cockroach!
Gym:
The gym has lots of “machine” equipment including both upright and recumbent bikes and treadmills and various multi gym stations. I didn’t find any Pilates/yoga mats. There were heavy dumbbells but nothing less than 4kg that I saw. I would have liked to do some Pilates exercises with 1kg weights.
Location:
close to a beach though beach facilities like toilets, restaurant, life guards were not yet open for the season. A few shops in the immediate vicinity but the nearest “town” is Porto Cristo, a ten minute bus ride away. Buses stop outside the hotel, as does the “mini Trenet”. Buses are paid for by tapping in and out with your credit card. If travelling together use one card for all tickets as it gets cheaper the more tickets you buy. It cost us under E3 for 2 of us to ride the bus. It’s a flat fare. The Mini Trenet is much less comfortable and costs E5 each for a return ticket. Don’t make the same mistake as I did and board it on the Area B side of the road if you are heading to the Caves or Porto Cristo. It took half an hour on very rough roads to get back to the stop on the main hotel side of the road before then going on to PC!
Must see:
Caves of Drach (Cuevas del Drach). Ten minutes away by bus or Mini Tren. Book online for a timed slot, hourly from 10am. Although I had visited 35 years ago with my children it was well worth a second visit. I saw bits of the old path while we went through … and wondered just how much they have improved since then as it was more magnificent than I remembered. Certainly the best cave system I’ve ever seen. The boat ride at the end involved queuing as. Series of 12 seater rowing boats ferried people from A to B which wasn’t very far. It would certainly have been quicker to walk. The climb up out of the caves involved a sequence of 95 steps. Not for the faint hearted!
Early season limitation:
No lifeguards or facilities on beaches before 1st May.
Hotel was only half open with everyone crowding into Area A main restaurant for meals. Only Theatre and Sports bars were open. Couldn’t book into South restaurant or Diner after we arrived."
