Barcelo Playa Blanca

"For us, the hotel is a mixed bag. Some elements are outstanding, others decidedly under par. We stayed HB and the food offering was excellent. The dessert and patisserie offering was the best we’ve come across and they aren’t just there for aesthetic purposes, they have substance too. One slight gripe - the restaurant to the left is the only one to have tomato ketchup, mayo & mustard and similarly is the designated area for ‘theme night extras’. These won’t be found in the centre or right hand side restaurants. Another bonus is that water is foc from dispensers at tea time, with carafes and glasses for use. The pool was huge, though the ‘heated’ section was only marginally warmer than the far side which wasn’t. We never struggled to get two sun beds together with a parasol, despite people queuing at 9am for the pool to open, so they could reserve their spots. Other bonuses were the room TV showing all the UK terrestrial channels (ideal for the World Cup) and the easy and effective air con. The wristbands that acted as keys to our room and the external gate were a good idea but I had to change mine three times (and my husband twice) during our 12 day stay as they simply stop working. The biggest negative was with housekeeping. The staff were lovely but the service was poor. On the fourth day we didn’t get a visit which we accepted was an oversight so didn’t mention it. However, the next day we didn’t have a visit and ran out of shower gel. The app was great and we requested the gel and reported to reception that we’d missed two cleans. A staff member then appeared and did a quick clean. We were given shower gel but it wasn’t put in the dispenser that a key is needed to unlock. Two days later we were missed off again, by which time we’d run out of soap. Again, the app was great and soap was brought, but not put into the dispenser. We presumed that the following day (when we actually had a room clean without having to chase) that the gels / soaps would be put into the empty dispensers but alas this wasn’t to be. On our penultimate day the room wasn’t cleaned again so we went to reception and got towels from Jack (a lovely staff member) who said he’d report it. At 6pm a lady did a thorough clean of the room. Even when housekeeping did visit, the service was hit and miss. We didn’t always get the 2 tetra paks of water or clean cups / glasses. The shower was only rinsed twice and the floor wasn’t always mopped. The balcony wasn’t swept for the duration of the stay. The engineering team deserve a mention. We reported a couple of issues via the app (blocked shower on arrival and later on a wardrobe door off its runner), both of which were attended to within 15 mins. The evening entertainment wasn’t the greatest but was passable. The theatre is a huge space with great potential but the performances didn’t live up to expectations. For us, the hotel is a victim of its size. It was a little too clinical in finish and austere. Lifts were at either end of huge blocks and the garden gate a good quarter of a mile from the main body of the hotel. This didn’t affect us as we don’t have mobility issues, but it was a pain when I was alone and my wristband stopped working. By the time I’d been back to reception to have a new band I’d walked 3/4 of a mile before I left the hotel!!"

"we had an overall excellent stay ( for the 5th time in this hotel). We enjoy the rooms, swimming pool and animation and the restaurants. We will come back for sure!"

"A great hotel, in the perfect location in Playa Blanca next to the marina. We had a superior sea view room and it was worth it, a really good sized balcony with sun loungers and an excellent sea view. We stayed half board which was very good, a good choice of evening meal. Although if we went again we would probably just have breakfast as there are so many nice places to eat within minutes of the hotel."