"We stayed at Jutlandia Family Resort during the May half-term holidays as a family of two adults and a six-year-old. Overall, we had a very enjoyable holiday and felt the hotel offered good value for money, particularly for families with younger children.
Arrival and Check-In
The transfer from the airport took around 30 minutes, with one stop in Magaluf before reaching the hotel. Reception is staffed 24 hours a day and we found the staff friendly and helpful throughout our stay. Tourist tax is payable as expected.
Accommodation
We stayed in a second-floor apartment. There are no lifts and access is via narrow concrete staircases with no handrails, so this is worth considering if you have mobility issues, young children or heavy luggage. However, the mountain views from the balcony were lovely and made the climb worthwhile.
The apartment itself was basic but had everything we needed, including a kitchenette, TV, sofa, shower room and a free safe available on request from reception. Hand soap was provided.
We travelled as a family of three. Our child slept in the bedroom while one adult used the sofa bed in the living area. This arrangement actually worked quite well for us as the sofa bed is positioned near the apartment entrance, making it easier to keep an eye on a child who might be tempted to wander out independently.
One thing parents should be aware of is that the electric hob can easily be switched on by children, so we unplugged it when not in use.
The room was serviced almost every day with beds made and towels changed regularly. Overall cleanliness was good, although we did notice some dust under the beds.
Pools and Facilities
The hotel has a good variety of pools with different depths. The children’s pool was particularly popular, with several small slides and a splash park nearby.
One thing to note is that the slides are positioned in the middle of the pool, creating some blind spots. We found it helpful to supervise from different sides of the pool so our child was always visible.
The only thing we felt was missing for younger children was a traditional playground.
Sunbeds are stacked and chained overnight and are usually released shortly after 10am. Although there were generally enough sunbeds available, there were not enough umbrellas and bases for everyone. Some guests reserved sunbeds, umbrellas and shaded areas for hours without using them, making it difficult for others to find shade.
There is very little natural shade around the pool area, so families with young children should come prepared with suitable sun protection.
At night, the sunbeds are locked away, so it is not possible to relax on one in the evening.
Food and Drink
Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served across the road at the sister hotel. The buffet area is smaller than those found in some larger resorts, but we actually preferred this as it was easy to navigate and less overwhelming.
Food quality was generally good, particularly for meat eaters, fish lovers and children. However, vegetarian options were limited throughout the stay at breakfast, lunch, dinner and on the snack menu. Vegetarians will not go hungry, but choice can become repetitive after several days.
There is no à la carte restaurant.
Lunch is also available at Jutlandia itself from a limited snack menu. Vegetarian options were particularly restricted here, with chips and onion rings being the main choices.
The all-inclusive package represented good value overall, but some exclusions were disappointing. Certain drinks were included while others were not, including the pre-made frozen cocktails, which cost around €10 each.
Ice creams and ice pops are available between 10am and 6pm. Cakes are only available during meal times and are not part of the daytime snack offering.
One useful tip for future guests is to bring a large reusable bottle for your apartment, as water refills are not self-service outside meal times.
There is only one main bar at the hotel, usually staffed by two or three people, so queues can develop during busy periods. Last drinks are served at 11pm.
Entertainment
The evening entertainment area is covered and mainly aimed at younger children, with mini discos and dancing on stage. Our child enjoyed it, but older children may find it less appealing.
There is no entertainment on Sundays.
One downside was cigarette smoke drifting into the entertainment area from nearby guests.
Location
The beach, shops, bars and restaurants are all within a short walking distance.
However, many of the local shops focused mainly on souvenirs rather than practical holiday items. After our child got sunburnt despite regular sunscreen application, we struggled to find full-length UV swimwear, rash vests and sun hats that covered the ears and neck. Families may wish to bring these items from home just in case.
Shared Facilities Confusion
One area that could be communicated more clearly concerns the sister hotel across the road. As all meals are taken there, we assumed some facilities were shared. We later discovered that Jutlandia guests are not permitted to use the sister hotel’s pool area and were politely asked to leave. Clearer information about which facilities are shared and which are not would help avoid confusion.
Other Useful Information
• Snacks such as chips, onion rings and popcorn are served until 6pm.
• Ice cream and ice pops are available from 10am to 6pm.
• There are several different wristband colours across the two hotels to identify board basis.
• There is one toilet per gender at reception, another by the pool and one near the bar, plus a shower available for use on departure day.
• Bring plenty of euro coins for tips, children’s rides and arcade machines.
Final Thoughts
Jutlandia is an excellent choice for families with children roughly aged 0–12 years. The pools, splash facilities, friendly staff, family atmosphere and overall value for money make it easy to recommend.
It is not perfect. Improvements could be made regarding accessibility, shade around the pool, vegetarian food choices, communication about shared facilities and the availability of all-inclusive drinks. However, none of these issues stopped us from having a very enjoyable holiday.
We would happily return and would recommend it to other families looking for a relaxed and child-friendly base in Santa Ponsa."
