"I stayed at Playa Azul Hotel between 6th–13th May for a week. Before travelling, I did plenty of research and noticed a lot of conflicting photos online showing the hotel looking very different depending on the website. I went prepared and with realistic expectations, but I completely agree with other guests that travel websites should not be allowed to use misleading or AI-generated images that do not reflect reality.
Like many guests before me mentioned, my room was not ready until 3pm despite arriving around midday. Fortunately, I had expected this, so I used the time to explore the local area, find nearby supermarkets and a tobacco shop, and relax by the pool until check-in.
I booked as a solo traveller and paid extra for a sea-view room — and honestly, it was probably the best £40 I spent. I stayed in room 205, overlooking the pool, beach and sea, and the views were absolutely stunning. The balcony was spacious and genuinely beautiful.
The room itself, however, was surprisingly small. It was manageable for one person, but not especially spacious. Interestingly, after I had fully paid for my stay, my brother decided he wanted to join me for part of the holiday. I contacted the hotel directly by email, and to their credit they responded promptly, confirming it would be possible to add him for an additional fee payable on arrival. We eventually paid for his stay when he arrived on my fourth day.
What surprised me slightly was that, although the hotel was clearly not at full capacity, we were not offered a larger room once there were two of us staying. We managed perfectly fine and found a way to coexist, but I would not recommend this room size for two people who value personal space, particularly regarding the bed and wardrobe storage.
There were several smaller issues in the room. The safe was not lockable, and the only electrical appliance was a small fridge that became incredibly noisy at night — honestly sounding like a helicopter trying to land in the room — so I ended up switching it off overnight. There was also no kettle, and when we asked about hiring one, we were told none would be available until the following week.
The room itself was kept clean, with beds made daily and towels changed when requested. Housekeeping generally did a good job. We were also given eco-cups with a €1 deposit, although unfortunately both cups disappeared after housekeeping had cleaned the room.
As others have mentioned, some of the poolside tiles were loose, and from my balcony I could hear people walking over them. This personally did not bother me, but I can see how it might become irritating for some guests.
I had also read many comments about the single, noisy lift, but I was fortunate that my room was located far enough away that the noise never reached me, and I never had difficulty using it.
One thing I intentionally limited was interaction with the reception staff. I simply did not get a particularly welcoming or helpful vibe, and it often felt as though guest concerns were not a priority. Because of that, I decided early on that my holiday mindset would matter more than staff attitude — I was not going to allow that to ruin my break.
Unfortunately, the biggest disappointment by far was the food.
We stayed half board, and I genuinely did not realise breakfast could be so disappointing until this trip. Food was often cold, lacked variety and simply felt uninspiring. My brother initially thought I was exaggerating before he arrived, but after trying it himself he apologised for doubting me! Dinner was even poorer, and we ended up eating out most evenings.
One particularly concerning incident happened during breakfast when a guest suddenly fell from his chair because one of the garden chairs broke beneath him while he was eating. The chairs were replaced with sturdier ones immediately afterwards, but this should never have happened in the first place and was unacceptable to witness.
Small issues also appeared elsewhere around the hotel. For example, when we asked the bar for shots, we were told they could not serve any because they had no shot glasses, despite alcohol being clearly available behind the bar. None of these things ruined our stay personally, but I met several other guests — especially older couples — who were genuinely upset because these smaller disappointments gradually accumulated and became real holiday spoilers for them.
Overall, my honest opinion is that the hotel did not feel fully prepared to open for the season, and I sincerely hope improvements are made.
That said, one thing Playa Azul absolutely excels at is location.
If you love easy beach access and spectacular sea views, this location is hard to fault. Two supermarkets are within around five minutes' walk, and there is a convenient nearby bus stop with a roughly 29-minute journey to Mahon, which made exploring very easy. Coastal walks in the area are stunning, with views truly worth experiencing.
However, visitors with walking or mobility difficulties should be aware that the area involves plenty of hills and slopes.
And finally, a practical tip for smokers visiting before June: the local tobacco shop may still be closed, meaning you will likely need to travel to Mahon to buy cigarettes.
Final thoughts:
This hotel will divide opinion. For me, mindset made a big difference. I focused on the positives — especially the breathtaking views and fantastic location — and still enjoyed my holiday. However, there are undeniably areas needing improvement, particularly food quality, maintenance and guest service. With better preparation and management, this hotel could be much better than what I experienced."
