Presidente Hotel

4 readers found this review helpful

absolutely loved it again the thomsons team were fantastic again,thanks to nathan,kelly,charly,sarah,and mark,but a bit loud.lol.kids loved it the entertainment wasnt as varied as other years but if the kids are happy so am i.hotel staff were very friendly as always,very clean as well,my problem is the price,they are overpriced for drinks snacks and ice creams,3 euros60 for a cornetto is disgusting and what do you do when the kids want an ice cream,for this reason we wont go back unless we get a lottery win,if you are booked dont get me wrong you will have a great time just go prepared with a cool bag and a corkscrew.

This was a fantastic holiday. The food was fantastic. The childrens reps were absolutely amazing with the children. My son absolutely loved the childrens activities he was 4 at the time. The food is the hotel was of a very good standard and lots of choice. Local dishes as well as other foriegn food very impressed with the food
We also hired a car and travelled around the island. This was a fantastic holiday for us Thomson were absolutely brilliant. I must say that I expect good value for money and excellent customer service this holiday fitted all of the criteria

2 readers found this review helpful

Usually travel independently to the Greek Islands but this year to save a few pennies and on the strength of various reviews thought we'd give the Hotel Presidente a go as we have a nine year old whom we thought this might appeal to (if shes happy then we get a good holiday !! ) how wrong i was ! It wasn't all bad but there are a few things you should know.We paid extra for a sea view which was stunning but the noise coming from the reps, during the day and the "entertainment " during the evening till at least midnight was horrific !! if you have young children to get to sleep or fancy a siesta forget it .We changed to a room at the back of the hotel (306 )still with a nice view and to be fair you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet. Also the rooms are very small , if you have a largish family ie 2 or more kids it must be a nightmare , Rooms were adequate if a bit basic ,looked a bit worn round the edges but cleaned daily .Another gripe was all the extra charges for safes,fridges etc a lot of people were complaining that the fridges didnt actually get cold enough as well.
We didnt have any problems finding a space by the pool as it was late sept , but and heres my biggest annoyance , the constant noise coming from the reps ,blaring music from the speakers meant that there was no way you could just chill by the pool .you would just get setteled and the they would start shouting through the microphone at you ! its was like Hi di Hi but worse .It seemed that they thought people couldn't be left to occupy themselves for a second. However to their credit they did their jobs well as the children seemed to love them , but most of the children there were preschool age , so my daughter didnt really get into any of the activities.All the hotel staff were pleasant,from the housekeeping to the managers
Food was excellent although dont expect a relaxing meal, its a bit like a school dining room, plates cleared away quickly and the head waiter oversaw it like a military operation so fair play to him for getting everyone fed !we went into town for drinks after but you could still here the screeching coming from the evening entertainment over the other side of the bay ! Portinaxt itself is very pretty ,quiet just a few shops and bars 3 nice beaches Unfortunately it rained for 4 days out of 7 so we hired a car and looked around the island because if we'd had to spend all day in the hotel i would have gone mad ! I dont think i would recommend this to anyone unless they wanted a Butlins abroad which is what it felt like. If people were just that bit more adventurous then there are much better holidays out there you could have for the same money (i've done them !)

3 readers found this review helpful

Returned a few days ago from the Presidente.
The area
Transfer time from the airport was about 45 mins. Portinatx is a small resort. It has 3 cove type beaches all of which are lovely the water is very clear for swimming. Only the main one S’Arenal has a lifeguard. The sunbeds are 4.50 euros each to hire. Other than the 2 main hotels – Presidente & El Greco there are a few small apartment blocks, a couple of supermarkets, a smallish water park – it has 4 or 5 slides – and a few bars/restaurants. It’s cheaper to drink in the bars outside the hotel & the supermarkets are even cheaper. If you’re going for more than a week car hire is a must. Don’t rent cars from the hotel – very expensive – go to the little Avis shop at the seafront next to the S’Arenal Supermarket. We got 2 days, 2 drivers fully comp insurance on a car that seated 5 of us for 115 euros (about 98 gbp) it meant we could go the Ibiza Town and San Antoni in the evening (beer in these places was only 2 euros a pint) and travel round other beaches during the day. The signage for the roads are very good easy to find your way around. Cala Vadella was lovely but popular though it was hard to park there. Cala Moli – if you’re looking for peace this is it & Cala Tarida again very nice bit more commercialized and very expensive 5 euros for a beer and 4 for an orange juice.
The hotel
If you’re looking for a family hotel this is 100% it. The facilities here for kids are fantastic. The kids club is split in three groups and the activities are very well organized. The kidzone reps are enthuastic and very friendly. In my opinion the swimming pool is a bit small for a hotel this size especially when it’s full of inflatables – trying to swim is a bit like negotiating the M25 at rush hour !!!
Never a had a problem getting a sunbed even at 12 noon. Yes there were the usual culprits that nabbed the best spots at dawn and never returned till mid afternoon but you get there everywhere now. The food and service in the restaurant was very good. I could not fault the selection they offered – something for everyone – the kids even had their own buffet selection at a lower height. Drinks, snacks and ice creams were expensive. 3.80 euros for a pint of local beer and 2.25 euros for a small coke. The rooms are very clean but quite small and the fixtures and fittings are slightly dated this isn’t a real issue though as you only return to the rooms to sleep. However, there was no where to store the cases so we had to negotiate round them each time we left the room. If you need a cot as well that made it incredibly tight. The family rooms have two double beds which unfortunately didn’t suit our family setup at all. There are 2 lifts which we never had to wait more than a few seconds for. Outside is the main stage area and although busy in the evening we could always get a seat. The walk to the beach is only about 5 minutes but beware the Presidents on a small but steep hill. The first part of the hill takes you to a supermarket, shop and bar then if you go further down some steep steps or alternative steep slope if you have a buggy this takes you to the beach. There is a decking pathway across the beach up another slope to more bars/gift shops/supermarkets etc. After a few days you get used to it. If it sounds bad don’t let if put you off its not that bad but you should be aware if you have a less mobile person in your group.

1 reader found this review helpful

This is the secand time we've been to the Presidente, brilliant for the children, the reps kept them entertained all day.. we will go All inclusive next time, as we found the drinks quite expensive. The gifts & treats the children got from the Thomson party were fab!! Food was exceptional.. 1 down fall, the toilets by the pool were not cleaned regularly. Beach was lovely. Great holiday all round, would definately reccommend.

Brilliant hotel only problem we where there for two weeks saftey deposit box & fridge £80.00.Staff where brilliant food first class drinks in hotel £3.00 a pint.Plenty for the kids to do.But for a good night out check out Vincents Bar.

I thought the hotel was very clean, and the hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was also very good, but the restaurant was a bit manic, especially at breakfast time, but our waitress Yolanda was fantastic. I felt that the reps were all a bit over the top, the entertainment always seemed to be aimed at the children, and I think that for the older children it got very boring, I have 2 kids that are 9 and 11, who got bored very quickly. I also agree with some of the other comments about the pool area being over crowded with sunbeds and to many inflatables in the pool. I also think that the reps dont control the teenagers very well, I had to report the teenagers twice for jumping off the bridge into the pool when there were smaller children going under it, I also think it was bad enough that parents were leaving there older children at the hotel to upset other people while they went off for the day. I also thought that extra activities were very expensive for example for two 90 minute sessions, a goodie bag and a certificate for football cost us another 35 euros, even though the coaches were excellent, it was very pricey. Extra trips are very expensive to.
I do agree with the prices of the drinks at the bar being very expensive, and their wasnt a lot of choice for lunchtime food, unless you went out.
I also think that if you have trouble walking the hill when you come back from the beach could be very difficult, my mother suffers from asthma, and found this hard going.
Although a lovely island Portinax hasnt got a lot to offer, so a car would be a good idea to get about, and visit the other parts of the island.
I also think that the entertainment for the evening needs looking into, as the so called adult entertainment was shocking, and as if you dont get enough of the reps in the day you also get them doing evening entertainment (if that is what you call it). The only people who enjoyed it were the kids aged between 3 and 5.
While there we spoke to a lot of families that were also very disappointed with this holiday for the same reasons. I will not be recommending this to any of our friends or family. To sum this holiday up it would have been better without the reps.

We have just returned from the Presidente Hotel, Portinatx. We had a great family holiday. Lots to do for the children, suited especially to ages 7-12. Our children were younger but had a great time anyway.
Before we left we read the reviews and they were pretty accurate although the hill up to the hotel is not as bad as reviews suggest (if you are reasonably fit and mobile anyway!).
The downsides were paying nearly 4 euros a day to hire the fridge in your room (same for the safe). Drinks from the bar were very expensive. Views from the room balcony onto the back garden were pretty grim. Oh and good luck getting a lounger by the pool!
The good points were: food in the hotel was good and staff friendly and attentive. The family room was bigger than we expected and the bathroom surprisingly spacious. Everywhere was very clean and modern. Entertainment for the kids was great - reps worked really hard. The babyzone room was brilliant - just to get the little one out of the sun for an hour or so. The smaller of the two beaches is more secure and just nicer for small children and quieter than the larger more popular beach. There is very little to do in the resort itself but if if you are like us and just enjoy sitting by the bar in the evening, watching the kids dance and sing with the reps then you don't need to go elsewhere. Hiring beach towels (for a deposit) was a godsend and they don't mind how many times you change them (most days we changed them at least once after having been to the beach and then having a last dip in the pool in late afternoon).
All in all a really good holiday for location, accommodation, food and entertainment.

1 reader found this review helpful

Enjoyed a very pleasant week in Portinatx - we`d been several times before as self catering but thought this time - just the two of us, kids now grown up - we`d give the Presidente a try. Would we recommend it to others? Absolutely - what it says in the publicity is exactly what you get, including the `stiff walk` up from the beach - normally no problem in the UK but when you`ve been sunning yourself on the beach all day - well, you`ll understand! So - a very good hotel for families but, nevertheless, very agreeable for couples as well - as long as you favour the beach rather than the pool and you give the evening entertainment (very much child orientated) a bit of a wide berth. Families were certainly enjoying themselves and that was great to see. The food and the restaurant - pick your times and there were no problems - 9am for an excellent breakfast and 8pm for an evening meal - very relaxed at these times and decent food as well. All the staff were extremely helpful, pleasant, courteous - a huge plus. Air conditioned rooms - bliss!! We had a 4th floor sea view room - highly recommended and very light. Don`t know what it would be like with more than two people! Very good bathroom - excellent attention to cleanliness.
Portinatx is very small and relatively quiet - as mentioned, from experience we knew this anyway. Certainly not one for teenagers - unless they like dipping in to the most beautiful sea on the most beautiful beach - crowded at times but never a problem - just full of people having a good time BUT not imposing themselves on others.
Cost of drinks - we didn`t find this too much of a problem, same prices as our southern county pubs - in fact, we reckon that some of the drinks are cheaper than in our local....
So - would we go back - yes, only this time we`re booking in two weeks not one!!
Hope this has been of some help!

Please don't be put off by some of the comments on this page. Our holiday at the Hotel Presidente was great , yes the bar prices are too high and there is a hill to the beach. I can imagine if you were there for three 'poo in the pool' incidents it would upset your holiday but that is the fault of fellow holidaymakers not thomson or the hotel.
The reps all work really hard to ensure you get the most out of your holiday, jonny, claire, jade, mike and nicola (swimming coaches) to name a few. You can include yourself as much or as little as you want.
Rooms were clean, restaurant was cool and airey and plenty food to choose from. Like many places at the height of mealtimes the staff were very busy and tables took slightly longer to clear - we're all human!
If you are looking for holiday with young children, pool to swim in, kids clubs and plenty daytime activities this is for you. Resort is quiet but beaches were lovely.
Recommend the catamaran trip to espalmador and formentera, have think about waterpark (not changed much in 25 years since I was there as a child), not much for children under 1.2m. There is a small water park in Portinax that other people said was very good value for money.
Would certainly recommend.