Reviews of Barcelo Jardin Del Mar Aparthotel, Santa Ponsa, Mallorca

Just got back from an amazing...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2008

Tour Operator:

Travel Republic

Submitted By:

Miss J Taylor

Comments:

Just got back from an amazing holiday!



the hotel is brilliant and so is the food could not fault it, we went half board and think it really is worth it at this hotel, there is a kitchen area but it does not have a cooker or microwave but then there are so many restaurants and cafes in the resort i dont think it would matter if u was s/c.



the rooms are a bit small but come on its not the ritz, we was comfortable and there was 3 adults and a toddler in our room!!! maid came daily to mop and take out rubbish!!



we had a side sea view room and had a really good view of the sea actually tho only sat out there for lunch and for a drink in the evening



there were no rushes for the sunbeds, there was the odd few that went out at 9am to put towels down but by the time we got down there about 10.30 there were loads left!



the pool is great, a bit cold tho, the sea is actually warmer! lol!! kids dont seem bothered and once ur in u do warm up! only fault was could do with a seperate toddler pool a bit shallower as the main pool was quite deep so there were alot of children over 5 in the small pool making it quite full.



the staff here were fantastic, they love children and doted on my lil girl!



there was no entertainment but it didnt need it as it is situated right on a lively square of bars and shops surrounding live entertainment! couldnt fault the resort! everything u needed was on the sq and there was a lovely little cove by the hotel, it was not a sandy beach it was pebbled but it was a little suntrap and the sea is crystal clr, u can snorkel and see the fishes!



a walk down to santa ponsa town takes about 15mins down hill, but is well worth it, there are shops and bars all the way down on both sides and the town is also full of shops and bars, the beach is amazing! the water clr and sunbeds are cheap only 3 euros per day! spent some lovely days on the beach!!, although there is a walk back up the hill to the hotel u dont notice it if u are dipping in and out of shops! there is a lovely coastal walk to the town but it is not suitable for pushchairs, we still went and just took it in turns to walk the road way with pushchair, it really is worth it!!



can honestly say this was the best holiday so far! and we will definately be returning next year to the jardin del mar!

We have recentlly came back from...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Goldensun

Submitted By:

Miss L.B Barron

Comments:

We have recentlly came back from our great 2 week stay in this resort. I have to say i really enjoyed my self and i can't write a bad word about the place. It is great to go with family and friends as i did and we are thinking of going back there next year. It is a great laugh. The rooms are basic but clean and presented nice, the food is excellent, the views are amazing and the staff are helpful. The pool is great and there is a bay right next to it wich is always good if you want a change. As for the area around is really good and convienient there is a row of shops opposite the aparthotel and the square is a 2 minute walk away its worth going there some nights. There is also more shops restrauntes bars and clubs near by it can take a 5-20 minute walk to get there depending wich ones you stop at. I recommend a place to eat would be the duke of york, bars and clubs would have to be cheekos, mctavishes, strings and the calidonian they are all amazing and we really enjoyed our self in these and had good nights out. I would deffinatly go to one of the waterparks again they are great fun and opposite each other so it doesn't matter wich one you choose and its not a long taxi ride away. I would deffinatly reccomend pirates night you book it at the local exchange place wich is opposite and it is a brilliante night out well worth the money you really can't go to santa ponca and not see that. We went down to magalluf one night wich was great plenty of variety of places to go and things to do but it can get a bit rough later on if you are with your family as there are loads of groups of girls and boys. I can't wait to go back soon and for anyone going enjoy your selves its a great holiday for anyone.

The resort is great for...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

Global Late Deals

Submitted By:

Mr D Whittaker

Comments:

The resort is great for families. The hotel is fine but do not accept room 016 and pay for a sea view. You can only see the sea through two sets of windows for the indoor pool or a tiny sliver between palm trees and the pool-side bar. I suspect that all the self catering apartments that face the pool have at best a very limited sea view but the others across the corridor face a vertical wall.

Was a bit worried as always...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

Travel Republic

Submitted By:

Mr P Williamson

Comments:

Was a bit worried as always after reading the reviews but this aparthotel is excellent value for money. Rooms are bright & clean with ours having an amazing view out over the bay. Food was excellent, always plenty to choose from & good for kids as well. Didnt seem to be much entertainment but the square was 2 minutes away from the hotel this wasnt a problem.



Our only moan was the 9am rat-run for the sun-beds next to the pool which also was quite deep even at the shallow end (there is a small "baby" pool. Went to the excellent beach most days - about 15 minutes walk along the waterfront.



2 nights sleep lost to complete half-wits in rooms nearby but didn't spoil an otherwise excellent holiday.



Western water park is great fun - go to McDonalds near the beach before you visit, vouchers for free kids entry with every Happy Meal.

Apartments basic and clean and...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mr D Malone

Comments:

Apartments basic and clean and quiet at night . 2 minute walk to square where a mini disco runs from 8.30 - 9.30 and live entertainment afterwards until 11.30.

Pool good, clean and lifeguard on duty until 8pm. Short walk to main nite life area and beach.

Have stayed here four times...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

May 2007

Tour Operator:

Panorama

Submitted By:

Ms E Whelan

Comments:

Have stayed here four times alltogether,the best holidays i have ever had,nice friendly staff,lovely facilites,safe for young children,my 2 year old nephew had a great time with the playground down the road and in the hotel.lovely food,entertainment 5 mins away in the square,caladonian is the best,bingo every night!great place for the families,recommend it 100%,looking forward to my next visit!

We just got back from a week at...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2008

Tour Operator:

Flyglobespan

Submitted By:

Miss A Spence

Comments:

We just got back from a week at the jardin del mar,rooms were very clean we had lovely sea view,our 7 year old was a bit fed up not alot to do, no kids entertainer, no mini disco, bit of a nightmare with our baby in the pushchair,very hilly in santa ponsa.Lovely indoor pool, staff very nice.Only one major point to complain about, we had been there 1 day and my watch went missing from the room i was gutted, i had just bought it from duty free........... TAKE YOUR THINGS WITH YOU, never mind it did not spoil our holiday, lots of lovely bars and restaurants. If you have children its worth going to marina land in maguluf for a day out it was fantastic,dolphin shows and sea lions, just grab a taxi. On last day of leaving lift broke in hotel we had to carry cases and pushchair up 3 flights of stairs, husband was not impressed: All in all we had laugh and made the most of it like you do, but i dont think we will return.

Abi (28) Jakki (54) Joan (72)...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

Easy Jet

Submitted By:

Mrs As Purdy

Comments:

Abi (28) Jakki (54) Joan (72) ellie (2 1/2)



Booked Jardin del Mar for 4 night short winter break, half board. Receptionists helpful, public areas clean and well kept. Central location. Indoor heated pool, great for the rubbish weather we had, used it every day.( could do with an upgrade maybe if being a little picky.) outdoor pool area lovely, shame outdoor pool not heated. Food was good a little repetitive but good standard for money we paid. Apartment was clean and tidy, a little small but great if half board. (please bear in mind that I wouldnt be too happy if arrived for summer holiday ie self catering as too small for family of three , nevermind four and could never cook even the basics in kitchen as too small.) but for four nights half board the apartment was fab.

Booked and paid extra for a full frontal sea view, a must do as the view is lovely. Overall for our needs the Jardin del Mar fitted the bill and we had a pleasant and enjoyable stay.

Just back from a lovely week...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked IndependentlyBMI Baby- Hotelopia

Submitted By:

westonsuperfan

Comments:

Just back from a lovely week away to Santa Ponsa. Obviously being March the resort was fairly quiet but that did not matter as the resort was very beautiful and there was plenty to do.



Hotel:- 10 out 0f 10



Cannot fault the place the room was spacious and we paid extra for the sea view and glad we did the earlier reveiew was right we had room 515 which faced right across the bay and out to sea. Worth the money we paid just for that alone. Reception was very helpful and the pool area spotlessly clean and no rush for sun beds at all.



Hotel (objection handling)



I thought i would try and answer some of the objections that i have read about the Hotel and give our opinion. Play area filthy well trust me the facilities looked spotless to me they even washed them down every morning so maybe they read your comments. Sun bed being reserved did not apply being the winter season. Only two hobs and a kettle provided well that was enough for us do people expect to have a fully fitted kitchen when going self catering. To hire a toaster was only 8 Euros for the whole week so not exactly a rip off. No lifeguards on duty well the pool is not that big and has several lifebelts positioned around the pool and as the previous review says most people kept an eye out anyway so do not see a problem with this. Paying extra for a sea view when already paid for. Well all i can say is that we paid a massive £5 extra and got what we asked for but had we been given a side view i would have refused to pay it as we had it in black and white saying we what we had paid for. If that had not worked then i would have got the credit card company to refuse the payment to the hotel simple. As for watches being stolen we certainly did not encounter any problems at all in this regard nor heard any from anyone else so maybe it has been sorted.



Resort: - 7/10



The resort itself was clean with plenty of shops and cafes to choose from and a lovely walk to the sea front where lots and lots of beautiful green parakeets were nesting in the trees. Places we would recommend were as follows. Cafes - Teasers Scottish bar for breakfast also Katies in the Square. Ones to avoid the Dewdrop and South Winds where we were charged £10 for 2 cans of coke and 2 glasses of ice cream. For evening meal we felt the best EL Ciedo for steak and again teasers were adequate. The Duke of York heavily praised by the locals we felt was very overated and only went the once. It is alot more expensive than say Palma Nova for example but in fairness with the Euro going down to only 1.22 to the pound while we were there it did not halp and made budgetting alot harder. Bars and Pubs - Our favourite was the Kensington Arms where Tony and Tracey gave us a warm welcome all week and the beer was very reasonable. There are countless Irish bars to choose from but we stuck with our own due to some bars being very political in their views.



Resort (object handling)



Girls in supermarket having an attiude. Yes we encountered one who did not like anyone other than locals however the rest were very friendly and could not do enough for us. Long walk into town well i do not think a 15 minute walk is that bad and there was plenty to do either side of the road if you needed a rest. The walk along the coast was rocky. Yes i admit no buggy would have got through without difficulty but reading the review we felt we had to take it on but to be honest we thought it quicker to walk along the pavement into town anyway.



Things to do: -



Having been to Torrenova several times we went to visit them fairly easily from this resort. Choice one was to walk into town and get a taxi 7 Euros saving 3 by getting one outside Hotel. or by bus again walk into town up to the main roundabout and get the 104 bus only 1.5 Euros and about 20 mins lovely. Torrenona Palmanova and Magaluff are bustling resorts where prices are alot lower due to the competition but a visit is well worth it. We also went to visit a Hotel that i used to stay in over 30 years ago in Arenal. This only cost 5 Euros for 2 of us to Palma using the 102 bus which was an express service and very quick then on to Arenal on the number 15. Once at the bus station in Palma you can easily visit virtually anywhere on the island.



Prices: -



Breakfasts were around 6 euros each on average evening meals around 15 euros each. Goods from the supermarkets were quite high but as i said earlier the euro rate was very low. Beer prices averaged around 3 euros a pint. Cigarettes ranged from 20 euros up to 31 euros a carton and if like us you forget you are travelling back on a bank holiday and find the tobacconists closed then you can buy them from the airport for around 3 euros more.



Summary: -



Hotel was brilliant value and would use again if a deal was available but would more likely stay in Torrenova again and just go back and visit friends in Santa Ponsa miss them already.

AMAZING PLACE! Would recommend...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

May 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Miss L Brown

Comments:

AMAZING PLACE! Would recommend it to everybody. The hotel is fantastic and a lovely area.

Loved It! All staff were friendly and there was easy access to ramps in most places incase of trolleys or wheelchairs. Lovely nearby restaurants and bars. Good entertainment, local supermarket. Exceptional!

Fantastic holiday, fantastic...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2007

Tour Operator:

Flyglobespan

Submitted By:

Mrs J BLAIR

Comments:

Fantastic holiday, fantastic location, it was next to a lovely pebbled bay! Pay the extra for a sea view as it is worth it, as the side view is terrible! If I was to return here it would need to be on a HB or AI basis as it works out a bit expensive for food and drinks as the local supermarket has nothing really! But they could do with laying on entertainment as the only thing on was a kids mini disco for half an hour!

We booked a sea view room over...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2007

Tour Operator:

Travel Republic

Submitted By:

Mr Trevor Berry

Comments:

We booked a sea view room over the internet, but after reading several reviews from people who had booked the same been given side rooms, decided to ring Travel Republic to check and were assured that we would get a sea view; Guess what? we got a side room.



After a prolonged argument with an ignorant girl on reception and an even more ignorant man on the phone and my wife and daughter getting very upset, I was told that if I paid 90 euros we would be upgraded so reluctantly we did. Having said that the view really was fantastic.



The room was clean and basic, but the kitchen, what a con! Two hob rings and a kettle and that was it. If you wanted a toaster then you had to rent one for 8 euros per week. Without doubt the worst kitchen facilities we have ever had anywhere.



Santa Ponsa is a lovely place although it can be a little expensive but we did have some good food, and most of the entertainment was excellent but I would never go back.



By the way, the girls in the supermarket wouldn't last 5 minutes in England with their surly stroppy attitudes.

Our family of four have just...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2007

Tour Operator:

Freedom Direct

Submitted By:

Mrs M Wetherell

Comments:

Our family of four have just returned from two weeks at this fantastic hotel. Overlooking the sea, it's ideally situated, far enough away from the main nightlife to be able to sleep at night but within walking distance if you want that sort of thing. Only 5 minutes away from the entertainment of the square.



We stayed half board as we know the kids (B5 and G2) are quite picky eaters, would rather go up and get something else than be stuck in a restaurant with uneaten bought meals. Food was ok, not much choice for the young ones but a selection of salads, mains and desserts every night. Could have done with some fish fingers and dippers etc but we found enough to feed them so it can't have been that bad. By end of 2nd week we were fed up of it so went out for a few meals, I craved a curry!



The room was basic but we were pleasantly surprised to find a kitchen area including fridge considering we were half board! The kids were in the two single beds in the separate bedroom, me and hubby used the sofa and pull out beds in the lounge area as we wanted to be able to watch TV (yes with a couple of English channels) and use the balcony after they went to bed. The lounge area is fairly small but you don't spend much time in there do you?



Also there was a shower over a bath, you normally only get one or the other and the kids don't like showers. Best floor to be on is the fourth anything between 401-411 means you get a full sea view, all the rest are a half sea view as you are side on to the sea. (The hotel is in an "L" shape.) The reception at the rear of the hotel is on the fourth floor with restaurant and pool down on 0.



I would recommend this resort and hotel to anyone with kids, although there is no kids club as such (so if you're looking to dump your kids for a fortnight then this place isn't for you), but there are two lovely girls called Ilona and Rowina who do a variety of activities throughout the day, colouring competitions and "make & do" for the kids and water polo, ping pong etc for the adults.



Also a small mini disco in the evening for the kids, beware of the foreign song they dance to with lyrics of "Chi Chi Wah", you will bound to look a moron but the kids love it! I can see why there is not much in the way of evening entertainment for the adults (one old duffer on his keyboard nearly every night) as everyone goes to the square.



Also if you are going to go to any of the Water Parks in Magaluf, visit McDonalds and buy a Kiddie box meal first. There is a voucher in there for a free child place with two paying adults, saves you 13 Euros (the meal only costs 5). Also another good place is Berlington Berties, opposite The Dubliner pub, it has a children's play room next door to the pub, great for kids while you drink and relax. It's not totally supervised, the onus is still on you, but there is everything for them to do there from play-doh to x-box.

This hotel is right overlooking...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

May 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mrs C Matadigo

Comments:

This hotel is right overlooking the sea and is clean and very cheap; however it is not that near to the centre of Santa Ponsa, which is where the main bus terminal is.



With buggies it took us a good 25 mins to walk and on the way back longer as it’s all up hill. My main let down about SP itself was the prices!



This is an expensive resort, to eat out and in the supermarket, not really worth self catering here, we found, try HB/AI.



Also do not choose Jardin Del Mar for the entertainment, there is none in the hotel to our surprise & contrary to a lot of the websites about the hotel, although it is conveniently located to the Square where there are nightly tribute bands.



I like the hotel but the location is a bit out of it, shame really, however I believe the walk to town and the beach is shorter if you walk along the rocky coastline, not suitable for buggies thought so we never did this.



The children’s playground was filthy, my boy was dirty each time he came off it, needs a good clean! The cot had a huge hole in the mattress too but they did change this. There were not enough forks either but again they rectified this pretty quick.

Perfect Holiday from start to...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2006

Tour Operator:

Travel Republic.co.uk

Submitted By:

Mrs G Taylor

Comments:

Perfect Holiday from start to finish. Accommodation was very comfortable with all amenities provided. Staff were very helpful and friendly. We were only booked for Bed and Breakfast and the choice of food was excellent, however we could have dined at the Restaurant for evening meals if we had wanted for a few Euros.



Hotel and Rooms were always clean and plenty supply of clean linen was available. The view from our room was exactly as shown on Website so we highly recommend you pay little bit extra for Front View Room.



There is only one concern that we had and that was that there are no Life Guards on duty at the pool side. We did not have children with us but there was a good number of Families there, however all parents were responsible for their own child’s safety and a great Holiday was had by all.



We did think that the Reservation of the Sun Loungers was just a joke until we arrived, every morning you could see Guests running around the pool side putting their towels on the beds to reserve for the day (my husband being one of them)

Aquamarine boat trips are highly recommended and the Restaurants around the Square are a must if you enjoy good food and wines.