Hotel Levante

I have been to the Hotel Levante Cala Bona, Majorca 11 (eleven) times in 20 years firstly when they used to cater for children and I remember when it was a 3 star hotel but the Levante Park was 4 Star. A 4 star was given to the Levante hotel some years ago but even then we never had tea faclities in the room or adequate sunbed facilities.I have just returned from another 10 day half board holiday at Levante and feel I must mention that I have noted this year a lowering of standards especally when it comes to food selection in the resturant and lack of control of sunbeds / paracels around the pool. If you don't get up to reserve your sunbed by 6.45am you will not get one. Clearly by this years standard the hotel in my opinion is a 3 star and no more. Infact I note for next year in the Gold Broucher it now states 3 star which confirms the devalue of service. Having said that if its a 3 start you want its good value but its not a 4 star hotel. The only thing thats 4 star is the price.

Fantastic Hotel great food and entertainment... Would not recommend for anyone under 30 to visit in October and November

A functional comfortable hotel although it is probably best to book at least a sea view room. The food in both quality and selection is good. Spoilt for us by the Thompson reps who are trying to turn it into an holiday camp. Their frequent, electrically amplified and condescending announcements disturb the pool area and on the beach. Apparently it is necessary for them to vociferously proclaim their activities to the majority in the interests of the small minority who presumably are unable to read timetables.

We have just returned from a thompson cruise and stay on the Destiny and the levanti hotel Calabona.Cruise ship was fantastic.Food entertainment.and all staff on bouard were first class.Only downfall is the cabins are small.Had a week in the Levanti Hotel.Lovely location. Exallent entertainment staff especialy Rachael also Holly Chloe and Mick they worked none stop from early morning,until late at night keeping everyone entertained.Only downfall with this hotel is the dining room.Why have they got a manager on the door when you dont evev need to show your room key Anyone could walk in off the street as no one would question them.Also food.There was a good selection of food but unless you got food from the grill the rest was barely look warm.Food should be hot as this is what causes vomiting and diahoria.We would definatly go back but security in dining room needs looking into and the manager needs to go on a customer care course.Also staff in dining room need some happy pills as not one of them smiled while we were there.Irene,Jim.Pat Ernie.

Certainly not 4star. I expected Thomson Gold to be upmarket and more sophisticated than the Levante we experienced. Bingo every day, games to suit children and the rush to put out towels on the poolside loungers would put other nations to shame!!! The line up of electrical buggies and the notice to say the doctor called each morning should have been sufficient warning signs on our arrival, but this 'Butlins' for geriatrics was certainly not for us. The hotel was very clean with beautiful fresh flowers in reception. The staff, particularly at the reception desk were very friendly and efficient. The food was standard fare and the dining room seating plan was rather cramped. Located on the beach with flat walking to neighbouring resort was a plus,however we will not be returning until perhaps we are Active 80s.

Booked a superior room with sea view, some nice touches as you would expect for a Thomson Gold hotel, but let down in the overcrowded too close together mainly set for four tables.

Most people there are couples and don't want to be seated next to strangers in what resembled a works canteen with table cloths on. The waitress girls must have been hand picked for the job all were about five foot two, thin and totally miserable , they need to go on a training course to learn some do's and dont's on waiting on paying guests .

We have been to Cala Bona six times now , but come September it wont be the Levante its back to the Bonaire for us.

owenjdee & valjdee

Tyne and Wear 08/05/09.

My husband and I decided to return to the Levante having stayed there 30 before. As I am disabled, we asked for a room near to stairs and lift. We also booked and paid extra for a seaview. When we were shown our room In the new annexe part) I could have cried! I need crutches to help me walk and the room was so small it was impossible for me to walk around in safety.As for the sea view, well if you stood on a chair and bent your neck about 90 degrees you could just about see it.The only good thing was it was next to the lift. We immediately told the rececptionist of our problems only to be told that we would have to put up with what we had until the Bookings Allocator came on duty the next day! We spoke with them and they couldn't see what our problem was. After a great deal of arguing and living out of our suitcases for three of our seven days we were eventually moved to a room on the 5th floor at the end of the corridor. We decided to take it as it was much bigger than our previous room.The room seemed very familiar and then it dawned on us - it was the same decor and furnishings as were there 30 years ago. When others staying in the annexe found we were moving our room people offered my husband money for the keys as they were in rooms at the far end of the annexe opposite the Pago-Pago Bar. Be warned -this is open until 3am and you have no chance of a good night's sleep as the music is so loud!

In the dining room you had to find your own table and on several occasions there were none empty/laid up I was told by the so called head waiter "I have plenty table! You go look again!" I showed him my crutches and he just shrugged! He was so rude and unhelpful, when an elderly man fell over one morning he made no effort at all to help him just left it all to other holiday makers and a member of the kitchen staff even though the man had cut his head .If you wanted to sunbathe in peace and quiet, you dare not go near the pool - every half hour there was some maniac shouting through a microphone. Entertainment left a lot to be desired, but Lucy Bunn and Reggie were great!When we stayed there 30 years before the hotel was privately owned and was much better run than now. Back then we felt valued customers but this time we felt that all the hotel staff were interested in was getting tipped for poor service and rudeness.

We were very disappointed with this hotel having been there in the past and read the reviews but we would never return there again - the Alicia is far better, cleaner and smoothly run.

There is not much of a beach at Cala Bona but the beach at Cala Millor is always crowded-they are alost on top of each other!

Just had a 7 day stay at the Levante Hotel, Cala Bona. Excellent hotel, excellent location. Cala Bona a favourite holiday resort of mine. Staff, food, rooms, cleanliness all top notch. However my husband and I were looking forward to relaxing in the jacuzzi and steam room especially during this time of year but the jacuzzi was cold and the steam room not working, only the sauna was of use-disappointing. The best part was the entertainment- the resident duo(Reaction) were great. Would definately return to this hotel but hopefully the health facilities will improve.

The levante is a fantastic hotel . food. staff.reps. every one very helpfull .very good location spotlessly clean.on the down side rooms are very small.Has for having to hire a kettle to make a drink in our room is very poor for a gold hotel. The mad 6.30 rush for sun beds is something to be watched!!!! .SOME EARLIER THAN THAT. But we had a very good holiday . sues half day trip round the Island is a must

Just had an 11 day stay at the Hotel Levante and have to say wouldn't go back again. If your holiday is all about food, then this is the ideal place, but if you are after a nice relax by the pool or resting in your 4* hotel room forget it. This place has the worst rooms I have ever stayed in, just about big enough for 2 twin beds and a set of drawers and that is it. We had booked a sea view room and we did get a sea view room, but our view of the sea was obscured by trees in front and 2 buildings either side which meant quite a slim view of the sea. Later on we did get a room change which did afford a better view (slightly) but room allocation is a complete lottery. We understand that people who did not pay the supplement got a better view than us because they were on a higher floor and thus looked over all the buildings surrounding the room blocks. (We have contacted Thomson about this). As many people have said, if you want a sunbed by the pool, then set your alarm early. We couldn't be bothered with the hassle and to be honest we were grateful. Most of the clientelle are retired folk, and British women in their 60's really need to be told not to sunbathe topless. A short wander over to the pool is enough to put any man (or woman for that matter) right off their dinner. You can get sunbeds on the beach, but you have to pay (3.5 euros each) + there is a sundeck where there were always a few sunbeds free when we looked at most times of the day. The easiest thing for us was just to lie on the beach. We took some mats with us,(because we had read the reviews) but you can buy blow-up beds etc and parasols from the Spar opposite the hotel very reasonably about 5 euros for a parasol and the same for the blow up beds, so if you buy them at the start of the holiday it is worth it, even if you don't have room to bring them home like us.

We did find the hotel staff a varied mix, the maids were usually very cheerful, but some of the restaurant staff were quite surly and some of the reception staff just rude. The Thomson reps do their best and we found Toby to be very helpful, but it must be hard for them because most of the guests could be their grandmas or grandads.

As said the food was good, always fresh and well cooked, but it was a bit samey, samey, but we did eat well for the time we were there. However like the sunbeds there is always a bit of a fight for a decent table. Most of the tables are in 4's whereas most of the guests are couples, so the tables with just 2 seats were always sought after + the ones overlooking the sea are what many people want. Our first night we got a nice table overlooking the beach, but the next night, 1 woman barged my wife out of the way to get it before us. Also whilst some guests are happy to queue up waiting for the restaurant doors to open, some folk just charge to the front in order to get a good table, we just let them get on with it and decided to sit anywhere that was free. (It is strange how the Brits always blame the Germans for pushing in or knicking sunbeds, but many of the guests at the Levante, when we were there, were far worse. It does help you understand why this country is in such a state).

The best part of the holiday for us was the location of the hotel in Cala Bona, which we thought was one of the best resorts we have been in, very clean and friendly, not too big, but with the marina, enough to satisfy an after dinner stroll. There are also boats/ferries that go from the Marina up and down the coast, which we found very good + the bus stop is just round the corner from the hotel and buses go all over the island from there. We went up to Soller and to Palma and the bus fares were half the price Thomson was charging for their trips to those places.

I give the Levante 5/10 mainly for its location and for the food but as it is a Thomson Gold hotel we were very disappointed with it.