Reviews of Barcelo Torrenova Hotel, Palma Nova, Mallorca

This is no longer a Barcelo...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr N Luckett

Comments:

This is no longer a Barcelo hotel but a TRH Hotel, in simple terms this is a bad thing!!



Booking was Allocation On Arrival with First Choice who told us we would be staying in Palma Nova, despite what you read elsewhere this hotel is in Torrenova (part of Magalluf) and NOT in Palma Nova.



Arriving at 2am and dumped on the kerb outside (no rep) we were met by morose looking hotel staff who gave us our first rooms (512 and 513). Apart from 511 these are are the worst two rooms in the hotel.



The balcony was more like a bunker and at eye level was a path that ran along the front of the hotel. Slightly higher than this was some grass and higher still the wall to the main road, topped with metal railings.The path was used by the maids to throw dirty water onto (having cleaned the rooms further along), so we watched this flow past when cleaning took place (sporadically !!).

If you sat on your 'balcony' during the day the sprinkler system would spray you, if you sat on your balcony at night it was a cross between Animal House and some kind of zoo..



At night it all goes wrong....under 20's go out around midnight for their night of binge drinking and god knows what in Magalluf (yes this hotel is in Magalluf and NOT Palma Nova) and return at 7am, urinating in the corridors, kicking and banging other residents rooms, breaking glass and shouting and singing in all languages while climbing between floors using the balcony's and gutter pipes.



From 7am to 7.45am you can sleep, then...



At 7.45am the bin men come and empty the 4 giant bins left on the road with the noisiest dust cart in the world and as a bonus they also do the bottle bank a couple of times a week (can you imagine what a bottle bank sounds like when it's turned upside down outside your window at 7:30am?).



Our rooms were dirty, kitchens not fully equipped (this is supposed to be Self Catering), a dangerous looking kettle, a few knives and forks and some cups were all we had, along with a disgusting yellow fridge that started its life white sometime in the last century.



The ceiling lamp was stretched across the room on a long flex (a 'feature' in most rooms it seems) and from what I could tell had its earth wire disconnected...



All electrics cut off when you remove a 'switch key' as you leave the room (apart from the fridge), this key is conveniently welded to your door key so you cannot leave your air-con on...



Toilet paper from previous guests stayed under the sofa bed for the entire time we were in the room and maids rarely visited.

The air-con in both our rooms broke and 3 sleepless nights were encountered thanks to the zoo-like residents until staff reluctantly agreed to move us to 420 and 421 located under the Sun Terrace (nice rooms down a single corridor of 10 apartments overlooking the sea).



These rooms were much cleaner and slightly better equipped, the fridge was about 25 years newer than the one in 512 but we only saw maids twice between Wednesday and Saturday and no clean towels were left. Our TV's packed up on Friday but we couldn't be bothered to report this.



The sun terrace did not have quite enough loungers and these were all 'towel tagged' at some stupid hour, poolside bar was expensive and we met one guest who was sold chicken that was still frozen inside..



Avoid if you have children as the entertainment was dire and would not stimulate your child, unless they like colouring books and being thrown in the pool



95% of guests were under 20 and on Stag/Hen parties. All older couples we spoke to were unhappy with this hotel (we are 40 'somethings')



Hotel location was at the top of what is known locally as 'Cardiac Hill' so if you have mobility issues or an aversion to ultra steep inclines to get back to your hotel each day then stay away.



Avoid like the plague unless you are 18-25, like partying hard, drinking like a fish and chasing scantily clad teenage girls......in which case you will be in heaven.

After reading the reviews I was...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2007

Tour Operator:

Med Hotels

Submitted By:

Mrs S Eastbury

Comments:

After reading the reviews I was a little worried, however I was pleasantly surprised.



Hotel was very clean if a little out of the way and we had a superb view from our balcony.



Food was ok but it was coming to the end of the season so limited choice.



Magalluf was more for the young but most of the people we saw were either young families or older couples. Great bars and restaurants and plenty of shopping. Cardiac hill would be a problem for people with walking difficulties it’s a killer.



Palma Nova was more up market and a lovely place.



All in all it was a great holiday will be going next year but would probably stay in Palma Nova.

Having read the reviews I did...

Overall Rating:

5/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2007

Tour Operator:

Travel Republic

Submitted By:

Miss C Potter

Comments:

Having read the reviews I did have my concerns. However on first arrival at the hotel it appeared to be fine but I do not believe it is situated in Palma Nova and both myself and my boyfriend believed we were in Magaluf!.



Not the most relaxing holiday we have had. We like to party with the best of people but did not anticipate being woken up every single night (and I am not exaggerating) from 4.00am onwards with people running along the corridor, shouting and screaming at one another, banging on their doors and urinating in the corridor, but each to their own I suppose.



The cleanliness of the apartments could have been a lot better, thank god myself and my boyfriend were only there for a week as we did not get any clean towels in the whole week we stayed. We also didn't get any cleaning done from the Saturday until we departed on the Tuesday. The staff are very keen to get you out of your room by 12.00pm on the day of departure having told us on 3 occasions both by knocking on our door and by telephone that we had to vacate our room! Its a shame they weren't so keen to clean it!



All in all our accomodation wasn't too bad. The staff spoke very little English but we didn't really have anything to do with them so cannot comment much about that.



As for that hill... not half as bad as what people made out. Either that or they are very unfit!. You got used to it.



Some nice places to eat, the English are very well catered for however I like to experience alternative dishes whilst I am on holiday. Unfortunately majority of the places are chips, chips, chips, british breakfasts, british meat etc etc etc.



If you are looking for a romantic getaway I would not recommend this resort. However if you are 18+ and looking to celebrate a hen night, stag weekend birthday etc. then I cannot really fault it.

This hotel is nothing it says it...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mrs M Mccaffrey

Comments:

This hotel is nothing it says it is... no gym no sauna... brutal entertainment. Twice. A grease miming show... nuff said.



I and my husband and 3 young daughters were so bored we had to leave every evening and mostly every day. They played water polo twice in 2 wks.



As for the staff... very disappointed, don’t get me wrong the hotel itself is situated in a lovely spot with great views over the sea but that’s all it has.



The receptionist has very broken English and the waiting staff are the most ignorant people. our bed linen was changed once in the 2 weeks. I had to beg the maids for towels.



And yes, you do have to climb 'heart attack hill' not great in the heat with a buggy to push.



We’ve been to Palma Nova before and I was looking forward to returning. I won’t be returning to this hotel ever again, even started feeling sorry for all the young people there, it was so boring.

If you are thinking of booking...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2007

Tour Operator:

Travel Republic

Submitted By:

Mrs E. Whittle

Comments:

If you are thinking of booking this hotel and are over 25 think again!



We booked this hotel on the understanding that it was a hotel in the Barcelo group. Oh no. It has been sold off and is by no means the standard of a Barcelo hotel.



The hotel staff were off hand and very rude. Maybe not their problem because none of them spoke very good English. We had to complain about bedding and towels. There were three of us but they always insisted on only bringing two sets of everything. That was if we weren't asking for a change of towels.... We had a battle in the restaurant nearly every time we used it.... Don't think one of the waitresses was a morning person....!!



The food in the hotel was ok. We ate in most of the time in the evening, but after a few days decided to have breakfast out. Waitress turned the orange juice sour...!!



The lifeguard at the poolside was like a man possessed if you dared to take a lilo near the pool. By the end of the holiday people managed to get round this by buying big rings. He went a bit over the top by ranting at small children. Who even thought about playing football in the play area..! Had enough of him by the end of the first week and became a beach person..!



The noise at night was terrible. People coming in at all hours of the night and morning, banging to get into their rooms....! Then the bin men come to the hotel at 7:45 am Every day (Including Sunday!)



If you are not a lover of hills or have walking difficulties think twice about booking this hotel. My 15 year old daughter had, had enough of "Cardiac Hill" as it was referred to after the first week. You could walk to Palma Nova which was as hilly going back to Torrenova, but not as steep.



I would say that this resort is ok for the young at heart and anyone who likes to drink a lot, party hard and can manage on very little sleep.

I wouldn't go back to this hotel...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Flyglobespan

Submitted By:

ally333

Comments:

I wouldn't go back to this hotel again, and would not recommend it for families. We were in a group of six so we had 3 to each room, when we arrived they didn't have any records that my friends had booked a room.



Thank god they had taken confirmation as the staff were really rude. We had all paid extra for a sea view but my friends room had a view of the hotel bins and didn't get a refund when the asked.



When in our rooms there was only 1 knife and 2 forks for 3 people and when the staff were asked for more they said they had to be ordered, these things should be checked before a guest checks in.



We stupidly lost our room key and we were told we couldn't have another one and couldn't get back in, so there ended up being 6 of us in the one room. One night after arriving home there was blood all up the corridor leading to our room, it was still there the next day.



I would not get the wrong idea about Palma Nova and Magaluf from this, not all the hotels are bad like this one. This was my 5th time going to Magaluf and i love it there is so much to do for everyone, and everything is so close. I will be going back but not to Torrenova.

If you think the "Palma Nova...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Ms L  Bowden

Comments:

If you think the "Palma Nova Apartments" are in Palma Nova think again.



They are up a very steep hill in Magaluf, where all the bars and clubs are, other names are Shagaluf and mattress alley.



If you are in you late teens, early twenties and like going on the razz every night and staying up clubbing all night every night, this is the place for you, you'll have a blast. For us this was the worst place we have ever stayed.



Rooms were very basic, fridge didn't work. We didn't dare look to see what the mattresses were like. Minging toilet brush in dirty bathroom. Dread to think what the swimming pool contained. We had no sleep on the first (and only night) we were there.



We came on holiday to relax and could have stayed at home and gone to our local noisy bars.



We set our alarm for 7.30 a.m. (not that we needed it cos we only must have only had about 5 minutes sleep) and waited till 8 a.m. for the First Choice office to open to be upgraded to somewhere.



Fortunately we the rep we spoke too upgraded us in a flash and we were out of there and in our new hotel in "Palma Nova" by 10 a.m. Thank God!



If we had gone there in July August we might not have got another room. So if you like a quiet relaxing holiday - change your accommodation.

I came out on holiday July 2005...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

Room Only

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs G Grant

Comments:

I came out on holiday July 2005 with a family party of 9 and we had a wonderful time. This year was so great also. As we were in great company. We all remember the staff and there wonderful manner.



At the time the hotel was being taken over by the new owners. Things were a bit up in arms. But soon got back to normality with the security staff etc.



We all like the position of this hotel in that it is great. We can have a walk round palmanova and a quiet night. Or if we fancy letting our hair down a night out in magulf.



My only whinge is that it can become very costly. As eating out in a big party is no way cheap. I cannot believe that there is no half board.



We are a large family that have met friends willing to come back next year and hope that they can meet our needs before we have to go find other accommodation on half board basis.



PS Love to the entertainment crew. Keep up the good work.

I stayed in the hotel with 10...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Hayes Travel

Submitted By:

Miss S Brown

Comments:

I stayed in the hotel with 10 other girls all aged 17. The hotel was exactly what we expected. The food around the pool during the day was lovely and the entertainment for children was also quite good.



The pool is big and 11 of us had no problem in finding sun loungers even though we didn't go to the pool until 3pm some days. The hotel is situated in the middle of Palma Nova and Magaluf and it was a 2 minute walk into either of them. There is also a spar over the road where u can but food. The rooms were basic but clean although the towels were not changed as often as they should have been and the reception staff were not very helpful as to give you clean ones.



When we got back on a night we found the security guards to be really strict and the slightest noise from our room we had banging on the door. Also when we left the key behind reception we found that a number of nights they would not give us it back so we would be locked out of our room for a while. We had one complaint made against us from a family next door and I don’t understand why they were placed in between rooms of 17 yr olds when all the other families seemed 2 be at the other end of the hotel.



I would recommend this hotel for young groups and young couples and I think families with young children would have a better holiday staying in Palma nova and they then have the option to go into Magaluf as it is only a five minute walk away. Also heart attack hill really is heart attack hill but after a night out you don’t feel it during the day I recommend get a taxi.

Having been to this hotel 2...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S Kelly

Comments:

Having been to this hotel 2 years previous, we were so disappointed with the dramatic change. The Barcelo hotels have been sold on to a company TRH and they are letting anybody in. The hotel was advertised as a family hotel but is now more like an 18-30's.



The noise on a night was unbearable, from midnight on till approx 5am, screaming, shouting, singing. We hardly slept for 2 weeks. One morning I woke up with bits of plaster on my bed where the ceiling had crumbled due to the vibrations of the running about above me. The hotel staff were quick off the mark and the ceiling was patched up that day.



Waking up on a morning to look at the beautiful scenery only to find it was cluttered with mattresses, picture frames, chairs, pillows and most of the contents out of the rooms from where the parties had been going on in the night. It was a real shame. The maintenance staff were out cleaning most of the time.



The pool however had smashed glass in and my husband cleared handfuls of smashed ashtrays and bottles out. We were bought a drink for his efforts! At least a dozen children had ear ache and all 3 of mine went down with it as well, 2 of which had to be seen by a doctor and had to be given antibiotics and ear drops.



Somebody got onto our balcony and stole the table along with lilos and toys and left a huge mess of soggy toilet roll on the patio doors. The doors did not lock anyway so we felt quite unsafe.



The entertainment for the kids on an evening was almost non existent due to the lack of families in the hotel. The advertised buffet bar didn't ever open.



The 2 bars ran out of lager, vodka, other spirits, milkshakes and ice creams for 3 days. We were convinced the hotel was going under. Things didn't even get any better when the hotel set on security staff on a night after all the complaints.



I would not recommend this hotel to anyone with children, we felt it was the holiday from hell and we are really happy to be home.

We had quite a good holiday up...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Miss K Bown

Comments:

We had quite a good holiday up until the last day. On the last day we put our luggage in the luggage room which we were told was secure. You could only get in the room if you had a key from reception and there was a security camera visible in the room. Me and my partner were sat in the room for a bit with people coming in and out with their luggage. When we were about to go out for one last meal we grabbed our hand luggage bags and then realised we had items stolen. I had an i-pod stolen and my partner his mobile.



Obviously we were upset about it but there was a number of things you should know. The first is that the security camera doesn't actually work which the director of the hotel eventually told us when we had asked several times. Second is that security only comes once a month! Thirdly is that the staff didn't really care. They got all defensive when we told them about the stolen items even though we weren't actually blaming them...we were just letting them know. And finally and most importantly the place is infested with chavs! We know who stole our stuff... they were quite obviously chavs.



They were probably the same people who kept us up most of the night shouting down the corridor and banging on the doors. The sound of a crying baby would have been better than the sound of a crying chav! They had absolutely no concept of their own noise...someone said to them calmly to keep it down and their reply was "I don’t care I don’t care" If you hate thick people with no manners or respect and wear Burberry caps then steer clear of the hotel. Me and my boyfriend are 20 and 22 years old, we're not exactly an old couple, which just shows you how bad it annoyed us.



Just warning you... Don't go to this hotel it is chav heaven!

Background:

We...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2005

Tour Operator:

Alpha Rooms

Submitted By:

Mr R Williams

Comments:

Background:



We already had flights to Palma arranged from the local airport so we were looking for something not too far away from St Joan and decided on (preferably) Palma Nova. Following an internet search of accommodation in the area, a list was made based on the price, the write-ups in the tour operators brochures and other folks comments, a list was made. The Barceló was the 1st hotel on the list with the dates available – about 8th on our list of preferences.



Environment:



The Barceló is located in the grey area between manic Magaluf and ‘posher’ Palma Nova – on the cliff top of Torrenova. So pushchairs etc are OK going into the town but quite a climb returning. Magaluf is approx 400 ms, P Nova approx 600 ms from the hotel. The hotel is more a series of self-catering apartments that most people seem to be doing during our stay. Our room was OK for size – 2 single beds plus sofa bed plus furniture that left ample room for the bits and pieces and pushchair we had. The bathroom was also ample in size and well lit. However the fixtures and fittings had seen a season or two and weren’t the most comfortable. The maids did visit the room. I would write more, but apart from one occasion when we terminated out bed linen by dumping it outside, I couldn’t definitely say it was changed. External bed covers were pulled up over the bed so it looked ‘made’, but the sheets were crumpled underneath. The maid did no cleaning what so ever.



Facilities:



We were ½ board so sampled the cuisine on almost every night. The food was average and was soon ‘boring’. It was a menu similar (but smaller scale) to what would be seen in a larger hotel restaurant facility. Except the bread in the evenings was the morning’s bread – just harder. The staff in the restaurant were extremely efficient. In fact if THEY thought you had finished (or should have finished) your plate, dish or coffee was hijacked. The facility was small, without ‘air-con’ and in the evenings the glass windows mad sure that food and guests were …… toasted. I believe the staff saw the restaurant as a chore and just wanted to get it over with. By the by - the gym was non existent.





Comment:



Up until midday-ish it was families around the pool. Then the singles groups arrived (mostly Brits) down from their ‘pits’. The rest you can guess. Their ages didn’t explain their immaturity including throwing glass bottles around the pool area and other rather stupid acts. Despite complaints to the ‘management’, very little was done to curb the over exuberant behavior. That said the stupidity wasn’t a daily event although the loud music etc was. (By loud I mean you could not hear the hotel PA system unless you were within 3 meters of it)



Conclusion:



We got a good deal – internet booked hotel and pre-booked fights (at sale time) so money wise, no complaints. Some there were paying top brochure prices, and even those that had ‘negotiated’ a deal were ripped off – once they started talking prices with each other. But when you go away and it states families then you expect a bit calmer and a little less yobishness. Our holiday was OK, we didn’t feel rested and relaxed but overall I would say 6/10 for the accommodation, its position and the youth content. I wouldn’t return but it would be a good base if you were 18 to 20-ish.

I stayed in these apartments...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs J Thomas

Comments:

I stayed in these apartments with my family on a self catering basis. We had the most wonderful time ever, the views over the sea are fabulous.



The kids entertainers did a great job on keeping my 5year old son, and 6 year old daughter occupied, during the day, and on a night time there were things organised for them. On a night time there was a mini disco and everyone loved to join in, the apartments also held bingo nights and various events for both adults and children to join in, the play area is clean, and safe, as well as the pool.



The room we stayed in was huge, usually from past experiences you couldn’t turn around without hitting the wall. In these apartments there was enough room for everyone’s clothes and for the children to run around. The maid service is great and we had no problems with noise as some people have said on various reviews.



All of us are light sleepers and all managed to go to bed quite early, and get up at a decent time during the day. Its easy to get into Magaluf, if you want a more lively holiday, and even easier to get into Palma Nova, where it is more children friendly, with a number of play areas. The beach is easy to get to and well worth a visit. The hill which the hotel is situated on is not to steep at all. We could all walk it easily, and I’m not that fit!



Has to have been the best holiday ever! Returning next year! Hope to see you there.

I had been to these apartments...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs M McClung

Comments:

I had been to these apartments before and I was so looking forward to returning again. I went in September 2005 for the second time and yet again was not disappointed. Although the apartments are basic they are also very clean and the views are to die for. It is far away enough from the nightlife to get peaceful nights sleep but close enough if you want to join in!



The staff are so friendly that you soon get on first name terms with them, the maids are very helpful and friendly too. As I have 2 young children I find these particular apartments a big advantage over other ones I have been to in the past. There is entertainment day and night for the kids and adults get to join in to.



The swimming pool is great (but a bit cold) and there is plenty on sunbeds available.

I would highly recommend these apartments, I am going again in August this year and I can't wait.

This was the best holiday I have...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2004

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss S Vickers

Comments:

This was the best holiday I have ever been on! I have just left school and so went on holiday without my family for the 1st time. I was worried about what to expect with the apartments but they were excellent. The rooms are basic, but have everything you need, are clean and comfortable.



For the first week we were the youngest group at the hotel (being 17) but in the second week this changed and a lot of younger groups arrived. I was only bothered by noise on 1 or 2 occasions and even then I found it was groups of adults rather than teenagers making the noise!



Most nights we went out for tea and made the mistake of only eating in the apartments on the last night at the barbeque. The food was excellent! I really regretted leaving it until the last night to find this out!



I was told the apartments were up "heart attack hill" making me worry about getting home at night after a few. We had planned to get taxis but these were not needed at all. There is a hill but it is not unbearable and we would often go up and down it several times a night if we needed to change shoes, get more money etc.



The apartments were near enough the strip that we could go back if we needed something, but far away enough that we weren’t bothered by any noise from the clubs and pubs.



The nightlife in Magaluf is amazing! There is every kind of club and pub you can imagine! My personal favourite was BCM, gifts if you go on before 12, free drink all night, money off vouchers only for girls and doesn’t close until 6am! It was a shock to stay out until 6 when the clubs in Dundee shut at 2:30! A few other pubs and clubs you should try are Mulligans, Carwash and Boomerang (on the night Pat Sharp is DJing!). A word of warning though, only go to the foam party if you don’t mind being felt up by every member of the opposite sex standing in a 2m radius, don’t mind being unable to breath and suffocating in the foam, don’t mind having very stingy eyes, aren’t fazed by people having sex on the dance floor and are wearing very old clothes with little dye in them! Personally I hated the foam party but once you have been in the foam you are not allowed to go back upstairs again.



One other thing to be careful about is your belongings. I had my bag containing money and my camera stolen in the apartments restaurant and I felt the staff hardly helped me at all. Not one of them would even help me look.



I’d recommend these apartments to anybody, families, couples and groups. They have excellent food, nightlife near by, facilities and nighttime entertainment.