Barcelo Ponent Playa

Ponent Playa is a typical Spanish hotel and is excellent value for money. The rooms and hotel generally are spotlessly clean. The food provides a good choice on a buffet basis.
The only drawback is not with the hotel, rather it is the Club Robinson complex situated a couple of hundred metres away across the beach. During our one week stay,we were kept awake until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning on at least four of the nights, with loud music coming from Club Robinson. Thier website may advertise the complex as quiet and peaceful, but I assure you it is not so for the surrounding area at night.
On a different topic, we discovered the best homemade cakes in Cala D'Or at the BoBo Cafe bar. This situated in a small square in the pedestrian area, behind Moda Janine on Avenguda de Belgica. The cafe has only been operating for a couple of weeks, but is highly recommended.

Excellent value for money, there was plenty of food to choose from quality was good, rooms were basic but clean and tidy; when you arrive ask for an extra pillow!
Evening entertainment was ok based on groups singing and games.
Excellent resort for families especially with young children, beach is just gorgeous and shallow but watch out for the occasional jelly fish, take anti jelly sting cream with you.
I would definitely go there again.

We travelled as a family of 3, I (44), my Husband (40), and our son (8). If you are looking for a family entertainment hotel then this is not for you.
We are by no means posh nor are we ready to be called rough either! Being entertained throughout the day and evening are important with an eight year old, and unfortunately this hotel did not cater for it.
We decided to go all inclusive to see what it was like, the food in the dining room was very good, the rooms where basic but kept very clean, you’re not spending time in your room so this did not matter.
However, what did matter is that we were on level 1 which meant that every morning at 6.40am we where woken by the dining room staff getting everything ready for breakfast, moving of chairs, tables and trolley’s (I was not amused!). They should set the tables the night before so that guests can at least have a waking call at 8am!
They say that they have a kids club, but there is no set place for the children to play and they take them to a play area on the site which is approximately five foot by five! and yes directly under ( but outside) our room! so a siesta was out of the question. More importantly, I would not have let my pet dog stay with the staff. They were young, unprofessional and did not have a clue how to the care and play with children let alone keeping them safe!!. They were noisier than the children.
The pool is a bit of a danger too. there are no bars around the pool and the only entry to it is steps leading into a 4ft deep drop, and then it gets deep very quickly so not good for the little ones. There are also not enough umbrellas for shade during the day.
The only entertainment here was the odd game of water polo around 4pm. A warning you have to stand at the gates to the pool at about 8am and if you’re lucky you might get a good bed! The pool is separate from the hotel which is a bit confusing, but if you’re in the room we had you will be up in plenty of time to queue up!
Being all inclusive here meant that we were out every night looking for good entertainment and obviously buying our drinks etc elsewhere.
Beware also that all inclusive means that some foods you have to pay for, it only lasts until 11pm and I was shocked to discover that on checking out at 12 noon, our all inclusive was taken, our flight was not until 1am!! However, I asked for the manager and informed him that we did by no means abuse the all inclusive because we were out every night and also we had only been there for 6 days! we did get it back.
If I was 50 or younger with no children, loved food, liked queuing up to have a sun bed by the pool and on a high level in this hotel facing the sea, then I might go back. we have been to Cala D'Or on many occasions and it is a beautiful resort with plenty of beaches and other things like a little fair for the children, but I would go elsewhere.
Try the Cala Ferrera apartments, the entertainment is great, it is quiet, and you can eat there too!

My husband and I went here for a week in Sept. We found the hotel very clean. The food was ok and there was not no rush like some people say.
We done half board, the best time to go for breakfast was between 8.30 and 9.00.and dinner between 9.00, then you avoid the rush when it opens.
The beach is on the ground floor of the main part of the hotel it’s a nice cove and there is a man who comes about three time selling melon and pineapple and coconut well worth the money. We bought two lilo to lie on so you save on the beds.
The town is only five min away I recommend the Hollywood bar for karaoke great night till 2.00.it takes about ten min to get there worth the walk. It seen shorter on the way back if you have a few. Very family friendly. The pool is ok we only used it on the last day so not too much sand.
The only bad thing is if your got a late flight the shower they give you is in a toilet its terrible I never even used it. We booked on the wed for 450 for both of us on a wed and went on the Friday, you'll have a great time. If you’re looking for a real late night this isn’t the place for you. We got in bout 2.30 which was ok if you want to get the breakfast.
The hotel entertainment was rubbish we never went once but if you got kids, it will do.

We arrived at hotel lunch time and first thing we noticed was the pool was at a strange place you had to walk out the entrance door and across a drive to get to pool.
We were party of 4 and rooms were not ready told in an hour they would be, then 1 hour later one was ready and the other wouldn’t be for another hour.
We ate at the pool snack bar which was nice, staff not overly friendly but did their jobs. Our rooms were clean, they had air con and a balcony overlooking the pool and bar.
Happy enough until we found rooms with an amazing view at the other side of the hotel, they overlooked the cove and beach, absolutely amazing. Typical we never get a nice view even we ask for one.
We were half board and ate in the hotel the first night but it was nothing special and busy.
We ate breakfast every morning in the hotel which was fine. Only here 3 nights so ate in other restaurants down the street, there are loads.
Found the gym but didn’t actually go had hang over’s most mornings. The gym only consisted of a bike and a tread mill as far as I could see plus it didn’t open till 10.
There is a Hawaiian lady that does massages overlooking the sea, they are excellent she is really nice, definitely get one. Overall the hotel was fine but wouldn’t go back.
I think once you do a 4 star hotel you can’t do a 3 star.

We arrived at Mallorca on Wednesday morning even though our holiday started on Tuesday, just the way the flight times worked unfortunately.
First impressions were good, hotel was clean, and rooms were clean although basic, no tea and coffee facilities or fridge which is what you really need when the temp is 28 of a night to keep your water cold.
The rooms use a key card system which also operates the air con so when you leave the room the air con goes off but we used a piece of card in the slot so it was on all day.
The pool was situated on the front of the hotel which was weird and also the floor around the pool was tiled so it was very slippy as my 4yr old son found out when he slipped and fell head first into the pool.
Also you could not get a bed around it so it is easier to get a bed by the beach. The terrace above the beach was not kid friendly either as there was only a rope fence to stop the kids falling 20 foot down the cliff into the sea.
The food was fantastic could not find fault with any of it even the snack bar food was of good standard.
The staff were very friendly at the start of every day but as you got to the end of the day they started to get a bit rude.
The entertainment was nonexistent. There way of staying in budget was obviously to do the entertainment themselves which backfired as it was rubbish.
Calador its self it superb so many bars and restaurants I recommend "Jimmys" bar.
The main complaint I had with the hotel is that on our last day we had to check out at noon and when we did our all inclusive benefits stopped, not only that we could not have another room to shower in before we got picked up at 7.
All in all a good hotel but could do with some improvements in places.
Would go back to Calador without a doubt but would probably go to Skorpios Marina Hotel instead.

Have just returned from a week holiday at the Barcelo Ponent Playa.
I thought the accommodation was very good. We were very lucky and got a sea view and didn't even pay extra for it. Room quite basic but very clean. Air-conditioning was lovely as well.
Your key card activates the air con so when you go out you have to take it with you and it goes off. I used my Boots advantage card in the slot and left it there all day so it was lovely when we came back. We had our room cleaned every day as well which was very nice.
We were half board but because we got a good deal we ate out every night. If I had paid for all inclusive I would have been gutted.
The restaurant can only be described as like feeding time at the zoo. I did go peak season but it was difficult to get a table and the queues for the food was ridiculous. We only ate there once and it was for breakfast!!
The pool was too small for the hotel and not many beds. You do have to get up at 8 to get a bed. We used the beach most days as you could get a bed there at any time of day even at the beginning of August.
The beach was very nice very quiet. A man turns up every day with a cart of melons, pineapple and coconut. He always had a big queue of people - def worth it - only 2 euro for either.
The hotel is actually in cala ferrera which is a 10 minute walk from the centre of cala d'or. You are spoilt for choice for restaurants.
There is a big square which is lovely and there are about 30 restaurants all together that are really nice. Little disappointed with the choice of bars though. We went most nights to the Hollywood Bar which was a karaoke English bar very good laugh and very cheap beer.
Also make sure you make a visit to "The Square". Two lads doing songs and stand up and are very funny. The Red Lion pub was also very good with cheap drinks.
Overall cala d or is a lovely place. I went with my fiancé and we are both 26 and for us it was a little too family orientated but still had a good time.
Would def go back but next time I think it will be when we have kids.

We arrived on the 29th July 2007. Our initial views on the hotel were modern, immaculately clean, and extremely friendly. The staff were very kind, and spoke English, German, and Spanish very well.
The flights were very good as well, with no delays. The weather was amazing, and travelling with a 14yr old, and a 19yr old was excellent, as there were many people that they made friends with, including Cesc Fabregas's friend, and my 14yr old son has been invited to Madrid to stay with friends that he met. Altogether they met over 75 people their age, so recommended to families with teenagers.
The food was very good, with lots of choice. The rooms were very spacious and clean, and the maids cleaned it everyday. I would recommend this hotel to anybody with sense.
Incredible holiday.

Hotel situated in lovely position over looking beach, rooms were kept very clean and public areas too.
Food too much the same, dining room very busy at times and if you were too late in the evening choices limited.
Entertainment well forget it, insult to adult intelligence, highlight was to guess how quickly the animation team could empty the room. Some rooms vey noisy.
Reception staff seemed to ignore anyone at desk. Interested to note hotel not in 2008 brochure.
Good bars within walking distance with great entertainment, but having paid all inclusive felt cheated we had to go out in the evenings.

The hotel is a bit tired looking but the room was great and was spotless and kept that way all week. The staff were very friendly at all times.
The location is great right next to a lovely beach. The pool is the usual - folk putting towels down in the morning never to return - getting a bed was hopeless. Also a lot of the old plastic (uncomfortable) beds were broken. We gave up and paid for the sun beds on the beach less hassle.
The meals were fine, nothing special but lots to choose from. The layout of the dining room makes going for your food a nightmare, you are jostled by everyone going from one buffet table to the next. There are 4 of them in the middle of the room and a grill at the back.
The staff also clear the table when you go back to the buffet so don't leave anything on table you still want to eat i.e. bread, toast cos it will be gone.
The entertainment is terrible - 4 teenagers who the hotel have employed and the only time we stayed to watch they were doing "Sister Act" they mimed to records and at one point rushed into the audience screaming in folks faces? One unfortunate lady had her red wine spilt over her white trousers. It was so dire we left. But there are plenty bars near hand with entertainment.
Do not miss the Tamla Motown duo in the Hacienda Bar They are FAB! If you are going to Son Amar ask the rep how long you will be on bus there and back we were told it was just over an hour away, but were on the bus for over 2 1/2 hrs there and back, because we picked up folk from, as a rep (who was cadging a lift) sitting behind me on the bus said, "the back of beyond".
We were late for the start and were pinned onto a table that had already had their starter and were getting main served. We did not get served our meal till the show had started after much complaining. We missed the 1st 3 acts because they could not understand us and then had to go get our rep. She had had her meal by then?
The show was well worth seeing despite the problems and the mini tour of Majorca.
They gave us a bottle of Cava to apologise then as we were leaving they handed us 2 paper cups and we were told to drink it on the premises? We refused and it took ages to sort out so we missed the horse show outside.
Apart from that we had a wonderful holiday.