Son Bou Playa Gold

The internet was poor, with erratic or nonexistent Wi-Fi, and management didn’t fix it during my week there. The apartment was basic and had some silly issues: the kitchen sink plug was too small, and the TV sat at a right angle to the main sofa, so it was impossible to watch comfortably. The bedroom setup was odd too. The main bedroom had air conditioning and a ceiling fan, the smaller one only a fan, and the south-facing living room had neither. It must be horrible in summer. Net curtains also meant people could easily see into the rooms. On arrival, reception was already closed for the season. They had my contact details but hadn’t told me what to do, even though they must have known for months. Their online check-in didn’t work, yet they kept emailing me to complete it, and never sent directions for getting to the apartment. Management was dreadful. The location itself is fine, at the quieter end of a very touristy resort, though getting to the beach means a long walk or a drive. Avoid.

The site and gardens are beautifully maintained, and the rooms were cleaned well. The rooms themselves are basic and need electrical work and attention. Sunbeds by the pool cost extra. My main complaint was reception service: calls went unanswered, email replies took hours, and the emergency number was dead. There’s a good bus service, but taxis don’t seem to recognize the address or numbers. If you’re disabled, you really need to hire a car.

I asked reception to arrange an airport taxi. The woman took my details and said she’d book it. When I came back a few hours later, the man at reception checked the paperwork, shrugged, and said it was booked. I waited outside, but no taxi arrived. The number posted on the door told me no booking had been made. Luckily, the taxi company sent a car straight away.

The beach was beautiful, with really clear water, and we liked how quiet the area was. We also took a day trip into Mohan, which was lovely. The complex itself is beautiful, and we didn’t notice any problems as we walked around. The Son Bou beach club pool was lovely and usually pretty quiet, and the food there was good. We stayed for a week in a 3-bed apartment with two adults and three children aged 16, 13, and 11, and we all had a fab time. The apartment was a bit dated but absolutely fine, and clean when we arrived. The bathroom could use better ventilation because it got a little smelly. Nico greeted us at reception and was very friendly and helpful, which got us off to a happy start. It’s a big complex, so we had a bit of a walk to our apartment, but that was fine since we were near the amenities and beach for the rest of the week. I’d recommend it, keeping in mind it’s a 2-star place. Our experience was great.