Gavimar Ariel Chico Hotel and Apartments

We'd just finished a week's stay. The good parts were the location, just a two-minute walk from cala gran beach, the helpful staff and the well-kept gardens. Breakfast was good, and most other meals were edible, though they lacked flavour and seemed to use the cheapest ingredients. Flies often gathered around the salad bar, which put me off. The kids' slushies were coloured liquid with no ice. Pool rules also felt too strict: I understand banning large inflatables, but stopping kids from playing with small balls goes too far. The pool was busy enough with sunbeds that it felt like luck whether you got an okay room or a really bad one. Our studio double was nothing like the photos and nowhere near a 3-star standard. The windows and doors were rotting, the furniture was falling apart, the air conditioning leaked, the mirrors were marked, and there was mould around the shower. The bin didn't fit in its cupboard, so we kept bumping into the open door. The room badly needs modernising, and customers should be told about the varying room conditions before booking. It overlooked the crazy golf, which was also an accident waiting to happen, with exposed screws, broken wood and a torn surface. That needs repairing or removing. I probably wouldn't return. If the room had been priced to match its condition, or was better for what we paid, I might feel differently.

The location was handy, near shops and restaurants, and we got clean towels each day. But the room wasn't suitable for a disabled person, the beds were rock hard, and the room was only cleaned once during our week. The food was terrible and cold, and the entertainment was a total shambles. There was barely any smoking area. The pool opened at 10 and closed at 6, and the lifeguard was a joke, sitting in the shade on his phone all day. Reception staff were rude and unhelpful.

I was worried after reading the reviews, but to my surprise the place was nothing like I expected. The rooms could use a bit of TLC, though we only used ours to sleep and relax, and I really enjoyed the hotel. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the food was lovely, tasty and had plenty of choice. The pool didn't open until 10 and closed at 18.00. People started queuing at 8.30 to get in, though there were plenty of sunbeds. Entertainment wasn't the best. Shops, restaurants and bars are right outside, and the beach is about a five-minute walk away. I'd love to visit again.

The staff made a real difference. Everyone was nice, helpful and greeted us with a smile that didn't feel fake. We arrived at 2am and were in our room within 15 minutes, with friendly help at check-in. The apartment we stayed in, 1-208, was clean, the beds were nice and everything worked. I've had worse rooms in 4-star places. Cleaning staff also followed our request about when to clean. We stayed for a week in mid-July 2025 with our kids, aged 7 and 4. If we come back to the island, Gavimar Chico will definitely be an option. I've visited many times, and this was one of my most pleasant stays, mainly because of the hotel and especially the staff. The location is amazing, the best on the island in my opinion, and the beach is 300 metres away, either via the pavement or through the hotel. It's lovely, though it can get crowded. The airport is 45 minutes away; we booked a private transfer, which I recommend, especially with kids. Shops and restaurants are two minutes away as a backup if the food doesn't suit you. There were several choices at every meal, all well made, and snacks were available throughout the day. With small children, it would be useful to have something available at night too. The kids loved the night shows. The animation crew was a bit hard to find during the day. There are several well-maintained pools, and although people still reserve sunbeds, we always found a couple free when we needed them. The pool hours, 10am to 6pm, could be longer. In summer, 9am to 7pm seems reasonable.