Ca Mari

I almost don't want to tell anyone about this lovely place. It's clean, and they sweep the huge walkway every day. It's quiet enough that everyone can hear the sea, and the people are friendly, which the world needs. No photos from me, go see it yourself.

We were really disappointed by the room we got. We'd asked to be near the sea and were told we'd get that, then called a week before arrival and were told room 15. We've stayed before, so we know it's not right by the sea, but it's not too far either. At check-in, though, they gave us room 115, extremely far from the sea, right above reception, and with no garden access. We were frustrated and thought it was unprofessional. They could have warned us so we could consider other options. If you're staying here, check which room you're assigned. The price is the same, but the quality is completely different. The location is the hotel's best feature, not the room itself. Anyway, that's how it is.

We liked the building's old-world charm, and the hotel itself is lovely. The beachfront isn't great for swimming, though, because there's often lots of seaweed. At breakfast, we could always find something to eat from the buffet. Dinner was why we're giving only two stars. The menu is very limited, with each guest choosing a starter, main and dessert, and the portions were so small we never felt full. Coming back hungry after a long day and still not feeling satisfied was frustrating. Maybe the hotel is trying to seem exclusive, or perhaps it's trying to cut costs. The food was mostly tasty, but please don't leave your guests hungry. Service between courses was often so slow that we spent valuable holiday time at the restaurant each evening instead of taking a beach walk. Drinks were quite expensive, with a tip to add each night. The waiters either stood behind us watching during the meal or disappeared when we were ready to pay. They turned down our suggestion of a drinks package for guests staying several days or weeks. And after a while, the supposedly exclusive dinner menu repeated the exact same dishes.

For the price, it's not bad, and I'd recommend it. The breakfast was plentiful and really good. The saltwater pool was very clean, though its loungers were worn, warped and uncomfortable. There is also a children's area and a playground next door, plus a broken pool table and ping pong. I didn't like the rooms much. The double bed was two singles pushed together, each with its own sheet. The cleaning staff left those sheets dirty and didn't change them for five days. There was no TV, but that was fine. The bathroom and shower were nice, though the sink leaked underneath, and I attached a photo. Staff mostly weren't very welcoming, except for the man at breakfast. The woman who greeted us at reception seemed annoyed. The safe costs extra per day. The location is handy for getting around by car, bus or scooter, though I wouldn't recommend a bike. Mijorn beach is just down the road.