ALEGRIA Palacio Mojacar - Adults Only

The pool and garden were immaculate, and the staff were all lovely, especially the hard-working crew at the pool bar. My sister and I stayed all inclusive, and the food was really good, with plenty of choices and something different each time. The beach and nearby towns take a bit of a walk, which could be difficult if you have mobility issues. There’s a frequent bus right outside the hotel. I’d recommend staying here.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the rooms are okay. If you get a terrace, you’ll hear the other guests outside. Breakfast was pretty so-so, though having eggs made to order helped. It was all fine, just didn’t feel quite worth the price.

Free parking was a plus, and the pool looked nice, but based on my frequent work stays in 4- and 5-star hotels, I don’t think this place deserves four stars. The room smelled of sewage, and the mattresses were extremely hard. After three nights, we asked to change rooms or leave early with a refund, but neither was arranged. They gave us mattress toppers instead and said we should have raised it earlier. At first, though, you assume you just need to adjust to a bed that’s different from home. Housekeeping never replaced the hand soap. There were three tiny soaps when we arrived, and one still in its wrapper was thrown away, leaving just one for two people. The floors weren’t cleaned either. The balcony door wouldn’t shut properly, so we heard more street noise, though that was fixed on day three. There was plenty of breakfast choice, but the quality was poor. The hash browns looked burnt, the pineapple was brown, and the scrambled eggs looked green. The plates didn’t seem very clean, and staff took away your plate and cutlery right in front of you without checking if you’d finished.

Our original hotel booking turned out to be basically a Motel 6, so we switched to the Palacio and were really pleased. The room was roomy and comfortable, with a sea view, a big balcony, and a nicely fitted bathroom. The staff were wonderful, and the breakfast buffet was delicious.