Hotel Las Arenas

The first breakfast left such a bad mark on our trip that it took me days to move on from it. We were celebrating my 50th birthday and wedding anniversary with family, on a holiday we'd waited a long time for, especially after a very serious illness. At 10:35 a.m. on our first morning, while we were finishing breakfast, the Restaurant Manager shouted at us. Breakfast ended at 10:30, with no flexibility, and unlike other places, you couldn't take a coffee out after leaving the restaurant. The hotel felt rigid and regimented. The evening meal options for vegetarians were poor, and allergen information was especially inadequate and concerning. Peanuts were mixed into plain rice without clear warning, a serious concern because someone in our party was at risk of anaphylaxis. The Restaurant Manager, Nicholas, ruined the start of our holiday. I emailed the hotel twice with my complaint and got no reply. I also tried to raise it with Reception, but the staff's limited spoken English made that difficult to do efficiently. The room was large, clean and fairly comfortable, but the shower kept changing temperature and the frosted glass between the bathroom and bedroom made showering or using the toilet feel less than private. A draft came through the patio door, which was so poor that I was woken early every day. We were above the hotel kitchen, and heard delivery vehicles, people shouting or talking loudly, and the bin lorry alarm each morning. There was also a dog barking and people shouting in the residential building opposite. The patio door could click shut and lock easily. One morning, a Domestic Assistant got locked out on a neighboring balcony, and we had to help her. There were hefty extra charges: 40 euros for nonrefundable safe hire, and 40 to 90 euros to rent double sun loungers on the roof terrace. I believe a sandwich and drink were included in that price. Las Arenas was clean and modern, with a good breakfast and a fairly convenient location. Most staff worked hard and were pleasant, but I doubt I'd stay again or call it a four-star hotel. We've stayed at other local hotels in Can Pastilla and had a much better holiday.

The location was excellent, and our room, the most expensive in the hotel, had a fabulous view, terrace and Bali bed. Even so, we had to leave a refundable cash deposit of €15 each for pool towels. The hotel really didn't feel like a 4* property, and breakfast was the worst part. Nobody greeted us or explained how breakfast worked. Three times, we were told we couldn't use a table because it was being set up for lunch, including at 0945 even though breakfast supposedly ran until 1030. The food was poor, and the coffee machines were constantly out of service, creating chaos. Staff made us feel like an inconvenience. After being turned away from tables three times and queuing 10 minutes for coffee, they switched all the lights off at 1029 and cleared away the food incredibly fast. At 1032, we were told to leave while we were still eating. Very unimpressed 😒

We spent 7 days here, and the staff were extremely kind. Cleaning was fine, and when the shower head needed replacing on our first day, they fixed it quickly. We were lucky to get a room without through traffic right outside, so it was very quiet, and the view was great. We've stayed at several Mallorca hotels before. Breakfast was average, a typical island breakfast, but I found the fruit juices almost undrinkably sweet. I would have liked more hot dishes at dinner. During meals, it was really bothersome that staff put dirty plates on a cart beside guests and often left them there. There's no hotel parking, so you have to use the surrounding streets.

Friendly staff and a nice spot by the port were the positives. The room was very small and not very clean, with the sink inside the room, which felt strange. Daily cleaning was superficial, towels were often stained and smelled bad, and the hallway was always dirty. Breakfast and dinner offered variety, but neither tasted good. They seemed to use cheap ingredients and rush the cooking. It wasn't terrible, but I don't think it merits four stars, three at most.