Cala Vadella Royal Beach

The morning buffet was great, with fresh food and plenty to choose from. The hotel also has nice views and feels new, but beyond that things seem poorly managed, so I don't think it deserves five stars. Check-in felt unprofessional. The young staff weren't in much of a hurry, and we waited while they chatted and laughed with each other. The room smelled moldy. Different cleaning staff kept knocking to ask whether we wanted the room cleaned. They didn't seem coordinated, since several different people came by multiple times in the same hour every day. The sheets and pillowcases were never changed, and after two days I had to ask for clean towels. A five-star hotel should be on top of this.

The reception staff were super nice, and the design feels nicely updated. Rooms were clean, and breakfast had a great selection. But there was a clear lack of attention to detail in the rooms, pool area, and facilities overall, so I wouldn't call it a luxury resort. Other staff seemed to avoid guests, especially around the pool and at breakfast. The location is convenient in the off-season, though a large, noisy day club directly across the street can get very loud.

The staff were lovely, helpful and friendly the whole time, and both our room and the shared areas were clean. For Ibiza, the weekly price wasn't outrageous. Those are the good parts. The room itself felt like an art installation mixed with a building site. They seem to have gone for a raw industrial concrete look, which gave me the impression they ran out of money halfway through construction. The layout made no sense: the sink was in one corner, the mirror in another, so using both together was nearly impossible. The walk-in shower opened almost straight into the hotel room, with zero privacy. Make sure you're on good terms with your room buddy, because you'll get to know them pretty well. Storage was minimal, suitcases went on the floor, the fridge didn't work, the door wouldn't quite close properly, and the toilet roll holder was coming out of the wall. I've had more polished rooms at a Travelodge, without paying a small fortune to keep my toothbrush. Check-in was fairly smooth, but they surprised me with a €500 security deposit for a room I'd already paid for. The open-air but covered entrance leads right to the pool area, with two pools and a DJ playing most days. The music wasn't too intrusive, just loud enough to remind you it's Ibiza without drowning out your thoughts. The vibe was peak "Ibiza-chic" meets influencer audition, a bit pretentious but entertaining for people-watching. There were just about enough sunbeds, from Instagrammable to wobbly. The pool bar serves drinks and food, but a beer costs €15. At that price, I figured monks must have handpicked the hops on a mountaintop. Next to it is a shaded outdoor restaurant where breakfast was surprisingly good. I arrived with an open mind, knowing the hotel had a bumpy launch. If you're expecting a five-star resort, prepare for a mild existential crisis. I'd put it somewhere between a solid three and a generous four stars, with a DJ and a spritz of attitude.

The room initially smelled of mold and mildew. We asked to move, but their system was down and no other room was available until the next morning. We didn't sleep at all that night, and my husband became ill from being in that room. The staff moved us the following day to a better room, but the AC was extremely dry. We had to leave it on while we were out and turn it off when we got back. The room still had issues: the mirror wasn't above the sink, the shower stayed cold, and the temperature control didn't work properly. We paid extra for a “poolside paradise,” only to have other guests sitting right in front of our patio and sliding door. There was no privacy, and we could have booked a regular room instead. We spent three weeks calling and emailing about the problems. All we asked was to have one night comped for the moldy room, which seemed like a very reasonable request. After weeks of follow-up, they offered a credit for one night at the resort. That felt like a slap in the face after the misleading marketing and poor accommodations. We booked seven nights because the resort was advertised as a brand-new five-star property, and we paid five-star prices. The check-in was a mess too. We arrived at 5:30 pm, well after the 3 pm check-in time, but staff were disorganized and guests were left waiting with no clear order. If we hadn't formed a line ourselves, we'd still have been sitting on the couch. It took an hour to get checked in. This was the most we've ever spent on a hotel, and the worst stay we've ever had. We were so disappointed. Run, stay somewhere else. They just want your money and don't care about you or your health.