BJ Playa Blanca

We were glad the island had so much more to offer, and we'll return to Mallorca, but definitely choose a different hotel next time, even if it costs more. This was my first and last stay here. Poor upkeep and cleanliness turned what could have been a pleasant trip into a frustrating one. In our first room, the wardrobe doors hung crooked, the bathroom mirror was smeared, the shower silicone was black, the tap was loose and the fittings were badly scaled. On the fourth day the shower fitting broke and sprayed water everywhere. They moved us to another room, where the towel rail was coming off the wall, the curtain had slipped off its track and the pictures were crooked. The terrace was extremely dirty and looked as if it was never swept. At breakfast the food wasn't kept cold enough, and the cheese was already starting to melt on the buffet. The room fan kept turning and couldn't be aimed in one direction. It was too far from the bed to help much. There was no AC, so we had to sleep in the heat. Fridges could be rented for a daily fee, but all were already loaned out for the week. We were told they'd let us know if one became free, but nobody did. If the supply isn't enough, they should buy more. Rooms need regular checks and repairs, and the terrace needs basic daily cleaning.

The location was the best part. S’illiot beach is about a two-minute walk away, with plenty of nearby shops and restaurants. Cala Millor is around a five-minute taxi ride, about 6-8 euro each way, and there's lots to do. This is a cheap place that works if you'll be out most of the time. It didn't offer entertainment while we were there, just the pool, which was a nice size with a few loungers. For a more hotel-focused holiday, I wouldn't choose it. We'd seen reviews calling it very dirty and I was worried before arriving, but we didn't find it dirty. Some areas could have had a deeper clean. Our room was dated, as the photos show, but tidy when we arrived, with clean beds. The bathroom was okay; the shower pressure was weak and the hairdryer wasn't very good, so bring your own if you have long, thick hair. The main trouble was the heat. Our fan barely worked, and there was no AC available. If you can't sleep in hot conditions, ask about AC before arrival or as soon as you get there. We asked on the second night and they couldn't understand us, even when we showed photos. I spent two nights trying to sleep on the balcony loungers, which was really uncomfortable. During a thunderstorm the balcony flooded, water came under the doors and into the room, and then the roof started leaking. They moved us to another room straight away, so we can't fault their response. Breakfast was the only meal we tried. My partner liked most of it, but I'm a picky eater and stuck with the lovely pastries. There are lots of restaurants nearby, and we often had breakfast or brunch at one of them instead. One short-haired man with a short beard at reception was absolutely lovely and helped a lot. The other staff we met weren't very chatty and spoke little English, which made things difficult at times.

We booked at the last minute and were braced for a bad stay, but it was alright. The room was old, though clean. Breakfast didn't have many choices and wasn't much to my taste. At night, earplugs were essential for sleeping. The location was good, just three minutes from the beach.

Even with the low price, this hotel was not worth it. Most of the staff were rude, and the manager was awful. He yelled at us when the bartender brought glasses of beer over to the pool because drinks in glass weren't allowed. A man drowned in the hotel pool. They didn't change the water or clean it afterward. When we asked when the pool would reopen, the manager shouted that a man had died and told us to go to the beach. I don't know how long the man had been dead in the pool. There was supposed to be staff in the lobby around the clock, but we saw a man wearing a lifeguard shirt laughing in the lobby while the body was lying beside the pool. There was never a lifeguard at the pool, because the lifeguard also worked as a bartender. The room was old and had only a fan instead of AC, and the balcony lock felt unsafe. The hotel was supposed to be adults-only, but it wasn't.