Hotel Ariel Chico

The hotel grounds were very well kept, and the staff were good. The location is handy too, only two minutes from Cala Gran beach. But after a week in a studio double, I’m unlikely to return. Our room looked nothing like the photos and fell well short of three-star standard. It badly needs modernising: the windows and doors were rotting, furniture was coming apart, the air conditioning leaked, the mirrors were marked, and there was mould around the shower. The bin didn’t fit in its cupboard, so we kept banging into the open door. It seems like getting an acceptable room is pot luck, and guests should be told that before booking. Our view was over the crazy golf area, which looked like an accident waiting to happen, with exposed screws, broken wood, and torn surfacing. It needs repair or removal. Breakfast was good, but the other meals were hit and miss, generally edible yet short on flavour and made with ingredients that seemed very low quality. Flies were often around the salad bar, which put us off. The children’s slushies were coloured liquid without ice. Pool rules also seemed too strict. I understand banning large inflatables, but stopping kids from playing with small balls goes too far. If the room had been priced fairly, or been in better shape for what we paid, I might have felt differently.

The location was good, close to shops and restaurants, and we got clean towels daily. But the room wasn’t suitable for someone with a disability, and it was only cleaned once during the week. The beds were rock hard. Food was cold and terrible, and the entertainment was a total shambles. There was barely anywhere to smoke. The pool hours were 10 am to 6 pm, and the lifeguard sat in the shade on his phone all day. Reception staff were rude and unhelpful.

The hotel’s in a handy spot, with shops, restaurants, and bars just outside, and the beach about a five-minute walk away. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the food was tasty with plenty of choice. I’d be happy to visit again. I’d been worried after reading reviews, but my stay was nothing like I’d expected. The rooms could use some care, though I mainly used mine for sleeping and relaxing. The pool was the main downside: it didn’t open until 10 and shut at 18.00, with people queuing from 8.30 to get in, though there were plenty of sunbeds. The entertainment wasn’t the best.

The staff made this one of my most pleasant stays on the island. They were genuinely welcoming, helpful, and always smiling. We spent a week here in mid-July 2025 with our children, aged seven and four. If we come back to Mallorca, Gavimar Chico will be on our list. I’ve stayed on the island many times, and think the location is among the best. This place suits people who value that and aren’t bothered by every small flaw. We arrived at 2 am and were in our apartment within 15 minutes. We stayed in apartment 1-208 and had no complaints: it was clean, the beds were good, everything worked, and housekeeping followed our request for a particular cleaning time. Our private transfer from the airport took 45 minutes, and I’d recommend arranging one, especially with children. The beach is about 300 metres away, via the pavement or through the hotel. It’s lovely, though it can get a little crowded. Meals had several well-prepared options, and snacks were available through the day. A supermarket and restaurants are two minutes away as a backup. It would be useful to have something to eat at night, especially for families with young kids. There are several well-kept pools. Despite people reserving sunbeds, we always found a couple when we needed them. The 10 am to 6 pm pool hours could be longer. In summer, 9 am to 7 pm seems reasonable. The daytime animation team wasn’t around much, but our kids loved the evening shows. Congratulations to all the staff.