Grupotel Mallorca Mar

We came away feeling we'd had the perfect holiday, and hope to return one day. My wife, our seven-month-old son and I stayed for 10 nights in September. It was our first time abroad with him, so we were a little nervous at first. The Baby Club was wonderful, and our son loved Nicole and Luisa. I'd thoroughly recommend it, 10/10. Staff across the hotel were incredible: polite, friendly and smiling whatever their job or the challenges they faced. The waiters and chefs deserve a special mention too. The food was unbelievable, with great variety and quality, and the chefs did a great job. The whole hotel was spotless. It's family-oriented, with a lovely walk and ocean views right nearby. We loved being able to pour our own soft drinks, which saved so much time with no queues. Even though the hotel was busy, there was always a sunlounger available. There was a good range of pools to choose from.

A great fit for a family holiday. The rooms were clean, and the bar stayed open from 10am until midnight, which was handy. Staff were very friendly and helpful. There are five pools, including two heated indoor ones. The food selection and variety were great, though the food itself could have been a little better.

The hotel feels closer to 3.5 stars than four. Staff were pleasant, and dinner had plenty of options, with themed evenings during the week. We stayed in a one-bedroom apartment. The restaurant is large, the cleaners do a good job, and there are lots of activities if that's your thing. There are two sand parks for kids, and Cala Millor is an easy walk away. The indoor pool is heated, but smells of mould. The downsides in the apartment: there's no mirror or vanity area in the bedroom, and the coffee sachets aren't replenished. You only get two for the whole week. Towels feel scratchy and uncomfortable, and there's no soundproofing between rooms. We could hear the baby next door crying. That's not the parents' fault, but it's something to be aware of. There's no washing-up liquid for plates and bowls, even though a sign says housekeeping won't wash them and you must do it yourself. The supplied toiletries are abysmal, just a wall-mounted 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The snack bar was one of the worst I've been to. The pizza was awful, and who even wants tuna pizza?

The food and shared facilities made this a really enjoyable week. Breakfast had loads of fresh fruit, nuts and other choices, and the buffet brought out different, interesting dishes each day, including themed evenings. We never had to queue for a table. Drinks were good too, from cocktails and beer to sangria and soft drinks. The hotel shop was handy, reasonably priced and well stocked, and nearly all the staff were friendly and helpful. Our apartment was the weak spot. We could hear the neighbours clearly, and they could probably hear us; the balcony faced a road, so there was some traffic noise as well. Ants were another letdown. The towel exchange was awkward, since it cost one euro per towel, needed cash and was only available after 4 pm. That didn't feel like four-star service. The pools were lovely, especially Laguna, which we used most. We had a great stay at TUI BLUE Grupotel Mallorca Mar in Cala Bona during week 36 and would recommend it. I'd pay a little extra for a better apartment than ours to get the full experience.