Iberostar Selection Playa de Palma (ex Iberostar Royal Playa De Palma)

Just spent 10 x Days at the Iberostar Selection Playa De Palma. Very nice hotel – always remember 5 Star Hotels abroad are not the same as 5 Star Hotels in the UK but I have to say all of the staff were amazing – so friendly and helpful and acted like a UK 5 star. Special mention to Comos (I hope I spelt her name right) and Nico (Nicky) for exemplary and above and beyond service. Hotel is modern and spotlessly clean with just over 200 rooms and 15 minutes from the airport but you cant hear the planes at all. We had a beautiful Junior Suite on the third floor with glorious views out to sea. Room was large along with a large private balcony. Cleaners did an amazing job, kept the rooms immaculate and often asked if we wanted anything. Main pool is spotless and large and you can certainly swim easily. No inflatables allowed. Usual Sun Bed towel reservation issue around 8:00am but you do that on your way to breakfast. There was always sun beds available around 10:0am just not where you want them. There is a great pool bar serving hot and cold drinks, alcohol and payable snacks. Always opened late (over an hour sometimes) and service was often slow – however once you did get somebody they were amazing and so friendly. You can place orders at the sun bed as well. Food was interesting – we went fully inclusive. Breakfast and Dinner are in the buffet restaurant. Food is good – most of it freshly prepared for you, queues not too bad but the food choices did become repetitive and I say that after we went out for a couple of nights. Lunch is unexpected – ala-carte in a different restaurant. At first we didn’t like the idea but it actually became a bit of a treat to choose from a menu and be served your lunch. The area around the hotel is OK and directly opposite the beach but it depends what you want. We wanted somewhere with a bit of life and some nice local restaurants. As you walk further into Playa De Palma (10 minutes or so) it caters more for stag / hen nights but its not a bad place and we certainly didn’t see or hear any trouble. Do try the horse and cart ride – 30 Euros. There are a few things we consider negatives: The 3 x Drink Rule at lunch and Dinner – it didn’t bother us – not big drinkers but when they bring you a bottle of wine which they did sometimes you think – are we being charged for this. The 3 Drinks rule is a Spanish Rule and nothing to do with the hotel. When you arrive you have to choose your breakfast, lunch and dinner time. Felt very strict and rigid. You soon learn its only an idea and we just went when we wanted. Men are asked to wear long trousers to dinner. Everybody honored this but smart long shorts should have been an option especially given the heat. No rules for the ladies!!!! The only bar that is open in the evening is the Champagne bar which is not always easy to get into so there is no where quiet to just go and have a drink. There is also no where to get snacks in the evening. Entertainment is not very lively – mostly singing and saxophone. I get they are trying to be prestige but its nice to see some lively entertainment from time to time. The hotel group is trying to be more ECO friendly so there are no straws of any sort - not always easy when drinking some of the cocktails. Maybe offer cardboard straws or even metal ones and wash them with the other cutlery. Also they provide noting to stir your drink with. Watch out for the peanuts and cookies in your room. All soft drinks are included in your all inclusive but alcohol is not. What they don’t tell you is neither are the peanuts and cookies. We found out when paying the bill, queried this as there is nothing to say they are chargeable or even how much to be told sorry that’s the way it is …. Last but not least – there is an option to upgrade to Prestige. This gives you a room on the top two floors but the view will be the same as ours on the third. You get access to a private roof top swimming pool and sun bed area but given the temperatures up there it must have been intense on the roof. There is also a private pool bar up there. You do get a segregated area in the main restaurant – but you choose the same food as the rest of us, the segregated areas is like sitting in a gold fish bowl and personally even if I had paid for Prestige I would have still sat outside every night. Would I pay the extra for Prestige, I tried very hard before arriving it but it was fully booked – would I pay now – absolutely not – I can see no benefit what so ever. All in all – we would absolutely come back to the hotel – loved it – not sure we would go back to the area – we prefer Alcudia but the hotel is stunning and I would highly recommend.

Really enjoyable stay, the hotel is a little dated but clean and pleasant. The main pool is good, the kids pool is great and the location allows easy access to the beach whilst remaining private. The staff make this hotel great, from the reception desk through to the restaurant staff it is clear that their number one priority is excellent customer service. The animation team were fantastic and as good as any quality holiday firm, they encourage children and adults to take part and in a really fun and friendly way. We will return as a family of 4 including two kids aged 4 and 2