Barceló Playa Blanca Royal Level - Adults Only

Overall we enjoyed our holiday but there was good and bad. Good: - hotel is in a really good position for restaurants, bars, shops, great walks along the promenade - we had entertainment at the pool one day (out of 9 days) and it was awesome. They should do this more often. - pool was heated so lovely temperature - our room was large and had a great side sea view, no complaints about the room - we played paddle ball which is free to RL guests - staff are very nice and friendly all over the hotel Not so good: -- could not get a sun lounger around the pool, had to sit near the pool, but there are loads of beds so not a big deal. - Food was not nice. RL buffet had very little choice. Hot buffet food was tepid. A la carte menu had 4 choices but was not written on a menu so you have no idea what you were getting, which for a fussy eater like me is not good. We ate in the main restaurant several times - hot food was stone cold but there were more choices - very busy though - they serve cocktails to all inclusive guests (which is madness) this means the bar has a long wait to get served (15+ minutes) and there was usually only one person serving hundreds of guests. - My robe was taken on the first day, and despite a couple of attempts to get another one I never got one.

I am going to be as polite as I can which is far from how I feel. Pros- Situation of the resort is good . Big up to the planning department. Rooms- Cleanliness of the rooms is good. Overall other than one day, where i think they "forgot" to clean our room, it was very good. Staff- It speaks volumes that I can almost name the staff who make the effort and appear to care. Ayoze at the pool bar and his workmates. The girl with the red hair in the "Magical" restaurant. There at breakfast and lunch and her team. Saul the concierge. Housekeeping team in general massive resort and massive undertaking. Cons- To be polite the service is "variable". One minute you exist the next you are a distant memory. To the wee guy in Magical and I struggle to use the term Magical who chooses to ignore people . When people make eye contact then wait another 10 mins out of common decency then just bloody give up then that means you are not doing your job correctly. I was past caring by this point in the holiday.......counting the days to go home. The plastic, moulded loungers in the swim up rooms. Great if you want to only tan on one side. Form over function which seems to be a theme. Only chairs provided on the terrace, no adjustable loungers. The swim up pool is freezing and sun for only half of the day, so I wouldn't recommend staying in a swim up room. Rooms facing the sea have loungers so probably better with those. Sunbeds by the royal level pool get reserved quickly. The food in the dare I say it "Magical" restaurant which is as far from Hogwarts as it gets. Breakfast is ok.... but lunch and dinner are very poor both in quality and substance. Left waiting to be served.... forgotten orders, wrong orders given. Food was Luke warm and lacking in taste and substance. Obviously we all have different palates and I'm not generally a fussy eater but i struggled to find enough that I liked to eat! Thank goodness for plenty of choice of restaurants in the marina. My advice is to go Bed and Breakfast. Could be such a lovely place but half baked is as polite as I can be and as for Royal Level . Pearly king and queen more like. I feel that the Barcelo is trying to be everything to everyone but unfortunately at this moment in time, it's failing to please. Other guests who were there at the same time as us, also had the same comments.

Hotel is very nice in a good location. Our room was great. Food and drink let's down the overall experience.