Alua Calvia (ex. Dreams Calvia Mallorca)

Rozhodně tento hotel nedoporučuji. Při příjezdu Vám okamžitě nabízí lepší pokoje za příplatek, které jsou úplně náhodou připraveny ihned, zatímco na bookované se musí čekat. Následně se Vám zkouší vnucovat all inclusive, protože jsou údajně drinky drahé…(vůbec nejsou a all inclusive se absolutně nevyplatí). Přitom Vám nevysvětlí, jak věci v hotelu chodí a že například potřebujete k bazénu kartičku na osušky. Když si je člověk sežene a odejde na chvíli na pláž, hotelový staff si dovolí odnést Vaše věcí, hrabat se Vám v tašce a vrátit pouze část tašky…absolutní vrchol narušení soukromí! V životě jsem nikde na dovolené nezažila, aby mi někdo vzal tašku z lehátka a vrátil mi z ní pouze jeden opalovací krém. Vrchol drzosti!

Nestává se to často, ale tento hotel nás nadchl. Příplatek za vyšší patro a větší pokoj se rozhodně vyplatil. Pro 4členou rodinu dostatečně velké. Z 6 patra částečný výhled na moře. Pokoje uklizené každý den. Hotel se nachází na okraji města, takže večer jen hluk z místního programu. Silnou stránkou hotelu je perfektní stravování ve všech částech hotelu. Hotel nabízí několik bazénu a každý je trochu jiný, takže každý si najde ten svůj. Silnou stránkou je i obsluha, která se vždy usmívala a snažila se vyjít vstříc.

I need to start my review with saying we had originally booked to stay here when it was Dreams (a brand we’ve used a fair bit in Europe and the Caribbean), we got an email about 6 months before we came saying it had rebranded to Alua. We did not expect the Alua to be such a poor alternative to Dreams given they are both owned by the Hyatt group and the email suggested very little changes. Firstly the positives: 1. Rooms were very clean and spacious. We were in a “my favourite club” junior suite and it was a lovely room with a nice balcony and lovely views of the “quiet” pool 2. Entertainment staff do really make the stay for both daytime and nighttime entertainment. We particularly liked the Aquagym and quizzes. 3. The hotel itself is in a prime location with easy access to the beach, restaurants and other attractions such as the Pirates adventure, Katmandu etc. 4. We spent all of our time at the main pool as that was the only one really suitable for Children (the Fresco pool must have been informally designated the quiet pool and it was clear children were not welcome there). It was a nice size pool. As with a lot of hotels you had people trying to reserve sun loungers and not use them for half a day. The lifeguard on this pool was amazing for dealing with this and removing towels professionally but firmly so to stop the practice. You never needed to reserve beds as there was always a steady stream of people coming and going so I think stopping this practice took a lot of stress away from people who weren’t up at the crack of dawn to get a bed which they then wouldn’t use until mid-afternoon. The not so positives in our view outweighed the positives: 1. In our mind this hotel did not properly cater to families. There was a family pool which was never open and the kids club was in a quiet part of an annex building, which spooked my child so much she refused to go back. I feel for the kids entertainment team as they were great with kids when we saw them out and about but the hotel did not promote or support the kids club piece. 2. Bar service wasn’t great, it was slow and the staff were miserable. We often received strange comments. One day I ordered a sangria mid-afternoon and got asked if my child was in kids club (which was a bit cheeky given I drank water and cappuccinos most of the time). Then another time I ordered 2 soft drinks and a water and was told I was lucky to get all 3 as the cap was two per person. Again I understand capping alcohol but 2 soft drinks and a water when we’re a family of 3 seems excessive. 3. Food was mixed. The food we ate was usually nice but there was very little choice. As a result despite having all inclusive we ate out almost every night. 4. My favourite club is not worth the extra money. You get access to the tiniest lounge (only open 9-6) with soft drinks and snacks and a separate pool which was quite small and again not suitable if you have children. 5. Service in general at the hotel was mixed. The my favourite club team were great at helping me organise a cake for a birthday celebration and recommending services external to the hotel. However, more often than not requests seemed to be an inconvenience for the hotel team, for example we had no handwash in our bathroom and despite asking reception, my favourite club concierge and housekeeping it never did appear. Overall, in our view this hotel is not a child friendly hotel and we would not return on this basis. It’s a shame as it has a lot of potential but needs a bit of a shakeup.

Overall an enjoyable stay at a lovely hotel, with a few moans and niggles… Firstly the entertainment team are incredible! So good with the kids, encouraging to get them involved both in the daytime with pool activities and the evening Mini Disco (nephew’s 4 and 3 loved it) can’t comment on the kids club as didn’t use it. Food very good for an AI buffet, although had started to get very busy just before we left as half term had started so could be slow with drinks orders at Dinner. If you do My Favourite Club recommend ‘The Fancy Bar’ for Al a carte lunch from a nice little menu. The ‘My Favourite Club’ part was a bit confusing, there is a lounge inside but you cannot take the bottles water/cans of drink/ snacks out of it. It’s not very clear what it included with the upgrade when it comes to food and drink options as the Fresco Lunch menu isn’t but snack options in the same place are included at certain times. They ran out of certain ingredients more than once for cocktails. There were some staff who weren’t so friendly and some of our party were made to feel uncomfortable, bar staff were taking pictures of people ordering/sat drinking and eating. Rooms were lovely, beds super comfortable and a good size - Palm building was lovely and quiet. Would have used the pool there more if didn’t have the kids as there were mattresses on the sun beds and nicer drink options! Overall it was a lovely week away with family. Just a shame a few things let it down a tiny bit.

We spent a wonderful week here with our two small children and had a fantastic experience. The kids club was excellent, and our older son had an amazing time every day. The rooms were very clean, and the staff was always friendly, helpful, and supportive in every situation. We truly felt welcome and would happily come back again.