This was our third stay at Son Caliu and, despite a bit of a bump along the way, it certainly won’t be our last.
We booked a standard room this time, as the refurbished sea view rooms we usually go for weren’t available. I was slightly sceptical, expecting something quite basic, but it turned out to be very similar to what we’ve had before - just without the sea view. The room had everything we needed: comfy beds, a large shower, balcony and a well-stocked mini bar. The air conditioning was excellent too. The only downside was the noise at times – doors slamming and people moving along the corridors were quite noticeable.
Shortly after arriving in our room, we had a knock at the door. The team had sent up a few small gifts as a thank you for our repeat visits - a box of chocolates, a herbal Majorcan liqueur and a large bottle of still water. We thought this was a really kind and thoughtful touch, and a lovely way to start our stay.
Most of our days were spent alternating between the pool and the beach. The pool area was busier than we’ve experienced on previous visits, and the atmosphere was quite different this time around. Alongside a couple of large wedding groups, there were also groups of younger adults, both of which didn’t seem to take into consideration the other people around them who were also on holiday when it came to noise - lots of shouting across the pool and generally being quite loud around the sunbeds. It didn’t completely ruin things for us, but it did take away from the calm, relaxed feel we’ve previously loved here. On our last two visits, the pool area felt much quieter, and the pool bar was never overly busy - this time it was noticeably more crowded.
That said, the pool itself was warmer than I remember, which was lovely, and the pool bar was still good with a decent selection of drinks. If something wasn’t available there, you could easily grab it from the main bar. The food was also good, though you do need to keep an eye out when you order as they don’t bring it to your sunbed - and if you miss it, it’ll go cold or someone else will take it if they have ordered the same thing!
There is the usual “sunbed wars” situation, with people reserving beds early, but we always managed to find somewhere to set up for the day.
The beach remains one of our favourite spots. It has a really relaxed, chilled vibe - just the sound of the waves and sparrows in the background. You can get into the sea via the jetty ladders or enter gradually from a small beach to the left; we tended to do the latter and swim around to the jetty. There are also two restaurants and a beach bar down there. We spent a couple of full beach days and ate at the Bamboo Beach Bar, which never disappoints - great food, well presented, reasonably priced and very friendly staff. Drinks there are also noticeably cheaper than at the hotel.
One thing to note during our stay was construction work at the back of the hotel near the pool, which was fairly noisy. That said, they stopped around midday due to the heat and didn’t resume until later in the afternoon, so it didn’t completely ruin the atmosphere.
During our stay, England were due to play in the World Cup, and we noticed the matches were being shown on a big screen in the Capricho Bar. This is usually a fairly quiet spot whenever we visit, but I’ve never seen it so packed - full of Brits keen to watch the game. The only downside was that the commentary was in Spanish, so some guests opted to head back to their rooms at half time, where BBC One was available, to watch the rest of the match with English commentary.
Food-wise, we usually stay bed and breakfast, but this time we opted for half board as we liked the idea of ordering from a menu rather than the old buffet system. Unfortunately, the first evening didn’t go well at all. Due to a nut allergy, I brought a carefully translated explanation in Spanish, but the waiter didn’t seem to understand or offer much help. Of the entire menu (around five starters, mains and desserts), I was told I couldn’t choose from any of it and that my only option was a plain salad - literally just leaves with no protein. I was also told I couldn’t choose any of the main courses, and instead was offered steak, asparagus, mushrooms and potatoes gratin. It sounded okay, so I agreed. However, when the food arrived, it was more salad and a very fatty piece of steak - none of the asparagus, mushrooms or potatoes. My husband questioned where the rest of the meal was, but the waiter couldn’t understand/tried to make excuses, offered to make a bowl or of chips and this is when we decided to leave. The whole experience felt very rushed, like we were on a conveyor belt - not the relaxed dining experience we were expecting, but more a case of getting you in, fed and out again without caring for any special dietary needs. It left me feeling very upset and quite stressed - everything felt much harder than it needed to be. I ended up speaking to the manageress as I left the restaurant and she asked me to give them another try tomorrow and reassured me that things would be better, which I reluctantly agreed to. Sitting on the balcony later eating crackers from the shop wasn’t quite the evening I’d imagined at my “happy place”, and it’s also why I felt quite anxious about returning for another meal.
To their credit, things improved the following evening. There must have been a note added to our booking, as the staff were much more attentive and I was able to order freely and enjoy my meal. However, the experience from the first night had already knocked my confidence, so we decided to eat out for the remainder of our stay. Going out for dinner should feel relaxed and enjoyable, and I didn’t want to risk a repeat of that first experience.
We did find some fantastic alternatives nearby. Pizzeria Extremadura, just a couple of minutes down the road, was brilliant - I showed the owner my translation and he immediately reassured me and made a delicious pizza from scratch. We also visited Kabo Beach House (part of the hotel group) where the experience was excellent - great food, attentive service and a beautiful setting. It did make us question how they could get it so right there, but not in the main hotel restaurant.
Breakfast, however, continues to be a highlight. The buffet has plenty of variety and the setting is relaxed - exactly what you want to start the day.
On our final day, checkout was at 12pm and, with a late evening flight at 9:30pm, we wanted to make the most of the day. For the first time, we decided to use the spa facilities so we could freshen up properly before heading to the airport. Overall, the spa was fine - the indoor pool, sauna and relaxation garden were really nice spaces to unwind, though the steam room and Turkish bath were a little underwhelming.
Finally, a couple of shout-outs. Danny on the bar continues to be great - always friendly and welcoming. There was also a lovely lady working the garden bar in the evenings whose name we didn’t catch, but she was incredibly attentive and friendly and really stood out during our stay.
So, would we return? Absolutely. Would we book half board again? No. If we’d stuck with bed and breakfast, the trip would have been pretty much faultless.
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