Sol Mirador de Calas

A mixed experience – lots of potential, but not quite what we expected

We recently stayed at this hotel and, unfortunately, came away feeling quite disappointed overall. There were definitely some positives, but there were also a number of issues that we felt shouldn’t really be happening, particularly for the price of the stay.

The entertainment team were one of the highlights. They were friendly, fun and clearly put a lot of effort into creating a good atmosphere. The food that was available at the buffet was generally good quality, and the usual options were enjoyable. However, the food became very repetitive, with very little variety from day to day.

Unfortunately, the standard of housekeeping was disappointing. During our stay, the cleaners essentially only made the beds and replaced towels. The floors weren’t cleaned, bed sheets weren’t changed, used glasses and bottles were left in the room, bins weren’t given new liners and rubbish wasn’t always removed. For the length and cost of the stay, we expected a much better level of cleaning.

Our arrival experience also wasn’t great. Our room wasn’t ready when we arrived, and once it was ready, several of the things we were expecting still weren’t provided, including robes, slippers, drinks for the fridge, pool towels and some of the bathroom extras.

We also found the all-inclusive offering quite limited. We weren’t given any premium alcohol from the bars, and a lot of drinks and some food options came at an additional cost. The included drinks were largely limited to mixers and spirits, beer, wine and pre-made cocktails from a machine. When we asked for drinks that weren’t listed, staff generally wouldn’t make them. This felt quite restrictive for an all-inclusive stay.

The Premium Lounge was also disappointing, as it was frequently dirty and messy, which took away from the point of having a more premium area.

Another thing worth being aware of is the sun around the pool. By around 3pm, a large majority of the outdoor pool area was in the shade due to the position of the sun, so this may be worth considering if spending the afternoon by the pool is important to you.

We also paid extra for one of the favourite club areas, but personally didn’t feel that the additional cost was worthwhile. Some of the areas were quite far away from the main facilities, while others didn’t feel significantly different from the standard areas. The main benefit for us was the room upgrade, although unfortunately our view was largely of the roof above one of the bars, so even that wasn’t quite what we had expected.

There were also a few maintenance and practical issues. The WiFi was unreliable in our room and in some areas around the pool. The shower temperature constantly changed between boiling hot and freezing cold every few seconds, which made showering quite difficult.

The shared toilets were another particular disappointment. They were generally not very clean or well maintained, with some having unpleasant smells and others clearly needing more regular attention. A number of the toilet seats were also loose and moved when you sat down.

Overall, we did enjoy parts of our stay, particularly the entertainment team and some of the food, but there were too many areas where the hotel fell short of what we expected. With better housekeeping, cleanliness, maintenance and a more comprehensive all-inclusive offering, the hotel could be a much better experience.

Location is not the best for the town if your not as active as you used to be. It's not far but it's uphill reception said can't get taxis so I'm the only one out of our party not to see the little town. Sightseeing train advertised but reception said it's not run for 2 year's yet my friends work mate went on it in August this year. Hotel lifts are all over the place & you can be going up & down for 15 minutes sometimes. Reception told us not to put towels on sunbeds before 10am yet I witnessed many people putting towels out at 6am onwards & if you did leave it till 10 you won't get one. Although all inclusive you can't get a bottle beer & it's supposed to be san Miguel on draught in little glasses & it goes flat within seconds & there's no decent whisky to be had either. If you're like me & like a tea or coffee on balcony end of night or early morning then forget it cus it's the only place I've ever stayed with no facilities to make one. I took a cup up for 4 nights & the cups were still there the day we left so the cleaners obviously hadn't been on balcony all the time we were there..food was ok but very repetitive but restaurant staff were the best staff in the hotel. Fair few steps with no handrail & poorly lit & entertainment was only geared up for younger people. It was a break that felt a little like being in an open prison for me as I couldn't relax with a cuppa unless it was in their time zone & I couldn't get up the town.. I've been to alua soul hotel in ibiza which is country miles better than this place. So if you're looking to go here then do a bit of homework on the place and area first. Definitely won't see us again & oh if you like a decent sunbed you'll not get one here they're so dated & uncomfortable..rant over..

We are just about to conclude a 10 day stay at this hotel (3 adults) and it’s been a really great experience and we will definitely return. If you’re thinking of coming here don’t listen to the serial moaners. It’s a very decent 4* that proved to be good value for money compared to other holiday quotes we got at the time of booking. Staff including those in bars restaurants and reception are super friendly and helpful and the animation team are really excellent. The location is quiet ( that’s a good thing) but there is a cluster of bars and restaurants, souvenir shops and a supermarket plus two mini golf just a short walk away (uphill but not too steep at all and not far - I can manage it easily and I have arthritis in my knees and feet) so it’s all you need nearby if you fancy a change of scenery. There are also several buses nearby to other local towns and markets and organised coach trips to Palma etc you can book on site. We didn’t do one but there are also boat trips bookable at the beach and other guests said how they enjoyed them. My husband did the 15 min walk to the lovely beach along the cliff side walkway highly recommended. The views from the hotel are to die for. Mostly the hotel is kept clean and well looked after. There are a few areas I would say they could do a more thorough clean or some general maintenance such as lifts, corridors etc but they are approaching end of season (due to close 25 Oct) so assume these will get addressed when they close or before they reopen. There are excellent access provisions to the main areas by way or ramps, hand rails and even chair lifts. The food is good and varied given its one main buffet restaurant. We tended to sit on the outer areas so found this very pleasant. I can imagine inside it might get a bit warm especially in July/aug. They also have another restaurant doing burgers hotdogs salads etc at lunch and a snack bar for bits like pizza and sandwiches when either restaurant is closed. They offer theme nights and mix it up as best they can every day. The a la carte chef at lunch and dinner on occasions is excellent and a nice touch. There are multiple areas to sit adjacent to the various bars especially if you want some time out of the sun. There is one bar with branded drinks where you pay but it’s just an option there are plenty of other bars. Beds are reserved but this didn’t seem to be a huge issue and there are plenty around the two pools and on the grass areas. Rooms are spacious with good showers, adequate storage and comfortable beds and our air con worked well. A nice surprise was the variety of English channels on the tv. Yes branded drinks are charged (quite normal) and a few other things like some cocktails and iced coffee but wine beer spirits and a variety of cocktails are all included. My only very minor recommendations to the hotel are there needs to be tea coffee making facilities in the rooms or somewhere to get these from before 8am when the restaurant opens for breakfast. The ability to change towels without charge should be available to those guests staying longer (eg 1wk plus).