Barcelo Playa Blanca

We first came here in January 2024 when they had not long been open so a few teething issues but it didn’t put us off as we came back November 2024 and stayed royal level. To keep my review simple I’ll separate it into different topics; ROYAL LEVEL CHECK IN I noticed on check in and any other time we approached the royal level check in desk it was as though they didn’t want to work there? No smile and no welcome really, just going through the motions of slapping a royal level bracelet on our wrists. After long travel a smile wouldn’t go amiss arrival. ROYAL LEVEL ROOM The rooms are beautiful. Sometimes though there is a distinct smell of sewage in the room coming through the air-conditioning unit, it’s awful. All you can do is either switch the Aircon off or open your door for some fresh air. Having said that, there is a sewage treatment area next door to the hotel and that can waft across on a windy day and outdoor can smell bad too. The sewage smell needs to be addressed, it WILL put people off coming back. CLEANING/MAID SERVICE This is very hit and miss. You don’t have the same cleaner, we had 5 or 6 different cleaners. Why is it hit and miss? Sometimes you will be left water, sometimes you won’t. sometimes you will be left a toilet roll, sometimes you won’t. Sometimes you will be left replacement coffee pods, sometimes you won’t. Sometimes you’ll be left tissues, sometimes you won’t. Calling reception is an option but expect to wait 1 to 2 hours for your water or toilet roll! We ran completely out of soap and had to go searching the corridors to find a cleaner to say we had no soap which was then filed up. Having soap is IMPERATIVE in a hotel with all the bugs around, this hotel sleeps around 700 people! We stayed for 3 weeks and the sheets and pillowcases were changed twice. We think they should be changed once a week, we’re hot and sweaty in a hot country! FOOD AND DRINK We didn’t go on inclusive as we don’t drink a lot but the drinks we had in the restaurant with the meal were fine, sometimes they would run out of a certain wine but we just picked another one instead. It’s a little hit and miss - sometimes they had butter and sometimes they didn’t. Same with yoghurts, nuts, certain salad items, loaves of bread ~ sometimes there and sometimes not, no consistency. As a vegan, I struggled in the evenings in the Magical Restaurant. There were always two meat choices and two fish choices every night plus ONE vegan choice. Now if you don’t like seitan or tofu, it’s a problem. At the side of the imagination used in the meat and fish dishes, the vegan imagination is lacking. For instance ‘grilled vegetables’ which was just grilled courgette and pepper on a plate was the only vegan main course available on one night, boring mushroom risotto on another and one night I ordered the vegan lasagne that had lashings of melted cheese on top? That’s not vegan! . I mainly ate salad, bread and chips, not great when you’re spending £2000

We came back last week from there and we absolutely loved it. Staff is working non stop even tho the resort has millions of staff. One thing I found really important for future guests, if you book a massage be aware they can only offer the relaxation massage as me and my friend asked for deep tissue & lymphatic drainage and we got just relaxation… it wasn’t an language barrier as I speak Spanish but I guess the girls aren’t trained professionals . Everything else is amazing !!!

Hotel Overall very good. Maybe different to some all inclusive we have done in carribbbean but would definately go back. Buffet was good and there was two places to sit and common area for food. We preferred the right hand side. I don’t personally think we could do two weeks but one week was ok. There was two other restaurants but had to pay and you would get 20 pc discount. However there are other local restaurants to choose from. In the end we eat there every night. There is a pool bar with snack bar which was good. There is a Sports Bar but no snacks here. Room was very good, new and all working- the bathroom was in the actual room but was ok. Cleaning was good. All staff was good. We did pay extra and went to the spa, 18-19 Euros. where there was different showers, steam room, sauna, heated spa pool. Very good and liked this. There was a good gym - did not get around to this… Walking along the promenade was very good in both directions with the nearby marina on one side and other beaches all the way to the bid lighthouse at the end which we did once. Maybe the hotel is under staffed and there was a few odd things like having to decided on your dinner reservation time at check in (but then no one asked us again) and also coffee machine not working at lunchtimes and dinners times in main buffet place (however I did not ask for a coffee so maybe could have got one). Reception area was good. Lobby bar was good. I would go back !

Staff make or break this place, sadly some very important staff made this a very disappointing visit. Other staff were great, particularly the Magical restaurant and bar staff and the lovely spa treatment ladies, thank you, you were just amazing!

Spotless clean modern hotel. Love the pool which was heated. Food and service improved since our last trip in February. You may have to go looking but everything you could possibly want for dinner and breakfast. I’m Evening entertainment a bit hap hazard. A couple of nights just a singer.

Just got home last night after spending 7 days at this beautiful hotel. This is our second visit since the hotel opened last December, We stayed in the family part last time so decided to try out the adults only side and we loved it. Beautiful rooms, heated pool, lovely choice of food & premium brand drinks - & not forgetting to mention the amazing staff!! They were all very friendly & Happy to please. The hotel is in a great location Marina one side and about a 10 minute walk to a beautiful beach. Looking at booking again for February but coming for longer next time as 7 days wasn’t long enough! Thank you to all the team for making our stay absolutely fantastic 😊 See you in February