Hacienda Na Xamena, Ibiza

The pool is large and towels are plentiful; some of the sunbeds have seen better days but there are lots of them arranged on different terrace levels, the upper terraces have no shade/umbrellas however. On a cloudy day there is a large, attractively designed games room with pool table, table football, table tennis and some floor mats and a playpen for children. There’s also a small ‘cinema’ behind a sliding door with a large screen, PlayStation and Netflix. The hotel seemed popular with loud noisy groups of families and friends and it could be fun in a group (there is a children’s and adults’ pool - distinction is not enforced and the kids frequently ended up in the adults’ pool). So not one to go to for a quiet, romantic break with your partner. It is well-located for nearby San Miquel and taxis were fast and arrived promptly. The reception staff and concierges were friendly, knowledgable and very helpful in arranging restaurant reservations, transport and activities.

This is NOT a five star hotel. Our junior suite was large internally but had a cramped astroturfed area exactly the size of two sunbeds out back. The interior was clean enough but rather faded and thoughtlessly designed: nowhere to hang your robe in the bathroom, not enough hangers, a dressing table with a mirror placed so high and a chair so low that you can’t see your hair never mind your face when you sit at it! Room and resort cleaning needs improvement. There is lots of glass in this place: most of it had greasy marks on throughout our stay, spoiling the view you were trying to enjoy. These are minor points - main issue is the FOOD and SERVICE at lunch and breakfast which was awful. Dinner in the Edén restaurant was better, but fine-dining prices not really justified (waitress didn’t know the wine menu, fish was undercooked). Breakfast buffet was ok but carelessly prepared and maintained - stone cold water in the urn at the DIY tea station, cups running out and not replaced, no serving spoons for some of the dishes. Supposedly tea/coffee and hot options via a waiter service at breakfast: we were offered these on 3 mornings out of 6 (only then after fetching our own menus and collaring a waiter). An order of poached eggs on toast with avocado arrived in three separate instalments - poached eggs that looked like they’d been made in a tumble dryer, served in a bowl (??), barely-toasted slices of Sunblest slapped on a plate and an overripe avocado on another plate. A cheese omelette had the unmistakeable taste of sliced processed cheese in the centre. Staff at breakfast looked tired and disorganised. Similar at lunch only fewer staff, resulting in incredibly slow service. Portions were large but quality was poor. After failing to get a late checkout for our evening flight, we were told we could shower and change before we left at the indoor pool but the SINGLE shower and changing room there had no hairdryer and more importantly no lock (we were told just knock!