Cala Mesquida Resort, Mallorca – A Review

Cala Mesquida Bay

Falling asleep to the sound of the waves outside. Pulling back the curtains to see a beach that belongs in a brochure, with the water that marbled blend of turquoise and a deep, more serious blue. Opening the door to find a private garden with a Jacuzzi already bubbling and opening the fridge to find bubbles there as well…

Cala Mesquida Resort gets a lot of things right. It’s a clean, well-equipped resort with a stunning location and lots of activities for young children. Yet customer service is patchy at best and ends up taking the shine off the experience.

Cala Mesquida Resort – The Full Review

The Room – Premium Deluxe Apartment

The room was thoroughly equipped, with a bath, shower, wide-screen TV & DVD, lounge, kitchen with self-catering utensils and a small dining table with chairs. The trim “balcony” outside also had patio furniture plus two sunbeds overlooking the beach, so you don’t need to fight for a spot in the sun. None of the rooms have wifi, but if you can face the hassle and headache, you might be able get a signal in reception or on the Italian terrace. The décor wasn’t to my taste and the sound-proofing could do with some improvement, but otherwise it’s an apartment with great facilities, including a pair of fluffy white dressing gowns.

The Food

Adults can escape to the neighbouring Vanity Hotel Suite for an excellent massage

If only every hotel in the world would do this: If you arrive at the Cala Mesquida Resort after the main restaurant has closed, staff save a cold platter for you. It’s a homely and generous touch. The main restaurant has a huge range of options and caters for most diets and tastes, with better quality than perhaps the word buffet may lead you to believe.

The outdoor terrace charms and the cafe by the bar serves up fresh, tasty snacks a la carte from a menu (albeit from a different menu to the one on display.) Cala Mesquida Resort has two specialty restaurants, Mexican & Italian, for which you need to jump through a few hoops to make a reservation. I tried the Mexican Restaurant, which was fine but not outstanding.

The All-Inclusive Part…

…has a few surprising exclusions. Cava is unlimited, orange juice you must pay for. This ice cream is covered; this one is not. It’s a shame, since one of the advantages of an all-inclusive should be forgetting about checking menus and prices and not worrying about your wallet on the beach.

Leisure Facilities

Cala Mesquida Resort - Play Area

Around an hour’s drive from Palma and with little else going on nearby, Cala Mesquida Resort is designed, on the whole, for you to stay within its palm tree walls. Its several swimming pools, easy access to the beach, hiking routes, bicycle rental and free parking for day-trippers should keep most people entertained. The “live music” in the evenings is entertaining as well, but perhaps for rather different reasons…

Overall Impression – Cala Mesquida Resort

Cala Mesquida Resort is part of a big chain of resorts that all link together. The “Resort” part caters for families with young children, with pirate ships and games around every corner and high-chairs at almost every table. Adults can slope off for an excellent massage at the neighbouring Vanity Hotel Suite or have a drink on the elegant terrace near the Selection Club.

However, the lines between who can do what where, what is and isn’t included and who you need to speak to for what are blurred, with members of staff applying their own interpretation to the rules. While some staff were excellent, others were definitely not.

Who it’s for: families with young children & sun-seekers in July & August

Who it’s not for: couples, boutique hotel lovers, people who hate the beach

Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at the Cala Mesquida Resort arranged via Bloguzz

Hiking Across Cala Mesquida, Mallorca