rated the Tropicana Club Hotel Riu as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location |  | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: Booked this holiday about a month before we went because of the awful weather here. Couldn't find any recent reviews for this hotel, the last one being dated September 2003. But we decided to go for it and are glad we did.
Arrived in the early hours on Sunday the 5th September 2004, by taxi arranged by Thomson’s, as we were the only ones to arrive that night.
We were given a glass of champagne (very nice even though we were tired) and our A.I. wristbands and our room keys. I looked down to see the room number and nearly did a little dance, room number 31. Which I knew from reading the reviews meant that we would not be miles away up the hill, but close to the main complex.
The little mini bus took us and our luggage to our room. Which was a few doors away from the pool which you could see from the balcony, and opposite the pool bar.
The room itself was a nice size, two single beds, and a table and chairs a huge dressing table and an enormous wardrobe. Plenty of storage space in the wardrobe and lots of draws 15!! Altogether we didn't need to use them all. The bathroom although not huge, was adequate, there was no bath but a very powerful shower, which we preferred. But there was no air conditioning just a ceiling fan. We hired another one from our rep but it was still very hot.
Once we had caught up on some sleep we went for a look around and then to breakfast. As soon as we walked into the restaurant the headwaiter Louis greeted us. We were told that for dining at breakfast and lunch you could sit where you wanted, but for dinner we would be allocated a table which you kept for the duration of you stay, also you have to decide which dinner sitting you want 6.45 until 8.45 or 8.45 until 9.45.
Breakfast wise I was happy as there was pancakes (which I love) and plenty of toast and different rolls. They also had eggs everyday done in everyway you could think of. I tried them all and have to say wasn't keen, they had bacon occasionally, apart from that it was very German orientated with cold meats Pate and cheeses.
The lunch and dinner menus were very similar. There was a lot of fish; fried hake, steamed hake, battered hake, every lunch and evening occasionally they changed it to salmon. Sometimes there was chicken, which was nice. They also had a lot of pork cooked in different ways but always inedible, very chewy and fatty. They also had pasta every day with either tomato or a creamy sauce this was always nice. There were a lot of different rice dishes including paella, which were also very nice. Although the cold rice on the salad section was always hard and undercooked. The salads were very limited, not much imagination. There was also chips, mash and various potato dishes, all of which were very nice.
The puddings were lovely, rice pudding, crème caramel, cakes cut into little squares that were chocolate, coffee or strawberry, mousses with different flavours, ice cream and jellies. Occasionally they did things like pears in brandy and pineapples in contreiu, and once they did a delicious pastry dish with chocolate sauce that was heaven, but sadly they never repeated it. There was always plenty of fresh fruit, which was very nice.
The snacks you could get after lunch were burgers, which were not very nice, but the hot dogs, toasties and chips were fine.
The drinks were great. The drinks from the bars were branded gin, vodka, whisky, brandy, and bacardi. Plus vermouths, Sherries, ports, baileys, Tia Maria, white, red and rose wines. Plus all sorts of delicious cocktails, and of course sangria, which was very nice and very strong. Also fresh filtered coffee, espresso or coffee with cream. The soft drinks were all self service from machines they were branded, coke or diet coke, fanta orange or lemon, sprite or soda, fresh orange, grapefruit, pineapple or apple juice, water, and a coffee machine which had gorgeous cappuccinos or lattes or black coffee.
There was a pool bar with terrace area opposite the pool that opened at 10.30am after breakfast until 6.00pm service was always prompt and with a smile.
The beach bar was where the snacks were served as well as drinks this was inside, food was self service the drinks always served quickly.
The main lobby bar opened at 6.00pm until 1.00pm this was also where the shows were put on every night. There is an outside terrace overlooking the sea. The bar did get busy in the evening but there was always plenty of bar staff on and I never had to wait to get served. They were all very friendly, nice people but were very limited in English. But we always got there in the end.
The first thing I noticed on our first morning was the pool. We didn't get up and about until about 8.30am on our first morning, and thought we would have no chance of getting a sun bed at that time. But there was hardly anyone there, a few towels but mostly empty beds, and this was how it stayed throughout our holiday. There is a sign telling you that you are not allowed to go near the pool until after 8.00am but even so there were still spare beds at 10.30am. It was a refreshing change, a lovely lie in every morning instead of the usual dawn raid. I still don't have any explanation as to why this happened, as there were plenty of Germans at the hotel. There was plenty of room around the pool to spread out, there was also a garden area all around with more sunbeds.
The beach was quite small, especially as we are used to a long stretch, but it was nice enough, we just preferred the pool. You also had to pay 3.25 euros each for beds and umbrellas. The sea never looked very tempting always rather dirty but this could have just been seaweed.
The entertainment team was good especially Dino he was very funny and regularly dressed up as a woman, making everyone laugh. The entertainment at night was mostly good shows, a professional show once a week. Then the entertainment team for the rest of the week, things like Grease, rhythm and blues. One night all the heads of all the departments did a show including the manager it was very good very funny. Watch out for the head entertainer Dominic he likes his beer especially if he has pinched it off your table and has a very strange way of drinking it don't know how he does it. After the show they have a disco until 1am.
The resort of Calas de Mallorca could be reached in 5 minutes by just climbing over some rocks. There are a few shops mostly selling the same things. But all very cheap, lots of nice bags, clothes and souvenirs.
Did a few trips the western encounter, which is a trip on a wooden electric train through the mountains, and a boat trip around Palma bay.
Also went to Palma saw the cathedral then free time to shop.
Also went to the show Son Amar at night this was brilliant. Highly recommended all food and drink (lots of) included then a brilliant show of dancers, singers, illusionists ending with the drifters. Then before you left a fireworks waterfall display.
During our first week there were a lot of Germans but mostly they seemed pleasant enough. But the second week was a different matter the French arrived. I have never encountered French on holiday before, so I don't know if they are typical of all French but they took over the place. They were very loud, rude people. There were very few British at this hotel around 15 our first week and about 10 on our second week. Which wasn't a problem during our first week as all nationalities were catered for equally. But when the French arrived during the second week everything seemed to be geared towards them, with the rest of us just getting the basics, which was a shame.
If you do go to this hotel please look out for the hotels two cats Felix & Ginger they are lovely and really appreciate being fed, especially fish.
We would go back to this hotel if they installed air conditioning in the rooms, could pick a time when the French are sure not to be there, and would probably only go back for a week rather than two. But overall we had a nice relaxing holiday, and would recommend this hotel to all.
P.S. We prefer to go all inclusive but up to now we have either booked a hotel with gorgeous food with the drinks being a let down or brilliant drinks with not very good food.
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Janette Byrne from Farnborough Hants travelled to Tropicana Club Hotel Riu with
Thomson
on a family holiday.