Zafiro Cala Mesquida

"Went to this hotel on a last minute deal. Took an hour transfer from the airport but we were lucky to have a mini bus with only another couple there & back. Hotel mainly for families but we had a fantastic time. Room was massive with a large bathroom with walk in rain shower. A small kitchen with cooker, microwave, kettle. Lounge & bedroom with the largest bed I have ever slept in & a double length balcony. Everywhere was spotless & cleaners were working constantly. Food was extremely good & high quality as was all the drinks. Plenty of sunbeds around & loads of places to sit & relax. Staff were very helpful & friendly. The hotel is right near a gorgeous sandy beach & there are nice walks up into the hills. I would highly recommend this hotel even if you go as a couple as you can always find somewhere quiet to sit & relax, will definitely return."

"Most of the Zafiro Cala Mesquida earns its four stars. Our room did not. Room 1202, and I'd guess the rooms directly above and below it, looks straight onto the delivery bay of the neighbouring Viva Cala Mesquida Resort & Spa. Late at night and again early in the morning you hear trucks reversing and bottles being emptied into bins, and the glass is far louder than you'd expect. Open the curtains and the view is that loading bay, plus the roof of one of the hotel's restaurants and its air conditioning units. The photo shows it better than I can describe it. We asked to move on our first day. Reception couldn't offer another room but added a note to our booking, which I took to mean we'd be moved if something opened up. Nothing did. Everything outside the room was a different story. We spent most of our days at the heated pool, which was spotless and gets plenty of sun. We ate at every restaurant and bar except the one reserved for all-inclusive guests, and none disappointed. The buffets were generous and the desserts were worth saving room for. Small kiosks around the pool sell drinks, ice cream and light snacks, and the quality holds up there too. Cala Mesquida beach is a two-minute walk away, and two sun loungers for the whole day cost us €20. Two small supermarkets are just as close, stocked well enough for daily snacks and beach gear, fridge magnets included. The staff were welcoming and switched easily between English with us and fluent German with the many German guests, who seem to make up a large share of visitors. Mini golf was good fun. There's tennis as well, but the court books up early, so claim your hour in the morning. One practical warning. We booked self-catering, and on arrival the receptionist told us the nearest restaurant and decent-sized supermarket outside the resort are a 10-minute bus ride away in Cala Ratjada. We upgraded to half-board on the spot. Book at least half-board from the start. I'd have expected our travel agent to mention this, but that's no fault of Zafiro's. The evening entertainment is built for families, and it works. The kids around us were clearly having a great time every night. As a young couple we weren't the intended audience, and an adults-only hotel would have suited us better for nights out. Four stars. I suspect it would have been five if we'd booked half-board in advance, which might have landed us a room with a better view, and if we'd been travelling with children."

"We had a very enjoyable two-week stay at Zafiro Cala Mesquida. The hotel is beautifully located, very close to a wonderful beach, and the whole area is peaceful and perfect for a relaxing holiday. The hotel and our apartment were very clean, spacious and comfortable. We really enjoyed the pools, the hotel grounds and the friendly atmosphere. The staff were always kind and helpful. One of the things we especially loved was the surrounding area. There are beautiful routes and trails for walking, hiking and running, easily accessible directly from the hotel. It is a wonderful place if you enjoy being active and exploring the area on foot. It is also very easy to get around without a car. There are good and reasonably priced bus connections to the nearest town, which takes only around 15–20 minutes. This makes it easy to go out for dinner or enjoy a change from eating at the hotel. There are also two small shops close to the hotel where you can buy most of the things you need during your stay. There are, however, a few things that could be improved. The kitchenette in our apartment was very poorly equipped, which was disappointing for a self-catering apartment. The gym also needs renovation and better maintenance. Some of the equipment was quite worn, and the treadmill stopped several times while I was running. Despite these points, we had a wonderful holiday and really enjoyed our two weeks in Cala Mesquida. The beautiful surroundings, beach and opportunities for walking and running were a big plus for us. Thank you to all the staff for making us feel welcome"