Gavimar Cala Gran Costa Del Sur Hotel And Resort

“Better than expected !”

I was a bit worried after reading the reviews but we got a really good all inclusive deal so thought it was anyway going to be worth the money. We actually had a GREAT time & this hotel has an amazing value for money !! I don't know if we got lucky but we had a massive room with a huge walk-in show… more

I was a bit worried after reading the reviews but we got a really good all inclusive deal so thought it was anyway going to be worth the money. We actually had a GREAT time & this hotel has an amazing value for money !! I don't know if we got lucky but we had a massive room with a huge walk-in shower, private mini fridge, balcony & the furniture looked brand new. The hotel lobby, bar & restaurant also look like they've been refurbished. Not at all dated like some reviews & pictures suggested. The hotel grounds were very clean, so were our towels that were changed every single day (unlike some reviews suggested). If I have something negative to say about the rooms, the bathroom is large but lacks a basic shelf to put your stuff & the aircon is not very strong. Some people wrote it doesn't work at all, this is NOT true. But it is on the weak side so on very hot days, it can take awhile to feel fresh in the room. The bed is very comfortable & the room cleaned every day. The wifi is not great on the hotel grounds even the 5G barely works I think it might be a problem in the area. Location is unbeatable, the beach is right across the street & you're 3 to 10 minutes away from the shops, restaurants & bars of the center. The bus stop is also right across the street if you book an excursion or want to get on the little train that goes around cala d'or. There are 2 large swimming pools & a small one that are just great. In early June it wasn't too packed & we always got loungers without any problem. The hotel also has a mini club for kids, an arcade games room, massage chairs & pool tables for 2 euros. If you get the all inclusive package, theres unlimited drinks at the bar from 10 am to 11pm with a selection of free cocktails, local liquors, soft drinks, ice cream & an area where you can get a snack, a coffee machine, a juice machine, beer on tap & soft drinks dispensers. The cocktails & juices taste a bit watered down like powder mix but still good enough. Just don't expect a freshly prepared pina colada with premium ingredients. The shots they give are huge though & the local beer very good. By the reception there's a water fountain, another coffee machine & at night they leave cookies out if you're feeling peckish. The restaurant opens for breakfast (7.45 to 10.15), lunch (1-3pm) & dinner (6.30-9pm) & again I saw a lot of bad reviews but there was plenty of food until closing time, lots of choice & there was variety from day to day along with the usual staples. I don't know what to say other than if you do not enjoy buffet food & you want something gourmet then don't book an all inclusive stay. The food was good for what it was. I'm a vegetarian so I have even less options than other people & although proteins were lacking, I still enjoyed eating there every day. There's always a bread station, salad bar, fries, potatoes or rice, some meat, chichen or fish, some vegetables, pasta with 3 sauces, grated cheese, hard cheese, fruits, desserts & ice cream. And then special dishes that change every day (asian, mexican, italian, spanish, pizza, paella, tempura, calamari). Plus wine, beer, water & soft drinks dispensers. Breakfast is good as well (the coffee machine only works for breakfast) with 3 types of eggs, beans, bacon, hash browns, lots of breads, cheeses & cold cuts, jams, nutella, pastries, fruits, yogurts, cereals, muffins, etc. I mean it is more variety than most of us eat in a week. It's just that if you put a bit of everything on your plate then yes it's going to be similar tomorrow. We didn't mind. I also read many negative reviews about needing to pay for everything & for cups. So there are things included in the all inclusive deal & there are extras like anywhere else. And then the cup situation is really simple, you pay 1 euro for a refillable cup & you get your euro back when you return it. I don't think people realize how messy & dirty & filled with bugs the place would get if they didn't do this. It actually keeps the premise really clean & prevents the hotel from running out. The staff was lovely, if a bit stressed in the restaurant during rush hour because they keep clearing plates from tables (sometimes when you're not even finished) but overall it was a really good stay & the best value. If this was a 4 or 5 star hotel with the price that comes with it, I would review this very differently, but people have to remember what they paid for what they got. The weather was also lovely (sunny, dry, hot during the day but cooler at night) at that time of the year so I would highly recommend it.

less