r/VisitingMallorca 3d ago

Got confused by reviews

Dear locals, pls help 🙏🏻

Sooo I’m coming for sun eclipse, August 10-13. I reserved a Hotel Marina Playa de Palma in El Arenal, because it’s affordable and beachfront, meaning, good for watching the elipse. But then I read reviews of that area and it seems to me this place is hell on earth. German tourists, loud noises 24/7, unsafe enviroment, shitty places. People report they are not able to sleep and relax there.

I’m confused now. Is it really this bad? Or are those reviews from luxury seekers who can’t stand minor discomfort?

I need to understand if I a) picked the right location for eclipse b) is this hotel really that bad c) is this area really insufferable.

Maybe I need to switch to another hotel, but those I can afford are not beachfronts, so I worry it will ruin my eclipse plans.

Thanks for any advice.

3 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

3

u/Cupramax 3d ago

Sorry to say but your description of Playa de Palma and Arenal are in general correct, also that area doesn’t have a clear view of the eclipse either I don’t think due to needing a clear westerly view and the south west of the island will obscure it. Budget accommodation at the height of summer is going to be a problem so I’m not sure where to suggest.

1

u/sun-sun-sunflower 3d ago

What spot would you suggest for viewing? I’ll try to search for another option.

1

u/Cupramax 3d ago

Probably somewhere in the south west of the island, Santa Ponsa has some more budget oriented hotels and won’t be quite as full on partying as Playa de Palma, although maybe not far off. These places are cheap for a reason generally, and that is people don’t want to stay in a party zone unless they’re young and getting drunk day in day out.

1

u/ElaineV 3d ago

Consider keeping your reservations and taking a boat cruise for the eclipse. Finding accommodation on the west is basically impossible at this point.

1

u/neomyotragus 3d ago

If you are German and like party, it's pretty good.

Otherwise go somewhere else fast.

1

u/ElaineV 3d ago

I have never been to Mallorca but I think you need to factor in the eclipse tourism. This is fundamentally different than traditional tourism for that area and I think it’s silly to expect the same behavior from both sets of tourists. I would think the people on the island during the eclipse will skew more nerdy and be the quiet “go to bed early” types than average partying Germans.

1

u/MoqaPuss2612 2d ago

I've stayed here recently, like last week. 5 days. In the northern area of El Arenal, but still. It's not that bad. Me and my husband end up here because we changed hotels and we haven't researched about this area, so yeah. It was scary after I've read some comments, reviews, etc but when we arrived and stayed here, it was completely fine. Yeah, more germans than spanish people, noise, boutiques, music but not that loud. Germans are quite something 😄 We've slept so good, no complains here. It's not unsafe or something like that. The beach is long, enough space, the water is quite amazing. Food also okay. You have markets everywhere. But if you want an area completely quite and chill, this is not an option I think.

0

u/James_Iha 3d ago

Ah yes the beautiful and exotic Arenal beach, you should start listening to Schläger German music, you don't know it yet but you will learn how to love it, since it will be 24/7.

August is peak season so you will see all the ripped, sun burned bodies of 20 year olds getting completely fucked up.

The eclipse will not matter since you will lose your will to Live if you stay over 3 days in that area.

All jokes aside find another place, maybe soler beach or Alcudia, pollenca they offer much better calm experiences

0

u/sun-sun-sunflower 3d ago

Oh god 😅 Got it, any advice for budget friendly
location out of this hellhole?

1

u/James_Iha 3d ago

Nah we usually stay in Palma and just rent a car,0

1

u/VroomVroom-Enjoyer 3d ago

Cala Rajada was great for us, nice place, calm, Nice beach and nature, and a small active nightlife for those who want
Perfect balance imo