Hesperia Playa Dorada Hotel Playa Blanca

I used to work for one of the big hotel companies in Mallorca and usually try to avoid staying at these big hotels that often feel like factories, especially at meal times when people are herded around like cattle! The Hesperia Playa Dorada does a pretty good job, for the most part of keeping that sensation to a minimum, although their dining system could use some improvements.

The hotel is pretty huge, with five swimming pools (one was heated the rest were too cold for me!, nice gardens, a health club/gym and is located right on the coast by a nice beach. The health club has an enormous indoor swimming pool and the chlorine smell in the reception area can get pretty intense! They should do something about that.

The common areas are well maintained and clean. The staff for the most part was friendly. For me this hotel was a good selection because the price is affordable and it is a convenient place to sleep and have dinner while spending the rest of the days exploring the island.
Mealtimes are chaotic - the dining room is enormous, with high ceiling and bright lighting that feels like a college cafeteria. All food is served from a buffet. It's all about standing in lines and avoiding bumping into people with loaded plates! After the first three days, the food pretty much all tastes the same, but they do a decent job of providing varied food to a big crowd of people.

Arrival from the airport is no problem, it's about a half hour from the airport in Arrecife. Check in wasn't friendly or welcoming, but I have to say that I did talk with one girl receptionist there who was really nice. The chief receptionist is the one who sets the tone, and in this case he just didn't seem too happy about his job.

Among many services available in the hotel, there is a little rent-a-car place. The price is a bit higher than if you rent from an agency in town (a short walk away). So, it's worth it to check a couple of possibilities before hiring a car. Also, the guy at the hotel's rental car place didn't know much about anything as far as things to do and places to visit, which really surprised me. I asked about a few places and his answer was "locals don't visit these places!" Hard to believe, but true. It's a good idea to research things beforehand!

The room I got could use some work. It could use a lot of work! The room above mine had a leak in the bathroom and the water filtered through the ceiling and dripped on the floor by the bathroom door! Nice! I didn't want to think too much about what was filtering through my ceiling!

To sum it up, this is a perfectly adequate hotel. A good location and an acceptable base for exploring the island. But... if you're looking for something special for a really memorable stay, I wouldn't recommend it.