Plazamar Serenity Resort Review – Is This All-Inclusive Hotel in Santa Ponsa Worth It?
If you’re looking for an honest Plazamar Serenity Resort review rather than a brochure full of perfect photos, you’ve come to the right place. We recently stayed here as a family and I wanted to share exactly what we thought – the good bits, the things that surprised us and who I genuinely think this hotel is best suited to.
Santa Ponsa is one of those resorts we keep coming back to. Over the years I’ve stayed here with my partner and my son, both when he was younger and now as an adult, so I know the area really well. This time we chose the Plazamar Serenity Resort because we wanted a relaxing all-inclusive break in a location we already loved. We booked for 12 days there as we were driving from the UK and stopping places on the way there and back.
Overall? We had a lovely holiday, and I would happily stay here again. It isn’t a luxury five-star resort pretending to be something it isn’t. Instead, it’s a friendly, comfortable hotel that gets the important things right.
Where is Plazamar Serenity Resort?
Plazamar Serenity Resort is located in the popular resort of Santa Ponsa, on Mallorca’s south-west coast.
One of the things I liked most was the location. It’s tucked just far enough away from the busiest bars that evenings are fairly peaceful, but close enough that you can easily walk into the centre whenever you want.
The beach is around a 10-minute walk away, with plenty of restaurants, supermarkets, souvenir shops and cafés along the route. If, like me, you enjoy an evening stroll after dinner, it’s an ideal location.
One of the reasons we love Santa Ponsa is that you really don’t need a car. Everything is within walking distance, and taxis are inexpensive if you want to explore a little further.
First Impressions
Check-in was straightforward, and the reception staff were friendly from the moment we arrived. We arrived earlier than our check-in time due to driving, and luckily, they were able to check us in straight away, so our holiday there started earlier than we booked by a few hours, which was a bonus.
The hotel feels bright and modern without being overly fancy. It has a relaxed atmosphere that immediately made us feel like we were on holiday.
Rather than feeling like one huge hotel block, it has more of a resort feel with apartments arranged around the pool area.
As soon as we dropped off our luggage, we headed outside and knew we’d spend most of the holiday around the pool.
Our Apartment
We stayed in one of the Plazamar Serenity Resort apartments, which offered much more space than a standard hotel room. Ours was a one-bedroom apartment so we had a bedroom for Stuart and me and a large lounge with two sofas that could also be used as beds. This meant Ben had one of those, and it could stay made up as a bed while we used the other as a sofa still.
Having a separate living area made a real difference. Even on an all-inclusive holiday, it’s nice to have somewhere to relax that isn’t just the bed.
The apartment was clean, comfortable and had everything we needed for our stay. The kitchenette is useful if you’re travelling with young children or simply want to make a cup of tea without leaving your room. It included a microwave, fridge with a small freezer compartment, a hob and lots of cupboards.
The beds were comfortable, housekeeping kept everything tidy throughout our stay, and we had no issues with cleanliness.
No, it wasn’t ultra-luxury, but it was exactly what we expected for the price we paid. It was lovely and comfortable and all we needed.
The Swimming Pools
One thing that immediately stands out at Plazamar Serenity Resort is the pool area.
The main pool is a good size with plenty of space for swimming or relaxing, while younger children have their own splash areas to enjoy safely.
There were always families enjoying the water throughout the day, but it never felt chaotic or overcrowded.
As with many Mallorca hotels during peak season, if you like a particular sunbed spot, it’s worth getting there reasonably early. This hotel, however, does things differently. The sunbeds are chained up and the pool fenced off until 10am. This means no one can sneak down at 6 am and choose the best sunbeds! There were plenty of sunbeds, parasols and chairs every day throughout our stay; we never found one difficult, and I think a lot of this is due to this policy.
We found ourselves spending far longer around the pool than we’d planned because it was simply a pleasant place to relax. If you’re wondering about the Plazamar Serenity Resort swimming pools, I’d say they’re one of the hotel’s biggest strengths.
To avoid photos of other people’s children, most of my photos of the pool show it with the fencing around at night; this is obviously removed when the pool is open.
The Food – Better Than We Expected
Let’s be honest. Food can make or break an all-inclusive holiday.
We’ve stayed at enough all-inclusive hotels over the years to know that buffet food can sometimes become repetitive after a few days. Thankfully, that wasn’t really our experience here.
Breakfast offered everything you’d expect, including cooked options, pastries, fruit, cereals, meats, cheese and plenty of choice whether you wanted a full English-style breakfast or something lighter. I am lactose intolerant and I was so impressed to find they had a variety of milks I could choose from! As well as whole, semi-skimmed, and skimmed milk, they also had lactose-free, almond, oat, and soya milk! They also had a few gluten-free options available.
Lunches varied each day, and dinners had a good selection of meat, fish, pasta, salads, vegetables and desserts.
Did every meal completely wow me? No, there were some days my choice was quite limited, but as a vegetarian who is also lactose intolerant and doesn’t like mayonnaise, I guess I am difficult to please! Did I always find something I enjoyed? Absolutely.
The chefs clearly tried to rotate dishes rather than serving exactly the same food every evening, which I appreciated. They were always knowledgeable about the ingredients of dishes when I asked, and unlike our hotel experience last year, there were no surprises of discovering hidden ingredients like tuna in vegetarian dishes!
There were also themed evenings during our stay that helped keep things interesting. These included kebabs and a chocolate fountain.
If you’re researching the food at Plazamar Serenity Resort before booking, I’d say it exceeded my expectations for this price point.
Drinks and Snacks
The all-inclusive drinks were exactly what we’d hoped for. There is a €1 deposit per person for a reusable cup for your drinks, which is replaced each time you get a new drink. Alternatively, you can request a token to keep until you next want a drink. Whilst some reviews I saw about the resort complained about this, I thought it was brilliant. It was simple and meant there were no endless cups dotted around the resort attracting bugs! Not only that, but it is also better for the environment, I think. The deposit is refunded when you check out.
There was a good selection available throughout the day, making it easy to grab a cold drink between swims or relax with something in the evening. The bar staff were all lovely, and all spoke great English, so if you struggle with Spanish, you will be just fine here!
Snack options were also available between meal times, which is particularly useful if you’re travelling with children who suddenly decide they’re starving five minutes after leaving breakfast. They are also useful if you go to the beach and want to come back after lunch service ends.
Entertainment
Entertainment is always quite personal because everyone enjoys different things. For us, it struck a nice balance. We could choose to have a drink in the room and ignore the entertainment or watch it depending on the mood.
During the day, there were activities around the pool without constant announcements or pressure to join in. These included water polo, water volleyball, bingo, archery, and so much more. One of the entertainment staff was clearly exceptional with the children and really engaged them. The others were also good, but he was outstanding, and you could tell it helped parents with keeping kids busy!
Evening entertainment included live performances, quizzes and family-friendly shows such as circus acts. Children seemed thoroughly entertained, while adults could either watch along or simply enjoy a drink.
If you’re looking for Ibiza-style nightlife, this obviously isn’t the hotel for you. If you’re after relaxed family evenings, it works really well.
Is Plazamar Serenity Resort Good for Families?
In my opinion, yes. I’d happily recommend it to families with younger children.
The pool areas are ideal, the entertainment is family-focused, the apartments give everyone a little extra space, and the all-inclusive package makes budgeting much easier.
One thing I’ve learned after years of family holidays is that convenience matters almost as much as luxury.
Being able to grab drinks whenever you need them, knowing children can always find something they’ll eat and having entertainment included all help make holidays much less stressful.
Even though our son is now an adult, we could still see exactly why families return here year after year.
Is the All-Inclusive Package Worth It?
This is probably the question I get asked most whenever I mention Mallorca. Personally, I think it depends on how you holiday.
If you’re planning to spend most days exploring the island, eating in different restaurants and hiring a car, then you may not get full value from all-inclusive.
However, if you’re looking for a relaxing break by the pool with most meals and drinks included, I think it’s excellent value.
We still ventured out because Santa Ponsa has so much to offer, but knowing lunch, dinner and drinks were waiting whenever we returned definitely made the holiday feel more relaxing.
Other things we loved about Plazamar Serenity
The staff were all amazing, and all had great English, which is especially helpful if you want to discuss food ingredients or have a problem. One night, we had a gecko in the apartment, which wasn’t causing any problems, but Ben was struggling to sleep knowing it was there. He asked the man at reception at 2.30 am, who happily came, caught the little fellow, and moved him outside.
The hotel was always clean and tidy with a relaxed atmosphere. Compared to the hotel we stayed at last year, this was lovely. A few times last year, we found food and glasses left all around the pool, which is not only untidy but also attracts pigeons! We found Plazamar Serenity was so much better and kept clean and tidy everywhere.
Exploring Santa Ponsa
One of the reasons we keep choosing Santa Ponsa is how easy it is to get around.
The promenade is lovely for an evening walk, the beach is sandy and clean, and there are plenty of shops if you fancy a browse.
You certainly don’t feel trapped inside the hotel, which can sometimes happen with all-inclusive holidays.
If you’re wondering whether Santa Ponsa is walkable, I’d say absolutely. It’s one of the easiest Mallorca resorts I’ve visited without needing to drive. That said, There are a lot of steps up one side of the resort to mostly houses and possibly a few hotels. I would advise against attempting these! If you are intrigued, this is a picture I found of them, as I didn’t take one!
A Few Things Worth Knowing
No hotel is perfect, and I think honest reviews should mention the small things too.
The whole hotel is non-smoking, and this also applies to vapes. This, in my opinion, is great because I have a lot of lung issues and find that smoke triggers my issues, but I imagine some people wouldn’t like this. The only places where smoking is allowed are near the entrance to the hotel and on your own balcony.
Like most buffet restaurants, meal times can get busy at peak hours, but we never struggled to find a seat; it just took a little longer to get food from the buffet due to the volume of people.
The restaurant area is entirely outdoor but under cover. The weather was perfect for our stay, and this was absolutely fine, but I would say that if it were raining, you would have to walk outside from your room to the restaurant.
The pools, whilst lovely, do not have any sloped access for those with mobility issues; the only way to get in is from the upright metal steps at the edge. If you, like me, can’t swim, then you may also like to know the deeper end of the pool, the more adult area, is 180cm (6ft) deep! I still had a great time, but it may concern you, so I wanted to share this.
The apartments are clean, practical and comfortable. You won’t find them with towels made to look like swans or sweets on the pillows, but they are a good size, have everything we needed, and are better than others we have stayed in for a similar price!
None of those things affected our enjoyment, but they’re worth knowing before you book.
Is Plazamar Serenity Resort Worth It?
For us, yes. We wanted a relaxing, affordable all-inclusive holiday in one of our favourite Mallorca resorts, and that’s exactly what we got.
The friendly staff, comfortable apartments, enjoyable food, good pools and excellent location all combined to make it a holiday we’d happily repeat.
Would I recommend it to couples? Yes, particularly those looking for a quieter base.
Would I recommend it to families? Definitely.
Would I stay again? Without hesitation, we all said we would love to go back.
If you’re looking for one of the best all-inclusive hotels in Santa Ponsa without paying luxury hotel prices, I think Plazamar Serenity Resort is well worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Ponsa good for families?
Yes. Santa Ponsa is one of my favourite family-friendly resorts in Mallorca. The sandy beach, flat promenade, parks, restaurants and relaxed atmosphere make it ideal for families of all ages.
Is all-inclusive worth it in Mallorca?
If you’re planning to spend lots of time at your hotel, I think it usually is. Having meals, snacks and drinks included can make budgeting much easier and help you relax without constantly checking prices.
What is Plazamar Serenity Resort like?
It’s a friendly, relaxed apartment-style resort with good swimming pools, comfortable accommodation, family entertainment and an all-inclusive option. It isn’t ultra-luxury, but it is clean, comfortable, and friendly, and it offers excellent value for money.
Is Santa Ponsa walkable?
Very much so. One of the reasons we return is because you can easily walk between the beach, restaurants, shops and marina without needing a car.
How far is Plazamar Serenity Resort from the Beach?
You can walk to the beach in around 5 minutes from Plazamar Serenity Resort. It is downhill to the beach, but a little bit of a slope back up afterwards!
How far is Plazamar Serenity Resort from the Square?
It is about a 20-minute walk to the square at Santa Ponsa, where they often have live music, show football games on a big screen, etc.
Are there any family activities you would recommend near Plazamar Serenity Resort?
Just down from the resort, there is a mini golf course, which is great fun. It is about a 5-minute walk, and there are two courses, so you can do either or both.
Where is the nearest launderette to Plazamar Serenity Resort?
The one I have used a few times is open 24 hours and easy to use, just opposite the big Eroski, so around a 15-minute walk. For a large load, it costs about €9 to wash, depending on your chosen temperature, etc., and about €3 to dry.
Where is the nearest supermarket to Plazamar Serenity Resort?
There are lots of little convenience shops within a 5-minute walk of the hotel, but if you want a bigger supermarket more similar to those we have in the UK, Eroski is about a 15-minute walk away.
How far is it from Plazamar Serenity Resort to the Marina?
It is about a 20-minute walk, and there is a nice cover with a little beach on the way too!
How much does it cost from Plazamar Serenity Resort to Magaluf or Palmanova in a taxi?
We paid around €10-13 for our taxi which I thought was great value.
Plazamar Serenity Packing List
Here are some items I think you should take for your stay, they will make life a little easier and save you from buying whilst you are there.
- Spray sun cream – you will be outside a lot so if it is sunny be ready to top up.
- A power bank – if you go for walks or take lots of photos your battery will soon go down!
- Beach towels – these are great as they are oversize and sand free! You can pay for beach towels from the hotel or buy them locally if you forget!
- Clips for sunbeds – Cheap but so handy!
- Armbands for the kids – saves going to buy some and means they can go straight into the pool! Consider float jackets for more safety.
- Plug adapters – I find this kind best as they work even if a piece of furniture or skirting board is just under the socket. They are perfect for charging everything you need with plenty of USB points too!
Our Thoughts
I’ve learned over the years that the best holidays aren’t always about staying in the most expensive hotel. They’re about finding somewhere that helps you switch off properly.
Plazamar Serenity Resort did exactly that for us.
We spent lazy afternoons around the pool, enjoyed walks into Santa Ponsa, ate far too much and came home feeling like we’d genuinely had a break.
If that’s the sort of holiday you’re hoping for, I think you’ll enjoy staying here just as much as we did. Read my guide on Santa Ponsa for more about the resort and see if it is somewhere you would like to visit.
