This was our second visit to Mallorca in as many years. We booked the Nixe Palace as it was said to be one of the few 5* hotels on the island and supposedly within a few minutes of Palma which it is on a motorcycle.

The hotel itself was OK, very much business orientated but trying to fill the rooms with tourists. We had a sea view room on the 8th floor which was clean and tidy with modern decoration/style. The balcony was fine though didn’t get any sun at all and you also had to put up with wafts of second hand smoke from neighbouring rooms – the no smoking room policy obviously does not extend to the outdoors.

Breakfast was OK but thought the matre de was a little rude and unhelpful (we asked for a cereal bowl and got growled at for disturbing him – not my job attitude). We thought breakfast was a little expensive at 42 euros for the two of us.

The really disappointing part was the hotel location. A good 1hr walk into central Palma (the Cathedral). We are not averse to walking but that is somewhat contrary to the “close to Palma” description given by the hotel. The hotel is situated in Playa Major which has the feel of an area that may have been popular about 15 years ago. Being honest it was scruffy, litter on the streets, dog dirt on the pavements, derelict properties, building work nearby, etc. We really struggled to find anywhere decent to eat. CalaNova restaurant on the little harbour was probably the best option but on a 7 night vacation you can’t do it every day – twice a day!! There was a restaurant opposite the hotel Casa Tauro which offered average food but hospitality from the owner that was second to none and more than made up for what was on the plate. If you like Italian food, kebabs and burgers then you’ll be spoilt for choice (we’ve never seen so many Italian restaurants in such a small place as this). We wanted TAPAS and Paella, we did find Paella but nowhere that offered TAPAS – odd considering you’re in Spain?

Overall 4* max hotel, 1* location.

Last year we went to Cala d’Or (Sol Melia Boutique Hotel) which was fantastic and would highly recommend that hotel and area. We hired a motorcycle and went across to Cala d’Or to escape the Nixe for the day and reconfirmed that Cala d’Or is far nicer and much more to offer two people that like long lazy lunches and good friendly service.

As a group of 6 people, we stayed in this hotel for 4-10 nights(some of us the whole period and the rest for 4 nights) and we were very disapointed.

Location/Premises: Located on a beautiful beach, but the beach is public and somewhat dirty-broken glass and cigarets and the first 5 days there were no sunbeds or umbrellas available to rent although the weather was good. Pool is very small but there-small children section too. Pool/beach showers are cold but the spa is very nice but small.

Rooms: We stayed either in a seaview DR, which was very nice or in an apartment (one of the most expensive rooms, right next to the beach Euro 595/night ) which was damp and at the end it had rained so much that the roof started leaking water. We had to move and were given a credit of 210 Euros for the hazel+ an upgrade on one dinner. A nice gesture that we were happy with. We were moved to a suite which was lovely but the rates are way too expensive since the hotel is no way near a 5 star. Rooms are perhaps but the rest is clearly NOT.

Staff: Most of them were really unpolite and ennoyed if spoken to. Maybe it is a language barrier but we never got what we ordered. The pool staff and the staff in the halfboard restaurant were really nice and friendly. The managers in the same restos were less service-minded and even unfriendly.

Food: The breakfast is really lovely and you can sit outside but here it stops. We were on halfboard but the food was inedible both in the pool resto and the bar resto and in the halfboard resto. We really tried to like it but ended up having the same things every day + skip lunch in the hotel. It both looks and sounds nice but it simply taste bad. The vegetables, salads and fish were not at all fresh which is a really bad thing. As an example, we were given a bowl of "fresh" fruits as a compensation for having to move and when turning he fruit it was rotten and had long past its "eat before x date".

As you can imagine, we will never return. We have earlier stayed in La Residencia as well as Grand Hotel Son Net which are truely five star and Nixe Palace is not even close.

If you are looking for a really good hotel, within easy reach of Palma that offers great Value for Money then look no further than the Nixe Palace.

The hotel is modern with traditional values, exceptionally clean and the staff both friendly and well informed; their recommendations for dinner were spot on. It is well worth paying for a sea view as the views are simply stunning. Breakfast was excellent with plenty of fresh fruit and cooked options available. The bus stop to Palma is directly outside the hotel and it takes no more than 15 min and 1.1EUR to the centre (buses were every 5 mins and ran until 11). Probably not a hotel for young children as the fab SPA was not for under 14's and the pool was very small, but there is a lovely well kept beach directly in front of the hotel. The immediate surrounding area is also not great but there is plenty of luxury within a short taxi/bus ride.

We loved this hotel and it was telling that the majority of guests were returning; one had been visiting the hotel for 30 years. We will certainly return!

Just returned from a long weekend in Palma and stayed at the Nixe Palace. Hotel has recently been refurbished and we had a very pleasant stay here.

The hotel is situated a few miles from Palma (cost in taxi 10-15Euros to centre). However what this hotel offers that the ones in Palma don't is the lovely view, nice beach and pool with a great (free) spa. Also there's a bus stop right outside the hotel and it costs just under 2 euros to the centre of Palma. Buses run regularily.

Didn't venture to the town where the hotel is situated as it seems a bit "Brits abroad" and why would you when you have the wonderful city of Palma. Took an open bus tour of the city which is a good way of getting to see the city and whats worth visiting and whats not!

Porta Portals is worth a visit - opposite direction to Palma from the hotel - Marina complex with a few shops and restraunts and Bar's. Well worth a visit (although pricey) is Tristan Bistro - fabulous food and associated to its sister Tristan restaurant next door which has a Michelin star. Cappuchino, before or after meal,is a great place to people spot! All at Porto Portals.

Abacco worth a visit to in Palma - kind of a cocktail bar with fantastic fresh flowers and fruits - not cheap either but worth a drink. La Boveda is a good place for Tapas. Pleanty of restaurants and Bars to choose from so not no point listing them here!

Taxi to hotel form airport is approx 20 euros.

Hotel was approx £100 to £120 per night - rooms were very clean, great views from the balcony (room 411) . drinks at the hotel were a bit expensive - but aren't they all! Small mini market next door for papers, snacks etc! Hotel had BBC and Sky News on the TV.

Hope this helps anyone thinking of going to the hotel.