I just checked out of an 8 night stay at the Iberostar Pinos Park on Mallorca today. This was my first time staying in an all inclusive hotel, but we opted to stick with breakfast only. Overall, I quite liked the hotel. Status was recognized, but there seemed to be some confusion about what tiers get what. They told me as diamond (I am actually platinum) that I get a food and beverage credit of 14 euros. I need to check my folios to see what they actually did as it was one seven night stay followed by a separate reservation for one night.

The hotel is definitely not new by any means, but pretty well maintained and very nicely landscaped. The location is fantastic, among pine trees right on a beautiful cala (cove). We booked a sea view suite with cash.

No a la carte meal option apart from 1-3pm at the pool bar and very bad/expensive restaurants nearby. We did the math for half board (which is just lunch or dinner) or full board which is all inclusive and for us (two adults and a four year old) it added up to about the same as going off hotel, unless you are drinking a ton of alcohol. Kids under 7 (I think?) eat for free on the meal plans. The food at the buffet and the pool bar was quite good. The breakfast buffet had a lot of variety changing from day to day.

There is a sandy beach directly at the hotel (Sa Font de sa Cala) and a rockier smaller one (N’Aladern) a couple in minutes in the other direction. A glass bottom catamaran motor boat that plies the coast stops directly at the hotel several times a day.

There is a kids club with very nice international staff that organizes all sorts of activities. Decent shady playground in the back of the hotel next to the bar and stage for evening shows (2045-2145 nightly). The noise might be a problem if you are intending to sleep before 2200. Tons of included activities for adults as well, all of the schedule is available in the Iberostar app.

There is a main pool area inside the U shape of the hotel (not particularly large, three separate pools with more child suited depths) and a children’s pool area in the back by the playground and mini golf course with some small slides.

You are a three minute drive to the pleasant town of Capdepera with its well preserved castle. An hour drive from Palma airport. Cala Agulla Beach is about ten minutes away by car and was lovely.

A not insignificant number of restauran/cleaning staff speak no English, and since the majority of the guests are German will keep aiming for German. Everyone working there was very friendly.

I should be getting 80000 pts for two four night stay promotion, plus 8000 for four two night stay promo. I paid with my IHG Chase visa but it’s not clear if you earn 26 points per dollar spent at Iberostar?