HansHaeberle

Any recent experiences? Platinum benefits/upgrade?
How is restaurent Aqua?

nologic

Great and great.

chanp

Havent stayed here in almost 2 years, but still fond memories. This is a great place.

TimWong

How far away is Lafiore?

JK

Any recent reports from here? Just booked it for April next year, and would love to hear some positive reports, especially regarding how well Plat's are treated! LOL!

Is hiring a car recommended? I saw on their website that they charge €18 a day for parking, though a report up the chain mentioned free parking round the back. Does that still exist?

flyerwma

Just returned.

Honestly, I didn't love it. It was fine, but it didn't bowl me over. The pool is nice, but the waiter service around it was maybe a 7 out of 10. And the poolside food and drinks are very expensive (waygu beef hamburger -- 27 EUR; bottled water -- 10 EUR).

The website is not so clear, but there is no beach on property. There is a walkway down to a dock, but that's it. And the dock is off property with no amenities or services.

Re parking -- yes you can self-park. Very easy. Just ask the valet. They will not offer this, but if you ask they will happily show you.

Would be curious for others' views. I find myself wondering whether the Jumeriah in Port Soller would have been better...

spgplat21

I would mostly agree. We were there last month and I liked it, but we weren't blown away. We've been more impressed with much cheaper starwood hotels. That said, we felt like the service was solid the entire time and our dinner at Es Fum was excellent. The platinum upgrade to a junior suite and the platinum breakfast were also great. One thing I didn't like was everyone going down in the morning to reserve chairs by the pool that they didn't use until much later. This probably isn't an issue during slower periods, but it was pretty annoying during our entire stay. Chairs had towels and items on them for the whole day, but they were only used for a couple hours. I would also agree that this is not a good place if you are a beach person. There is a small "beach" area in front of the hotel, but since it's public there are no services and there were usually groups of people taking up what small space there is. We tried it one day and that was more than enough for us.

We also self-parked and we're not charged a parking fee. The website says its the same fee as valet for self-parking so YMMV, but we were not charged.

I would also highly recommend renting a vehicle. The hotel restaurants are very good, but there are some great restaurants & scenery throughout the island so we were very glad we had a car. I have to recommend Bens D'Avall for dinner (it's near Deia about a 45 minute drive) and at least a drive along the northwest coast of the island.

Overall, the hotel reminded me a lot of the St. Regis Monarch Beach. It's a very nice hotel, with good but not excellent service, that's absurdly expensive because of it's location.

pomkiwi

Off there shortly and have had several e-mails inviting us to reserve all sorts of things. One odd invitation was that for one of our rooms (on separate reservations) but not the other I was invited to request an upgrade at a good price. I replied promptly only to be advised that they had none of the rooms to upgrade to
Seems odd to send out a targeted invitation for an upgrade that dosen't exist (I would have understood it better if both rooms had the invitation to upgrade).

oliver2002

How much is the breakfast per person if not included in the rooms rate? Usingthe magic of google I found a tripadvisor like review that said 25€/Person/day. Is this true?

spgplat21

I'm not positive because it was included in our rate, but I think I remember seeing it was around 35€.

oliver2002

Just asked the property, its 40€/person, but it seems they have a special spg member breakfast rate for 20€/person & day.

Flying Lawyer

We just returned from a weekend stay on the hot escape rate. We received an upgrade to a massive ocean facing suite. Service was top notch, so similar to an Asian property and better than everything we had experienced in Europe. We had dinner at Aqua, which was a good experience quality wise. Breakfast was included in this ever so cheap (however still high) rate and was again one of the best experiences we had in the entire system (fresh juices, high quality cuts, good cheese, plenty of fruits, tapas, a dozen or more different jams, plenty of different types of bread etc.). Parking was free on the grounds.

ILeftMyHeartInTexas

We too will be at the St Regis in April, woukd love to meet for drinks, etc. We are not sure if we should rent a car at the airport or through our concierge. Any advise appreciated.

christianj

Any recent updates on Platinum (I'm a Plat Ambassador) treatment at the St. Regis. Considering hotel for a couple of nights during the summer. Was looking for a beach front hotel but surprisingly there aren't too many high-end options on the island that I have found.

Any comparison between this property and the other Starwood options (mainly Castillo) would be much appreciated.

offerendum

For years I wanted to stay at the St. Regis Mardavall, as it is more or less the prime sampel of a luxury resort in Germany. So of course I had to try.

Prices at Mardavall are pretty high, during my stay a Grand Deluxe Room without view started at 580,00 € with 4 for 3 available. At high season it starts often at 900,00 €. With a Best Rate claim I reduced the price to 340,00 € per night for a Grand Deluxe. I thought long about booking a Junior Suite but I coudnīt see a big differnce and price differece was over 100,00 € per night. Grand Deluxe is 56 sqm (48 sqm room + 8 sqm balcony), Junior Suite 66 sqm (52 sqm room with 14 sqm balcony/ terrace). On Oyster you find pretty good pictures of both room categories. On this pictures you canīt also see a big difference between garden view and sea view (all rooms face the ocean side).

3 days before my arrival I got an email I could upgrade my room to a Junior Suite with Sea View for 30,00 € per night. OK, with this price-difference I said yes to secure a Junior Suite. 2 hours later I got an email, that no Junior Suite with Sea View is available – OK, no big thing but why do they send this standard e-mails out? Not very luxury-like. Really funny was when I got a second mail, that they canīt fulfil my wish for an upgrade. At this time I sat in the garden of the St. Regis and hat already slept one night at the hotel. Shameful!

When I arrived at the hotel the big iron gate opened and I found myself in front of the entrance.



A doorman helped me with my lagguage and I was escorted to the lobby. The lobby is a nearly round room with a big staircase in the middle and a nice ceiling.




In the basement you find a model of a ship.


At the reception I was told they do the check-in at the bar and I was offered a welcome drink. I took a place on the terrace and ordered a fruit-cocktail. It came with nuts, olives and chips.


Back to the reception I had to sigh the credit-card authorisation for the stay and was told I got an upgrade to a Junior Suite with garden view. Nice! To be honest I wasnīt totally surprised, as they have much more Junior Suites than Grand Deluxe rooms. I was told they could fulfil my preference of a room on a low floor. OK, my preference are rooms on high floors, but thatīs not really important. Later I saw that I really asked for rooms on low floor in my SPG-profile, so they did everything right! Also my preference for pillows without feathers was honored.
I was escorted to my room (369) on the 3rd floor, which is in fact the ground floor. The Junior Suite was bright and in a good condition. It had a good sized hallway with 3 cupboards.


The room itself had a king bed (unfortunally 2 mattresses), 2 chairs, a desk and a recamiere. I would have preferred a sofa, but at least on the walls were nice art.










The terrace was furnished with a sunchair (only 1!), 2 chairs and a table. You even had some kind of sea view.



The bathroom was big enough with a tub, 2 sinks, a nice shower and seperated toilet + bidet.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/FUx9gC]







While I generally liked the bathroom I was disturbed by a long blond (or grey) hair in the tub. Otherwise it seemed to be clean.
I did a little trip though the hotel. First I visited the snooker and smoking room which is connected to the bar.



Over the terrace
[url=https://flic.kr/p/GJ6gGk]



you reach the garden


which you enter over the prominent flight of steps.




In the garden you find the outdoor pool (not heated, technically 3 pools)





You also find funny signs,


the kids club



big lawns


and many sunchairs (really, the picture only shows a few).


You have a more or less direct sea view which is a little bit limited by a fence.


The hotel doesnīt have direct beach-access. You leave the hotel-ground by a card-controlled gate


and you are on a public beach-walk.


You can reach a small beach which is kind of attended by the St. Regis. During my visit it was dirty and not very inviting.






The highlight of the hotel is the SPA. They have a Jaccuzzi (relative cold), an indoor and (heated) outdoor pool,





a relaxing room with heated loungers


several saunas, a cold room and a warm salt-water pool.


The saunas and the salt-water pool are located in a seperate adult-only area which is clothes optional. During my visits all guests wear clothes in the pool. Only some people were nude in the saunas.
The fitness-area made a pretty good impression and was always highly frequented.






Breakfast was served at Aqua restaurant from 7 to 11- It was pretty standard with a cooking station. Quality was OK, also I wasnīt really impressed. I would call it mediocre, not more.















On they way to the restaurant you find some nice decorations.



On my first evening I had dinner at Aqua, the St. Regis main restaurant.
When I arrived I was greeted professional and I was offered an apperetif. Suggestion: Champagner, as usual. I donīt drink alcohol so itīs not an option, but what a boring drink. Canīt understand why itīs so popular..... I was told they had one non-alcoholic cocktail, the one I knew already from the arrival. OK, I took it. Was OK again.
They offer a 4 (65,00 €) or 5 course (75,00 €) menu, but 2 courses contained meat, so no, thank you. I took the crustacan soup with asparagus panna cotta (12,50 €) an starter, the fresh pasta filled with cream cheese and lobster, beurre blanc and truffle (22,50 €) as main an an ananas carpaccio with nougat-parfait (11,50€).

First I got bread with olives, aioli, tapenade and olive oil. OK


Next came the soup. It was totally overspiced, the panna cotta tasteless. A terrible dish! One of the worst soupt I have eaten this year!


The pasta was tasted over all good, but I wasnīt really enthusiastic.


Dessert was OK, but nothing to write home about.


Letīs say some words about the service. At this evening service was simply bad. Dishes werenīt explained, they seemed to be rushed and missed every kind of hospitality. The icing on the cake was when one waitress added a second table to mine and started to open the wine-bottle for the neighboring table on it. Hey, I like to bothered by something like that.
Bottom line: I was very unhappy with my meal. Food disappointing and service subterranean – no, thatīs not the way I like it or Iīm used to.

Second evening I wasnīt really hungry, so I decided to eat a small bit at the bar Es Vent. I ordered a diet coke (0,2 l – 6,50 €) and got chips, nuts, almonds and olives. To eat I ordered first the tuna sashimi with scallop, salad and avocado (25,00 €).


The scallop was nicely done, but half of the tuna was still frozen. Not so great.
As dessert I ordered 2 scoops of homemade ice-cream (7,00 €) which were nice.


Again, at max a mediocre meal.

Even if I were disappointed on the first evening I tried Aqua again on the third, as I liked 4 courses of the menu of the day.
This time another service-crew was in charge and I was greeted friendly. As they could only offer me the well known fruit-cocktail I skipped it. As starter I got the usual bread.


Next came beetroot carpaccio with salad and goat cheese – fresh and solid.


Second course was gnocchi with pumpkin-sauce.


Gnocchi were a little bit dry, the sauce a little bit tasteless. Letīs say mediocre.
As 3rd course they served fish (not absolutely sure which) with mushrooms and potatoes.


Itīs 5 days ago and I canīt really remember. Must I say more?
Dessert was almond-tiramisu which were quite good.


Service was much better this visit, food again far from great. No, not a big Aqua fan....
For the last day I had booked a table at Es Fum, the Michelin-stared restaurant at the St. Regis. To be honest I was a little bit sceptical after my experiences at Aqua and Es Vent.
The restaurant is located at lobby-level and I was greeted very friendly and they asked to begin, which language I prefer. I was shown my table and was offered a drink. Again champagne or the fruit cocktail. No, thank you! Just water....
You can choose between 3 menus. 6 courses (130,00 €), 8 courses (146,00 €), 10 courses (156,00 €9 or 7 courses vegetarian (110,00 €). They also offer a 5 course kids menu (66,00 €). I took the 10 course menu without meat. Itīs a „suprising“ menu.
First they offered 4 different kinds of butter and flavoured salts, different breads and a cheese-filled „stone“ (in the middle of the stones). A nice start.


Next came 3 different tapsas.


After they served it they mentioned, that the beef-tatar isnīt quite the right for me. So they changed against something else.


First course were spring salad leaves, fruit puree and smoked aromas. A solid start.


Second came red prawn with sea bottom. It was a seaweed mouse with a sea urchins butter. Was interesting, but only one prawn with many butter. The you had to eat it alone after a few bites, so perhaps not a perfect combination. Taste was also not my favourite, but not bad.


3rd course was cold and spicy ramilet tomato soup with anchoives. It tasted good and I liked it.


Next I found sea scallop, red cabbage, red onion, anise and kohlrabi on my table. A nice dish!


5th course was an old friend. The fresh pasta with cream cheese, lobster, beurre blanc and truffle. It tasted slightly better this time.


Now they served a sorbet. Normally it was a mojito-sorbet, but as I donīt drink alcohol they serve me a good passion-fruit sorbet.


After the sorbet I got a dish called rice-codfish-cauliflower. Not the greatest creation I ever tasted, but also not bad.


7th course was wild gilthead, shell cream and sour tomato gel. Tasty!


Main course was monkfish cheeks in dill-tarragon velouté. My favourite of the day.


As I love white chocolate I wished to get white chocolate soup and macchiato caviar. It was a soup with coffee perls. I liked it.



Last course was red berries and seasonal flowers. An interesing dessert and a good final.


Es Fum was another world than Aqua and Es Vent. Servic was polished, food good.

Service at the hotel was over all good. It was funny that the staff mostly talked to me in English. It isnīt a problem for me, but as you can read my English is far from perfect and I speak with a strong German accent. I did the game 2 days, after it I spoke at least in German with the staff, who were German natives.
The other hotel guests were mainly from Germany and mostly eldery people. No where you can see so much bad but expensive dressed people. You also could survey the gust-type „Nervensäge“. Itīs this type who things, itīs very important. One guy with his wife (she not English-speaking, he very urbane (at least in his own fantasy) and a big self-titled wine connoisseur) at one evening was all the time entertaining the whole restaurant. He was talking on and on very loud the last rubbish. Very unpleasant. You had a above average rate of this false noses. They also talk to every staff-member in German and continue doing so even if itīs obvious the particular staff-member doesnīt speak German. They are even incensed, that not everyone IN SPAIN speaks German.
Also be aware there are conferences hold at the hotel. One evening it was incredibly loud in the lobby as a big crowd was in the basement and was talking in an incredible loudness. Itīs not a silent resort! But on some days they had some nice live-music at the bar.
Bottom line: The St. Regis Mardavall is a good resort with a great SPA. Neverless it wasnīt my favourite, as itīs a relative big hotel with many guests who suffer under hubris. Apart from that you canīt say much against the hotel, they didnīt much wrong during my stay. I can generelly recommend it especially with kids (they seems to do nice childcare).