TUI MAGIC LIFE Cala Pada

Just back from a great 2 week holiday. We had a 1st floor 2 bed room in a nice quiet part of the resort. We had 2 super evenings at The Flavour speciality restaurant. Would like to thank the gentleman working there who remembered our son has a milk intolerance and despite us saying not to worry too much he brought him different things that weren’t on the menu and a lovely fruit platter for dessert. We had no problem getting sunbeds each day around the pools. If you want an outside table at the Magico restaurant in the evening you may need to wait a few minutes, no problem at other times of the day. Beach ok, nothing special. We booked the Bodega( beach restaurant) before we went but had a problem when we arrived as they didn’t have our room number and didn’t ask for a name. We were made to wait until everyone else had been seated then made to feel like they were finding an extra table for us, there was no double booking we were on the list , just under our name, not room number. The guest services gentleman was very apologetic the next day and arranged for some treats to be sent to our room. Staff here are all very helpful if you have any questions or problems. Youngsters club was great for our 11 year old daughter even though not many English kids seem to go. There is a great ropes course called Acrobosc 5 minutes walk from the hotel, definitely worth trying. Only criticism is that the mountain biking this year was not offered for different ability levels, more suited to very keen, super fit cyclists. We would have no hesitation booking again but would probably go to a different Tui Magic Life just for a change.

My first experience of holidaying in School Holidays means this review may be skewed. I expect if we had visited in June it would have been 5 stars as everything negative was related to being busy. The complex is lovely, beautiful gardens, nicely spaced and spotlessly clean. Our 1 bedroom room was perfectly adequate for 2 adults and 2 children (6&4). The shower was amazing! Best of all...CBEEBIES on the TV!! We obviously didn't come on holiday to watch TV but just a bit of peace so i could get ready was priceless. The food was wonderful and varied. The kids loved the children's section so they could help themselves. The Magico restaurant is massive and an absolute machine with the amount of people going through it. Unfortunately we couldn't get a table outside all week for any meal. There are quiet areas but then you have to walk quite a way to serving area. Luckily the whole complex felt very safe and leaving the children at the table for a couple minutes while we tag teamed was fine. Tui have obviously invested heavily in working out the Magic Life Concept and although slightly borderline cliche you can't help but feel the magic. This is mainly transmitted through the wonderful Entertainment team. The exercise classes that I did were perfect for 30 degree heat when you've eaten your own bodyweight in ice cream! The entertainment was enjoyable. It does follow a standard pattern but we especially liked the Micheal Jackson show and the Silent Disco- such a fun way to reduce the noise for others. We loved the Evening Kids Club dinner which meant we could go to the Tapas restaurant without the children! Sadly an overbooking nearly meant we didn't get a table. However the restaurant Captain set up an extra table after seeing how disappointed I was. The theme days were fun especially La Vida Loca and the Foam party. We could only get a sunbed in the gardens on 2 afternoons. The hotel has signs everywhere asking not to reserve beds but this is not policed. Luckily the children were constantly in the pools so no chance to lie down. The slides were a bit scary for our 4yo. The lagoon and activity pools were great although impossible to actually swim as quite shallow and jam packed full of inflatable unicorns! . Sadly the sports pool was closed for 2 days after being "contaminated". Apparently this is some weird craze where youngsters think it's funny for young kids to be swimming in their poo!! There are lots of different nationalities although all signs are in English first. White wine in restaurant is vile. Get glass of Cava at the bar on the way in. Wunderbar - is not! Old male bar staff just plain rude. Other bar staff lovely and seem to do all the work. Kids loved their "special cocktails". We couldn't get a seat in the evenings all week. Watched the Flamenco show sat in a flowerbed. The Beach is fine. It's public but the hotel only loos are fab. We all had a fabulous time and will be forever singing the club song with very happy memories.

Firstly, let me dispel a few myths - there are people who have reviewed this hotel who frankly either have an axe to grind or dont know what they are talking about. These are probably people who have never been to a 4 star all inclusive European hotel before, or those thsy wouldn't shop at somewhere like Aldi as the 'wine must be rubbish as it is good value'. To dispel a few truths (I fully acknowledge everyone is entitled to their own opinion but when that squews reality I feel a need to interject - 100% this hotel is not 'grubby', the wine is not 'undrinkable' and the food is not 'inedible'! The people who have given 1 or 2 stars need to take a long hard look at themselves and realise their reviews are wholly unrepresentative and misleading. It seems to me people have had issues with groups of kids hogging pool tables, haven't had waiter service at all their meals and reached negatively in general to other guests - these are not the hotel's doing and to review on the basis of this is totally misleading and unfair. If you have a problem with a guest or guests deal with it yourself rather than simply hide behind social media and blame the hotel. All that being said, this is a very well managed and run hotel. It is 'rustic' and sure there and other more polished hotels out there but honestly the grounds are really nicely maintained and cared for - we loved the natural feel. The staff were always friendly and attentive, they clearly all work hard. Genuinely couldn't fault the food - the selection at the buffet was second to none and we never had a complaint- we've been on a good few all inclusives before and this was the best food quality - I'm at a loss as to the complaints I've seen on here (which nearly put us off), we generally eat very well and have eaten at numerous top restaurants so know good food - the complaints I've seen on here are simply bizarre I must say. Drinks - fine, exactly what youd expect. Ok no international brands but I think that is pretty clear from all the pre arrival material. Cocktails are rushed and not what you hope they would be but that is european all inclusive. The gin and tonics and run and comes, wine etc are more than fine. Simply just cut through the ignorant reviews on here and you'll settle upon and average 4.5 star rating which I think is wholly fair.