Zafiro Palace Palmanova

We loved it here - beautiful hotel. Food amazing, our rooftop room was outstanding - nice having some privacy! Hotel entertainment wasn’t always to our taste but this didn’t spot us enjoying ourselves.

I came with two friends for a quiet weekend away. When we checked in we were upgraded to a penthouse suite which was amazing and had a jacuzzi. The food and drinks range were brilliant, and the waiting staff were very attentive. We were also allowed to order cava by the bottle at the table which was nice for AI and we could take drinks back to the room. The surroundings were beautiful, the pool was freezing though. We attempted it for the pool bar then dashed out. The water was also cold inside the spa area pools too which was a shame. I’d definitely come back for a short break again, it was really relaxing and calm.

I stayed here for a week mid-October with my friend and her teenage son. The hotel was spotlessly clean and service was excellent - special thanks to Tony in the outside bar area for his attentive service. The food selection at every meal was amazing, with a huge variety of dishes and of high quality. Different fresh fish and meat could be cooked in front of you at lunch dinner, as well as a huge selection of other dishes, breads, salads, fresh fruit, desserts. Only the pickiest of eaters could possibly be unhappy with the food here. Children’s needs are also catered for. We also enjoyed all 3 of the al a carte restaurants, where the food and service was excellent. Although all based in the same part of the hotel, they are cleverly themed to make you feel as though you have been out to a new restaurant each time. I would advise you to use the app to book then on the day you arrive. The all-inclusive drinks selection is far better than many places I have visited in the past. Brands such as Bombay Sapphire gin are available and wine can be ordered by the bottle in the restaurants. Yes, it’s a little strange than drinks from the minibar are chargeable to AI customers, but not all guests are on an AI package - you can just order drinks from the bar and take them to your room. The hotel had very low occupancy the week we were there, no doubt affected by the recent closure of Thomas Cook. If anything, this enhanced our experience as the comfortable Bali beds by the pool where unused and there was no issue with service. That said, we were unfortunate with the weather as the island was hit by spectacular electrical storms and heavy rain for two days. The hotel staff had to work hard to clean the pools afterwards. We did have some sun for the last couple of days but the unheated outdoor pool was very cold - fine for a very quick ‘bracing’ dip but not necessarily for small children to play in all day when the weather is cool. There are excellent facilities for young children and the hotel is understandably popular with young families. The evening entertainment was ok. We tended to sit outside on the terrace, where we could still hear what was going on and outdoor heaters and blankets were provided. We didn’t do too much off-site, other than go for a couple of early morning scenic walks by the sea. The beach is less than 10 minutes walk away and looked very clean. Not really my kind of resort (Irish bar, English breakfasts etc) but it depends what you like. There was a large mini-golf course in the resort and a grocery store close to the hotel. We used the spa facilities one day when the weather was poor. It’s quite a small area, which may be a problem when the hotel is busier but not for us. Despite the weather, we had a very relaxing time and ate far too much of the amazing food!