Just back - general report

[Pollpott]

Just back after 2 weeks in PP. We normally go in August but this year we went in July. A lot quieter, but not too quiet. It still has that lovely unique sense of being different, for now. But for how long? Enjoyed the Virgen del Carmen festival especially the fire devils with their fireworks along the front. Missed the sea parade on the same Sunday night - didn't realise it was on the sea! Thought it was a procession from the square. The word "sea" should have been a big clue.
It was quite an unusual year this year. On the one hand, there were staff from restaurants, hovering in the doorway, practically begging you to visit them. And in other places they were turning people away because they were full.

Some places we strolled past in the evening were heaving, others were deserted. From what I could gather from speaking to staff in the places we visited, it was returning regulars that made the difference. People who returned to the same establishments year after year are what made the difference between a good season and a bad season.

But apart from the eating out point of view I think PP has deteriorated. Lets face it, PP is quite an up-market resort. No stag parties, no karaoke, no night clubs, apart from one, and I've never been there. But this year I couldn't help noticing quite a few, what can I call them - yobs. Loud mouth, uncouth morons who would be better off visiting other parts of the island. Yes, I'm being snobby, (and others on this site wont admit to that, but that's what we are) but that's why I go to PP, to mingle with a better class of person.

Anyway, I won't go on, but I think it's going down market and unless the people in power do something about it then I think I'll be looking for some where else to visit. I want to keep going back to PP year after year because it's a magical place but it's up the people of PP to entice me to do so. I think they are going to miss us more than we are going to miss them, financially speaking. Get rid of the tat and I'll keep going back. Simple as that.

 

[eleanor]

In my opinion - for what it is worth - I believe if property prices are pushed down
(which is what I truly believe is happening by some agents to get quick sales) then rental prices will come down too as the two are related. If this happens then perhaps those who once would not have visited PP are now able to do so.
I also have knowledge of someone who rented out a 2 bedroom apartment believed to be to a couple with 1 child, was actually used by 7 people, mostly teenagers who returned drunk in the early hours of the morning, night after night.

It is such a shame as PP has a reputation of being a little more upmarket then some other places and being very much a family resort. I hope your experience Pollpott, was just a one off. Perhaps the people you refer to were the same people as those staying at my friend's apartment!

I have had people contact me to rent my villa who have attempted to knock hundreds off the rental price. Their attitude is that some money is better than none. Yes of course in some cases BUT my feeling is that to maintain standards then I will not allow myself to give in to this attitude. I want people to have respect for both me and my house. To reduce prices is to lower standards - if standards are lowered then we may end up with more reports such as Pollpotts.
This is just my opinion and i'm sure many will disagree with me.

 

[pollensa]

I do think that some of you, particularly those that are lucky enough not to have been hit by the recession in the UK and maybe already own property, underestimate the seriousness of what has happened this year both in the UK and even more so in Spain.

The numbers of people booking holidays in PP this year is massively down and has had serious effects on the resort as a whole. There are currently restaurants who are closing down or close to which in the past has been unheard of at this time of year. Based on our statistics the numbers of people looking at holidays on our main web site is only slightly down but the numbers actually booking holidays is probably 40-50% down. (This is affecting my business as well I'm afraid). Those who are booking hotels are booking them via the tour operators as opposed to booking independantly. This is partly because the tour operators have already committed to taking the hotel rooms and so need to slash prices and also because of the sense of security of booking through a main operator. Therefore there may well be a different balance in the 'types' of holidaymaker this year.

Eleanor, regarding your comment on people renting apartments, I'm afraid you do get that sort of loutish behaviour in rental apartments every year during the peak holiday season. We've been aware of it since 2000 & try & avoid July/Aug if we can. I really don't think it has changed that much.

I honestly feel that the best way to support the resort and to keep the businesses going, especially the restaurants, is to post positive reviews about the places you did enjoy in order to encourage more visitors to come to Pollensa and spend their money.

 

[Rosie34]

One the many reasons we go to PP year after year is that the atmosphere never changes - quiet, and pleasant with no lager yobs or union jack shorts shouting and swearing all over the place! Restaurants come and go but every time we have been - the overall 'feel' of the place has stayed the same. So I hope Pollpot's experience is not a sign of what's to come. Although, I would have thought that the loud-mouths would have gone to the South - can't think what would attract them to PP in the first place - assuming reduction of package accommodation prices would be the same in all the resorts? There do seem to be more 'theme' pubs opening in PP which might attract the 'loudies'? I don't like the vision of an army of tatooed, shaven headed, beer bellied yobs marching down Pine Walk singing football chants - or am I just over-reacting a bit! Still, roll on October!

 

[Sparky]

Thanks Pollensa that was a very interesting post. I agree totally about posting positive reviews, so many restaurants are really struggling and i fear some excellent places will not survive.
Rosie i honestly don't think it is that much of a problem, the resort is nowhere near to becoming like full of lager louts. I have seen far worse behaviour outside my local in the UK.

 

[Lala70w]

I am quite frankly gobsmacked at some of these posts.

I had a wonderful holiday end June beginning July. It was a little quieter but nothing else had changed that I could see. I certainly didn't see any "yobs" or "loutish behaviour" or undesireable "types" of holiday maker - unless of course I am one of them and I just don't know it. We slept to the front - right on Paseo Voramar and only heard noise one night when some local kids were messing around with sunbeds - it lasted a whole 10 mins.

C'mon folks - Pollensa has hit the nail on the head. It is a tough year. Let's support our fav place and the local businesses by posting positive accounts of our holidays.

For those of you yet to go please don't be put off. PP is still a great place and all the things you like about it are there - you will have a fabulous holiday.

Lala

 

[eleanor]

I agree with all BUT we cannot just live on hope. We have to actively ensure that PP remains the place we all love and somehow point the 'clubbers' in a different direction.

Pollensa, the recession has hit many of us. My husband is a qualified American/UK architect who specialises in overseas property including hotels. Times are very tough and we bought our villa on a mortgage. As tough as things are, we will not give in to people who intend to overcrowd our villa or give the impression of not having a similar attitude such as ours, just to fill a weeks rental.
I still maintain that as tough as things are for the majority, we do have to keep to certain standards to ensure that PP keeps what we all love and attracted my husband and I, to gamble and place ourselves in debt for.
I maintain - a good reputation is harder to get and keep than a bad one. We have an excellent one - lets ensure we keep it! That is positive and that is what will encourage people to return year after year and keep the businesses going. Just my opinion!

 

[Pollpott]

I didn't mean to sound so negative. 99% of my time in PP, this year and the last 6 years, has been excellent. I love the place. It's just that when you have a little negative experience it sticks in your mind and tends to spoil the good times. To be fair, maybe I was over-reacting, it was just a few young louts swearing and being anti-social.
I shouldn't take it to heart so much. And I retract my statement saying I may not be going back there. I will definitely be going back there. It's just too good a place to stay away from.

 

[Sparky]

I am very glad that you will come back Pollpott the louts really are very few and far between.

 

[eleanor]

Hi Pollpott, You have confirmed what I have said! The negative is stronger than the positive.

So glad you have changed your mind and will be returning. This is what PP needs and this is what will make PP pull through these tough times.

Regards Eleanor

 

[Tonsyl]

A point, which I do not think has be raised is that the hoteliers are desperate to fill their beds and I understand that a couple of the hotel groups have "begged" the operators to put anybody in as long as they get bed occupancy and the clients spend money. There is a story going the rounds that an hotel in CSV who is operating an all inclusive deal with Thomas Cook had to get the Guardia Civil in not many weeks ago to stop fighting between English youths and I think it was Polish youths. I can't remember the police being called to CSV before for such an incident. I guess the operators and some hotel groups are not worrying who they put into the beds as long as they fill them and make some money.

 

[susiejb]

May I comment regarding the pricing of accommodation - it is unfortunate but there are many 'really nice' people like myself and my family who have been hit by the recession and are therefore unable to afford some of the extremely high prices quoted for s/c accommodation in PP.
The lowering of prices does not always mean that you attract a 'lower class' of visitor it sometimes means that 'ordinary people' like myself can still just about manage to take a holiday in the place that they love.

 

[eleanor]

Didn't mean to offend Susiejb. and I agree that perhaps my comments have been somewhat unfair. Sorry. I would consider our family to be very 'ordinary' too. I based my comments on the fact that nearly everytime we have lowered our prices we have come unstuck. i.e. place left in an awful mess for the cleaners, things broken and not replaced etc etc I even had a curtain taken from the window and a door kicked in to our private area. All this and keys not returned at the end of the rental so locks have to be changed. This all costs us money to put right and is especially upsetting generally.

Perhaps my comments are a little harsh but please try to see things from a renters point of view. These are our homes and all we ask is that this is respected. My comments were based on our own and also that of our friends experiences.

I do not put a value on a person but I do put a value PP and I feel if property and rental prices fall too much then us 'ordinary' people will be replaced by those not so ordinary in attitude.

 

[Sparky]

Susie you have made a really good point there, just because people have loads of money that doesn't mean they are better than those who are worse off.
I have witnessed rich, hoity toity people behaving disgracefully when under the influence of drink.

 

[eleanor]

Point taken and I'm sure you are right. I don't think I have been understood here. My main point was that if prices drop too much then so will standards. It is nothing to do with how much money someone has. I'm sure many who visit Magaluf have lots of money to spend. It is about encouraging like minded people to PP and respect of others.
Sorry if I have upset anyone.

 

[CathB]

we returned last night from PP..we have visited PP in July for the last 11 years..it was quieter this year (well the 2nd week was slightly busier as the Spanish holidays have also started..) We stay at La gola end of town which is quieter anyway that the pinewalk end and there was a noticible difference in the amount of people/families on their stroll down into town.Some restaurants were very quiet I noticed that the Indian restaurant (that occupied the old Montenegro ) is closed and so had the bistro opposite ,others like Can Josep,Can Ferrerer were always busy..I was really fed up with staff of the restaurant that has opened next to Bony's accosting practically everyone that went past though.friends of ours got so fed up they ended up eating there one night...big mistake though -they said it was awful
Yes there did seem to be more younger people there - we happened to be passing through the square later than usual one night and were surprised however there were not rowdy or anything (it was early for them i suppose)
I will still be going back though...(roll on October)
Pollpot...where were you on the 16th

 

[LK1960]

I arrived home from PP last night having had yet another wonderful holiday. We split our time this year between the old town and the port and whilst we were there we experienced a huge street party for the elections of the key players in La Patrona in Pollensa and the Virgin del Carmen Fiesta in the Port. The atmosphere at both was fantastic and at no time did I see any loutish or threatening behaviour. The nightly concerts in the Port were brilliant, attended by all ages, and I did not witness any trouble at all. My girls attended the beach party and had a ball, again trouble free. I remember standing as part of the huge crowd watching the fireworks and thinking how great the atmosphere was and how lovely it was that families could all socialise together at midnight on the beach without fear of 'lager louts' or 'yobs'.

On our way home from the airport last night my teenagers were hungry so we drove through a typical UK town at 11.30pm Saturday night looking for something for them to eat. It was a real jolt back down to earth and the atmosphere was horrible. Certainly these were the only drunken louts I'd seen in the last few weeks - I couldn't get home quick enough.

On holiday our party ranged in age from 4 to 48 and we all had a great time. Please don't be put off if you haven't yet had your holiday. Nothing stays the same, but as has been said PP is still in wonderful place, in my opinion.

 

[Sparky]

Agree with Cath re: Plaza Chinese next to Bonys. They don't bother with me now, finally realised i am not interested. However i have seen them practically trying to drag people in, one waiter last week was showing a man the menu and literally caught hold of his arm .

 

[Smiddy]

Trip report

First of all i woudn't worry too much about "yob culture" a wee bit of over-reaction methinks! They are stupid but not daft, they know there's nothing for them in PP, which is why they head for the youthful delights of Magaluff etc, and they always will! Yes, July/August can bring a little bit of that element but they are very rare.

There is a bit of noise in the bars around the square, but at the height of the season you tend to get that, not everybody likes tucked up in bed at midnight. I have the choice so i always avoid these months, June is the ideal time for me.

Agreed things have changed, but we really have to keep things in prespective, when i started coming 20 years ago, the Chinese restaurants were starting-up, i remember people saying exactly the same things as we're saying today. Nothing stays the same, PP is a wonderful place, name me a better one and i may consider going.

 

[susiejb]

Hi Eleanor and Sparky - thank you for the comments -I do know exactly what you mean Eleanor - I used to own thirteen holiday apartments here in Newquay so I know all there is to know about letting believe me!
No one loves PP more than me and I really do agree about keeping it slightly 'up market'. I have seen what has happened to Newquay over the last 30 years and its not good.
My only point was - please dont price yourself out of the range of 'ordinary' folk like myself. The groups of youngsters that you want to avoid are the ones who have large amounts of cash at their disposal so taking slightly lower prices will not affect them anyway. My argument is - if there is loads of accommodation standing empty surely a lower price is better than an empty apartment /villa.
When there are just two of you it would be foolish to say 'price doesn't matter' because the reality is for most people 'yes it does'.
I do wish you a successful season Eleanor - and yes PP is still absolutely 'the best' and for me - nothing changes that.