Just back - general report

[Gommar Goffer]

For my pennyworth - re reducing property rental prices. What many people, I believe, do not appreciate are the running costs of an apartment/villa. It is not just the electricity. You have all the ancillary costs and taxes, maintenance and repairs, cleaning/laundry costs, which do not come down, and can very quickly escalate - when we used to rent ours out we would often loose money on arenatl due to eccessive cleaning costs which can run into hundreds of euros for a 2 week rental.

GG

 

[Puerto Bello]

We've had a look at all of the comments and having been regulars to PP over the last 19 years, we've just been pricing flights from Newcastle, (we're in Edinburgh but it's less than half the price of flying from Newcastle as our school finshes late June) for next year. Aside from PP being a tremedous town, as soon as we arrive we know what we're doing, where to go and the places we like, this is a tremendous asset as a new resort normally takes 48 hours to familiarise ourselves with and there's potentially a lot of nights eating in restaurants that don't live up to what they purport to be.
We always feel sorry for youths that end up in the resort as it's not the sort of place that suits what they want to do, we're early forties and remember going to Magaluf etc when we were younger and would have been bittelry disappointed ending up in PP. That's probably why they get a bit frustrated.
Our kids are 11 and 7, PP is their favourite place to go, we are fairly boring as we don't go to any other towns or water parks, they're perfectly happy on the beach and in the sea, which makes it relaxing for us.
The last 2 years we've booked the same apt. via the PP site, it's 5 mins from the Pine Walk/beach, near the middle of town and suits us perfectly. Even although times are tough and we don't know what the next 12 months will bring, our intention is to book for 2010 fairly soon. We'll be going back to the same restaurants and bars, renewing friendships and relaxing as we've always done. Roll on next June.

 

[CathB]

further to my earlier post...i didnt see or hear any rowdy behaviour .We have made many friends over the years that holiday for the same 2 weeks-this year the son of one of our friends was on hols the same time in Magaluf -they has such a bad time with one thing and another that some of his friends went home after a week and he came "home" to PP for the remainder of his holiday...that says something about PP

 

[Smiddy]

Trip Report

It would also be unfair to say PP does not have much to offer the younger set. My daughter and her friends (17/18) have a absolute ball when they go, providing they (every youngster) behave themselves there is plenty of slack in PP for them.

Must endorse GG's tuppence worth re renting costs, it works both ways, owners have had a huge increase in running costs this year due to the R/E and other rises, apts with A/C also incur big bills. By all means shop around and haggle, but if the owners do their sums properly there does become a level when it's just not worth it.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

My son and two friends, all aged 19, recently spent a week in our apartment.

what sort of time did they have? Their response was "awesome, wicked". They used public transport to get around visiting Palma and Magaluf for some night life.

What did our retired neighbour think - what lovely boys! Not all are out to be hooligans, although sadly there will always be some who disgrace themselves.

GG

 

[Wacker2611]

I agree, I've been visiting this site with interest for donkeys years now and a common theme has been how much PP is changing/has changed and always for the worse. Admittedly we've only been coming to PP since 2003 but to us, it remains basically the same. Crap restaurants come and go, bars change hands, one year the Square looks a picture, the next it looks a bit run down etc etc.I doubt PP will ever really change as long as the Council dont allow over development. Yes some of the pavement could do with sorting out and perhaps overall the place could do with a bit of money spending on it (no new development though) but it remains one of the nicest resorts you could ever wish for. In fact, each year we vow not to go back but once we've been we end up booking for next year! I dont think I've ever seen ANY loutish behaviour, but there again we always go in June.

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.

 

[slipalong & lola]

standards

Hi SusieJB, good point well made. We had to struggle against the recession this year to honour the booking we made last year. As for yobs, in 9 years never seen or heard any and lets not forget the recession affects them as well so maybe things will stay just as they always have been. P.S.Sorry we missed you this year be back there agin end May for June so perhaps catch you then. cheers Slipalong & Lola

 

[susiejb]

Thanks for your comments Slipalong and Lola - I hope we get to meet one day.

 

[Treoesman]

I went with my family to Pollenca for two weeks and returned to the UK on 25th July. We have been visiting Pollenca for many years and we think that it has retained its beauty and peaceful image. we didn't see or hear any loutish behaviour and it would appear that we were there whilst PollPott was there. We had a fantatstic holiday and hardly left Puerto Pollenca during our two week stay. We try to hire good quality apartments/villas and are prepared to pay for good accomodation. However we were disappointed this year to find our rental property which was hired as a result of an enquiry on this website was dirty and very tired. I did take up the matter with the rental agents but they were clearly not interested in resolving problems ie faulty aircon unit reported when we arrived and not repaired during the two weeks, very frustrating when you pay extra for aircon. Next year we will go back to booking via recommendation or with agents that we trust. Overall though a great holiday in what remains a fantastic and very special place.

 

[sunny]

agree with everything Puerto Bello says, we've only been going to PP for last seven years so relative newbies! our kids are 12 and 10 but can't imagine anywhere better to take them or them wanting to go. It has changed a bit but so does every where if you think about it. It is good tho knowing when you arrive you don't have to worry about what you are letting yourself in for. Granted a few bars are different but would be sad if we were all the same. The locals are what make it for us, and have made some good when on holiday.

PUERTO BELLO do you know flights are on sale now for June from Newcastle, hope July ones are soon so we can get good prices

 

[Smiddy]

Trip report

I know, i know,we're getting a bit off track on this thread, but was just reading a letter on the MDN (on this site) someone havind a right good go at PP about the cost of things and the locals "laughing" at the tourists as they rip them off. Also complaining about the cost of various trips (what's that got to do with PP) Talk about drama queens?? What world do these people live in? Nobody is happy about the cost of a holiday these days, but if anybody feels the're getting "ripped off" they've only themselves to blame for letting it happen. Shop around, if your unhappy about getting charged 4 euros for a pint of beer, then go to, say, the Hotel Paris, were you'll get one for 1.5/2 Euros. there's plenty of places giving good deals.

I suppose i could have taken my holidays at home this year (Scotland) but speaking to a friend who was charged £160 A NIGHT for a fancy B&B, i'm glad i chose "rip-off" PP.

 

[eleanor]

Hi Treoesman, What a shame that you were let down by your rental agents. Most owners take special care to ensure that their property is up to spec for their renters. I have ensured that my villa is a home from home. We rent directly though this site to enable us to speak with the renters and hopefully build a relationship with them. This is good for both sides. If there is a problem then we have excellent people on hand in PP who we pay to look after the villa and deal with any problems asap. I think this probably is the case for most owners who advertise on this site. We bought in PP as we love the place and as such love our properties too and take care of them.
I think you have been very unlucky this year. Glad you had a wonderful time though - it is hard not to, isn't it? Best of luck for next year. My advise would be to take a look at this site and get to know the owners through personal contact then make a decision about booking. Most owners would welcome this approach.

 

[Puerto Bello]

Hi Sunny,

WE were having a look at them at the weekend. We're going to have a look on the 1st August and see if the return flights are on, if so we'll more than likely book them and they should be about £500, less than half from Edinburgh. The only downside is that next year, for the date we want, they're incredibly early in the morning. Having said that we'll be in PP for lunchtime and can have a siesta in the afternoon, although the kids will be wanting to go to the beach.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

Smiddy - all I can say is "good ridance"

GG

 

[Oscar III]

Hi all
Just a snippet that might be relevant to this thread ....

A few friends of mine booked a cheap week deal to Mallorca, so cheap it was a designated resort and hotel on arrival basis, i.e they knew they were going to Mallorca but did not know anymore until arriving at Palma airport meeting a rep who gave them the info they were on coach number (x) going to resort (x) and staying BB in hotel (x).

They ended up in P Pollensa and had a good time with good accommodation. They are in their late 30's enjoy a drink but sensible with it not your rowdy type.
My point being allocation on arrival is like a lottery and if a group of younger rowdy late teen early 20's lads 9or lasses) had been in that position they obviously end up on the streets of Pollensa.
I think the current financial climate probably has a lot to do with things. I visited another fav of mine (NERJA) on the Costa Del Sol a few weeks ago and I see a change in the type of clientel visiting that resort, as an example some yobish behaviour by a group of SPURS fans, well, I assume Spurs fans as one guy walking around singing clinging to his pint glass had SPURS tattooed across the base of his spine, that was just one example of a number.

I usually alternate trips between PP & Nerja, although I have not visited PP for 3 years and will be my next trip so I hope it has not changed too much.

 

[Smiddy]

Oscar, No it has not changed much, i was there for 3 weeks in June and did not see any football shirts.

P.s: If i were a Spurs fan, doubt if i'd be singing about it!!!

 

[Oscar III]

Don't get me wrong, I am all in favour of people having a good time and I have nothing against people with tattoo's, have one upper arm covered myself, but the reason I visit PP is to get away from life for a while, chill-out as my son would call it and enjoy that unique atmosphere you only find in PP and to a degree Nerja and really dont want to see Football shirts and topless men showing their tatted chest at 9 in the evening.

 

[CathB]

Oscar III - another Nerja fan...i first went there in the mid 70's (when there was nothing there and you had to walk along a deserted clifftop to get to Burriana beach and Torrecilla beach was also empty)..again in the 80's and then in the 90's (when my daughter was small.)..it was my first love but PP is now my current.It is surprising how may people you speak to who love PP have also been to Nerja......

 

[Oscar III]

Yeah Cath, Nerja is kinda similar to PP in a way, I suppose it's because it is not crammed with Brit theme pubs and has a more up market feel by retaining it's Spanish pueblo qualities.

Funny thing I noticed the other week (or not so funny as I don't like to see anyone fail financially) in Nerja was a British bar empty and two more traditional tapas bars either side full of people sitting outside relaxing. I find the 'Rusty Nail' and 'British Bulldog' type of pub offensive on the eye in both resorts.
That reminds me, is the Burger King hamburger joint still there in PP? When I see that place appear a few year ago I was gobsmacked and thought it was a disturbing sign of things to come in PP .

That's one thing I have not seen in Nerja but it wont suprise me to return in a few years to see a Macdonalds on the Balcon de Europe.

Anyway, looking forward to returning to PP very soon.

 

[whaleywanderer]

That reminds me, is the Burger King hamburger joint still there in PP? When I see that place appear a few year ago I was gobsmacked and thought it was a disturbing sign of things to come in PP .

That's one thing I have not seen in Nerja but it wont suprise me to return in a few years to see a Macdonalds on the Balcon de Europe.

Anyway, looking forward to returning to PP very soon.

Yes Oscar, Burger King is still there, but does not seem to attract rowdyism or yobish behaviour, don't forget PP is a family resort and rightly or wrongly most children love burgers.