Winner of the TripAdvisor Best Family Hotel award in 2009, the Aparthotel Ferrera Blanca is one of the most popular Cala D Or hotels you will find.

Of 138 reviews at TripAdvisor, 81% rated it excellent or very good and a measly 7% rated it below average.  No less than 86% of guests would recommend this aparthotel to others.

You can stay in this completely renovated four-star holiday complex on any basis from bed & breakfast to all-inclusive, but as the evening meals here offer such good value, I recommend at least half-board.

Read on and you will find out why we selected this aparthotel for review here at Suntrap Holidays:

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is it?

Of all the Cala D Or hotels, this one must surely be in one of the most wonderful positions – no more than 100 metres

Cala Ferrera Beach

from the sandy beach of Cala Ferrera, one of the northernmost of the little bays that make up the pretty resort of Cala D’Or on the east coast of Majorca.  The complex consists of several low-rise blocks arranged amongst the gardens and with the sea and wooded landscape for a backdrop.

If you want to walk into the centre of Cala D Or itself with its many shops, restaurants and marina, it will take about 15 minutes, but there are shops and bars more locally on the main street of Cala Ferrera and many people probably never get around to going into “town”.

The aparthotel, like all Cala D Or hotels, is about 40 miles from the airport but because the roads at the eastern end of the journey are not so good it can take about 90 minutes by coach, but I would say that this is time well spent because Cala D Or and the surrounding area is so very beautiful.

You can find more information on Cala D Or here: Holidays to Majorca

What are the rooms like?

The 183 rooms and apartments here are of three types:

There are 60 double/twin rooms, 80 suites, which have a separate bedroom, and 43 apartments, which have a separate bedroom and also a kitchenette equipped with a kettle and microwave.  The suites and apartments can sleep up to four, having two single beds in the bedroom and sofa-beds in the living room.

Because all of the rooms have been refurbished since 2008, the décor and fittings are modern and to a high standard compared to other Cala D Or hotels.  Each room has air conditioning; a private bathroom with shower; a hair dryer; flat-screen satellite TV, fridge and a balcony overlooking the sea or gardens.  The room safe can be used for a small charge.

Note that the wet-room-style bathrooms with their hydro-massage showers and contemporary washbasins are impressive but don’t have a bath, so if you must have a bath, you need a different Cala D Or hotel.

What about food and drink?

All guests receive a complimentary breakfast at the Ferrera Blanca Apartments, served from 8am until 10am, so there is no need to cart breakfast cereals, bread and milk to your room. The full English here is a good one too, with (deep

Cala Dor Hotels - Ferrera Blanca Chef

breath) sausages; bacon; boiled, scrambled and fried eggs; mushrooms; beans and tomatoes.  Phew!  Oh, and look out for the smoked salmon that makes an appearance for an occasional treat!

Just when you have recovered from breakfast, lunch, for those on full-board or all-inclusive stays, is served from 1pm till 2:30pm either in the snack bar on the terrace and in the main buffet restaurant, a spacious, airy room with amazing views out over the beach.

All-inclusive guests will be able to nibble on cakes and icecreams, and quaff drinks all day long of course, but for those on half board the next meal is dinner is served from 7pm until 9:30pm.

There is a good choice of food on offer and comments such as “hot and freshly-cooked” are used by guests to describe it.  Food in the main restaurant in the evening includes pasta dishes, roasts, paella, fish dishes, vegetarian dishes and salads.

There is also a full-on Italian restaurant on-site here – something you won’t find at many Cala D Or hotels.  It’s just down from the main buffet restaurant, serving pizzas and dishes such as freshly-made cannelloni and lasagne, with waiter service in the evenings.  This is very popular,  but if you are booking for either edge of the main season get in touch with the hotel or Suntrap Holidays to check if it’s going to be open.

As you will know if you have been on holiday to the euro-zone recently, eating out is not as cheap as it was and this applies in Cala D Or as much as anywhere, which probably the main reason that so many people are turning to half-board or all-inclusive options these days.  When you get the level of quality, choice and service like you get at the Ferrera Blanca, all-inclusive is an especially attractive option.  Oh, and just because guests can help themselves to lager on tap here does not mean you have to actually lie underneath the tap for the entire evening, OK!

What’s outside?

There are no fewer than three swimming pools for adults and two for kids – and there is plenty of room, so even if a

Cala D Or Hotels - Fererra Blanca Pool

pool activity is going on in one area there is enough room to do some serious swimming in one of the other pools.  There is no shortage of sun beds here either – something often commented on by guests.  If you want a change of scenery from the pretty gardens there is a solarium terrace above the main restaurant building with yet more sun beds.

In the sizeable grounds you will also find tennis courts and a children’s playground.

What entertainment is on offer?

There’s a very full entertainment programme here, for all ages, daytime and evening.  The animation team of ten people led by Andy really seem dedicated to what they are doing.  The kids have a mini-club and mini-disco every night.  The daytime activities include football, volleyball, tennis, archery, aerobics, yoga and pilates.  In the evenings there is a warm-up session of bingo or other games, then a show by the in-house team or one of the professional acts that do the circuit of Cala D Or hotels.  Watch out for the Temptations tribute band, said to be especially good.

Is there internet access?

Yes, the complex has four areas where you can connect to WIFI free of charge – the bar, hall, main restaurant and pool

Cala D Or Hotels - Fererra Blanca Dining

bar.

What else is on offer here?

What else.. Oh yes, there is a TV room and a games room, and also a little store within the complex for odds and ends rather than the weekly shop!

What are the staff like?

The staff here are a great asset to the place – polite, helpful and friendly.  It has been said that if you smile and say hello to anyone here you will get an even bigger smile back and a cheery “hola”.  Andy and the entertainment team are very popular, but watch out for the naughty Sergio!  Sebastian and Tomi also deserve a special mention.

Who is this hotel best for?

Like most hotels in Cala d Or, the Ferrera Blanca is not a place for clubbers and party animals.  Most people who come here are families, couples and singles looking for relaxation in quiet, laid-back surroundings.

Verdict

The Aparthotel Ferrera Blanca is a winner with most of the people who stay here and I have no hesitation in recommending it to you – here at Suntrap Holidays we give it 9/10.

You can check pricing and availability on this and other hotels in Cala d Or here: Cala D Or Hotels.

Suntrap Holidays Rating: 8.5/10

Club Martha’s is a pretty, four-star aparthotel complex in a lovely resort, and is without doubt one of the most popular of all Cala d Or hotels for families.

The complex, offering self-catering, B&B, half-board or full-board stays, consists of three buildings called Es Bolero, Marthas Apartments and Ses Cases D’Or Apartments, and you will be allocated a room in one of these buildings when you book for the complex. If you come by taxi, ask for Club Marthas as the whole complex is known locally by that name.

Club Marthas was refurbished in 2008, so it’s important when looking at reviews to remember that any before this date are pre-refurb and essentially worthless now.

Cala D Or Hotels Club Marthas Pool

On Trip Advisor, 69% rated it excellent or very good, and 18% rated it less than average, but if we look at the past 12 months, after the refit, of 25 reviewers, 76% rated it excellent or very good and just 12% rated it less than average. So, the newer reviews are great and in fact of these last 25 reviews, 80% would recommend Marthas to a friend, which is excellent.

Club Martha’s is, more than anything, a great place for families and in no way suited to the boozing all-night-party crowd, as you will see from this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is it?

The Cala d Or hotels are either north or south of the inlet that forms the marina in the centre of this resort; Club Marthas Complex is one of those lying to the south of the marina in an area known as Cala Egos. It is a short 300 metres to the nearest of Cala D Or’s little coves, and you can walk to the centre of Cala Egos, where there are a few bars and restaurants, in a couple of minutes. The resort centre of Cala D Or with its good selection of shops, bars and restaurants is a quiet 25-minute walk away, around the marina, but many people seem to be more than happy with what Cala Egos has to offer in the evenings.

Although the journey from the airport is only about 40 miles or so, it can take about 90 minutes because the roads get progressively smaller as you get further from the airport. In my opinion the resort is well worth the transfer time.

What about food and drink?

The Natalie snack-bar and restaurant is open right through from 9am until 10pm, and offers snacks to eat in or take away. There is a large lounge here too, with satellite TV.

Unusually for Cala D Or hotels, Marthas has its own pizzeria on site – a genuine Italian job with dough flying overhead and all that – massive pizzas for about five euros. You can munch your way through it in the restaurant or on the outdoor terrace, or you can take it away to eat in your apartment.

The weirdly-named Moogie Terrace is a large outdoor bar and entertainment area with loads of chairs and tables, and it’s here that you can sip your fave cocktails while you watch the hotel entertainment under the stars. Aaaahh…

For those on half- or full-board the main buffet restaurant offers a selection of hot and cold dishes, salads and pastries, and attracts some good comments from customers, but to be quite honest it looks as if a lot of people who come here go self-catering and use the pizzeria and snack bar, maybe eating out at night in Cala Egos or paying for the hotel evening buffet as they want it. You can even get your full English breakfast just down the road in Cala Egos if you fancy it.

How do the rooms compare to other Cala D Or hotels?

Being refurbished in 2008, the rooms have a fresh feel and are light and airy, helped by the fact that the buildings are arranged so that the rooms are south-facing.

There are apartments, with a separate double bedroom and sofa beds in the living area, and also smaller studios which don’t have the separate bedroom. All rooms have a kitchenette equipped with electric hob, fridge and microwave; a private bathroom; a private balcony; phone; TV with satellite channels (for a small charge); and air conditioning which is free here. You can also pay to use the optional safe in the room, and you can hire a kettle and toaster from reception, which some reviewers thought should be included in the price and I agree – about the kettle at least.

What entertainment is laid on here?

Of all Cala D Or hotels, Marthas complex has to be one of the best when it comes to entertainment for all the family – the team here is dedicated and buzzing with energy – they really work hard and it shows. The day and evening entertainment programme here is truly impressive, even more so when you think that the guests here are not all

Cala D Or Hotels Club Marthas Outside

English; the entertainment team has to speak in several languages so that everyone get some attention.

Kids up to age 12 can take part in activities offered by the “Molly Club” – archery lessons; water games; aerobics; a mini disco; cabaret and fancy dress; tee shirt painting (!) and that’s just the kids. For the teens and adults there is five-a-side; basketball; water polo; table tennis.

In the evening there are the shows – including real favourites like “A Night at the Movies”. There is also a professional DJ to mash up those toons. Rock and roll.

What’s outside?

There are three sizeable pool here, set in pretty gardens and terraces equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas. There is also a children’s pool. Activities take place in one of the pools, so if you want some peace and quiet, head for one of the other two quieter pools.

Are the staff friendly?

The staff at Club Marthas are a real hit with most people who come here – polite, friendly and always willing to stop and chat. It’s a real delight for me as a reviewer to be able to type that – not all hotels in Cala D Or or anywhere else for that matter attract so many good comments about the staff.

Is there Internet access?

Yes, but only in a kiosk in the public area, not in the rooms. Oh, and in case you were thinking of downloading a copy of “War and Peace”, be aware that one reviewer describes the internet connection speed as “bordering on the criminal”! Oh well, at least they have a connection, unlike some Cala D Or hotels..

What other facilities are on offer?

In April, May and October, to compensate for the slightly cooler weather the hotel opens up the heated indoor swimming pool. The hotel can arrange rental of all manner of little extras such as pushchairs; motorbikes; cars – and fans (presumably of the cooling rather than the groupie kind).

Rather enterprisingly the complex does a nifty line in merchandise so that you can show everyone back home where you have been – baseball caps; tee shirts and even rucksacks are on offer!

Verdict

Club Marthas is a great family-focused complex in the pretty resort of Cala D Or. If you have kids, they will love it here. As for marks out of ten, I knocked something off because they charge for kettle hire, but that’s a minor niggle, and overall I give Club Martha’s a well-deserved 8.5/10.

You can find some great deals and check live availability on Martha’s and other hotels in Cala D Or here: Cala d Or Hotels