"This is the best day of my life."
Strong words from my four-year-old, considering we'd been at Iberostar Selection Albufera Park for approximately 20 minutes.
As I'm handed a glass of cava at check-in, she clocks the bright yellow slide snaking through reception. Beyond that? An ice cream parlour, splash park and enough swimming pools to make her little head spin. She was sold. And frankly, it didn't take much longer for me to get on board too.
The hotel sits on Playa de Muro, one of Mallorca's most beautiful stretches of beach, and offers something surprisingly rare: a family resort that manages to keep both children and adults genuinely happy. Better still, prices drop dramatically outside the summer holidays, making it a particularly appealing option for October half-term.
Part of the appeal is that you're effectively getting two hotels in one. Guests at Albufera Park can also use the facilities at neighbouring sister property Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa, meaning even more restaurants, bars, pools and places to escape when you've reached your daily quota of "Mummy, watch this!" In fact, there are seven pools to choose from – so you’ll always find a sunlounger. It’s a clever set-up.
I pulled back the curtain to our balcony and was greeted by a vista of pools, palm trees and the sea beyond. It felt a little like Disneyland for holiday-loving four-year-olds, but crucially, without the queues.
For every high-energy kids' attraction, there's a grown-up counterpart. Case in point: the rooftop pool overlooking Playa de Muro. After Siena had raced between the slides below, I found myself stretched out on a lounger with uninterrupted sea views. At one point, a member of staff appeared offering complimentary ice lollies. Once again, we were both very happy.
As someone who usually gravitates towards boutique hotels, a sprawling all-inclusive with multiple pools and restaurants wouldn't normally have been on my radar. But seeing her so delighted at every turn – and having the chance to spend uninterrupted one-on-one time together – quickly won me over. There was simply so much to do.
We'd start the day by dropping Siena at Star Camp, the resort's complimentary kids' club, where she'd throw herself into arts and crafts while I escaped for a massage. We'd reunite for lunch at the beachfront BBQ buffet, Tamarindos, piling our plates high with grilled prawns and rare steak (me) and stone-baked pizza and pesto pasta (her), before heading to the beach, where she busied herself making me sand "ice creams" while I attempted to read a page of my book. Afternoons were spent alternating between pools, with a pit stop at the spa so she could have her nails painted every colour of the rainbow – an experience that made her feel a million dollars.
Evenings followed a similarly child-led rhythm. A quick fashion show back in the room, dinner at one of the speciality restaurants – Martinete, the Spanish restaurant, became a firm favourite for jamón, while the Mexican restaurant Nopal served excellent margaritas for me and orange juice with a matching salty rim for her – before settling in for the nightly entertainment.
In the most serendipitous timing, one evening’s show centred around her favourite film, Frozen. Watching Siena meet ‘Elsa’ provided the proverbial cherry on top of the cake for us both.
I was genuinely impressed by the all-inclusive offering too. With 10 restaurants and bars to choose from – including a 24-hour café for inevitable "I'm hungry" emergencies – everything felt refreshingly straightforward. No irritating supplementary menus. No surprise cocktail surcharges. No signing bills. Just properly all-inclusive. There was even a little vermouth bar tucked into the Spanish restaurant.
And while there are extensive buffets – where they’ll even puree food for little ones – it's a long way from the tired all-inclusive stereotype. While I attempted some degree of balance, Siena's morning selection – jamón, cheese, waffles and chocolate sauce – suggested she was embracing holiday mode rather enthusiastically. In fact, she told me she didn’t want to come home because “they have much more better food here.” I couldn’t take offence, she was right.
By the time our final evening rolled around, we were both exhausted in the best possible way. Even bedtimes were easy, thanks to the novelty of sleeping in a bunk bed.
As I lay in bed listening to Siena tell me she loved me "to the moon and back and all the stars and all the countries", it struck me that the resort had delivered exactly what every family holiday promises but doesn't always achieve: we'd both had a brilliant time.
Happy kid, happy holiday.
To book, visit: iberostar-selection-albufera-park
Prices at the hotel start from £220pn.
During the summer holidays, a seven-night stay for four people (two adults, two children) at Iberostar Selection Albufera Park is £1,032pp (total £4,129) for a premium family room on an all-inclusive package.
For October half-term, a seven-night stay for four people (two adults, two children) at Iberostar Selection Albufera Park is £612pp (total £2,448) for a garden view premium room on an all-inclusive package.
