FERGUS Club Carema Splash — Hotel in es Mercadal

Great food. Most suited to young families, kids up to about 10.

More info: in the club side rooms in H, K and L are furthest from the pool. This can be good (for young kids/sleep) but more steps or distance. But only 4/5 mins walk.

If you eat in the evening at 7pm then you may have evening bugs (but notably no wasps). Spanish seemed to eat, including toddlers, after 9pm.

The buffet is very good, large selection. Pizzas are amazing for kids and the unadventurous, but they also had plenty of langustines, mussels etc depending on day. Always great range. Personally, I recommend not going full board because eating a full lunch after a massive breakfast, and with massive dinner on top will leave you feeling truly I'll, it's too much :).

The splash park is geared for kids up to about 8 years old. The slides look great but aren't huge. Plan a trip to the splash park in the far southeast of the island to get your water fun. We hired a car for 3 days for such trips; I think it's worth it to not remain entirely isolated all holiday; it's a remote resort. We hired using 'Ownerscars' which has an outlet in the hotel itself and a negotiated hotel rate I cluding collision damage waiver cover. We hired a big 9-person (Peogeot Traveller) for 345 euro for 3 days. It was the best deal I could find.

The apartments have stoves and microwaves but no oven. But do you really want to cook?

Buffet has posh teas but no Tetley ir PG tips; bring your own. For sone reason their coffee machines are out of action for evening meals.

People do 'reserve' sunbeds although the signs say it's disallowed. However, if you don't see a bed returned to it's ok to kindof take it over (we did, no complaints).

The evening entertainment is young-child-friendly. Our 12 yr old enjoyed the laid on daytime sports but most kids were much younger than him; taking 13+ year olds I fear they'd get bored.

WIFI. The rooms WIFI is poor. It has great coverage but is shared and often we got no internet access. The web screen says they are licensed for 200 connections only,, which they are clearly hitting very often. If you get stuck you can go to reception and they'll log you into their own local wifi there.

The hotel offers s 'cinrma room' but we never saw any movies, and couldn't find a remote or any films. I think it's setup for the kids clubs (largely French children) to use.

Their entertainment logo is "Let's Fun". It made me chuckle but top marks for effort. Better than my Spanish :)

The pool doesn't allow inflatibles (the shallow paddling pool does). Think carefully before packing it buying that inflatibles ice-cream Lilo.

The nearby beach has a lifeguard station right there! Look for the white flag with s picture of a Jellyfish. We know that now, following two small sting incidents. Note that the South coast has, apparently, fewer Jellies.

The staff are all great and enthusiastic (the chefs take real pride n their food. There's do much variety that it makes me wonder if some is brought in from sone central central prep kitchen). Don't plsnon serious sports competition though. It's lightweight and fun. E.h. killer pool guy didn't know any Pool rules and it's just about keeping the kids entertained really.

It has a small laundrette. 3 euro plus cost of detergent for a wash cycle (do it yourself). Handy to know if you prefer not having to pack fresh clothes for a whole family for 10 days plus.

With TravelRepublic booking we somehow got private transfers to/from the airport which was nice.

At the hotel I asked how much to upgrade from our half board to full board (unlimited drinks all day):. 25/12 Euro (adult/child). Not worth it for us. Note that whilst they have 2 bars they only do the drinks deal at the pool bar, leading to queues there, especially in the eve. (Is it a limiting tactic? Haha)

Kids loved the twice-weekly pool party (music and jping into the pool at night for about 90 minutes). Ok I loved it too I admit, but I did usually have a skinful of 'free' beer (only Amstel) or wine...

I went in August 2023 with my family including a 2yo and 5yo. Our room was basic and small, and although we had booked for self catering the kitchenette facilities are very basic with no oven. There is only 1 supermarket in walking distance which is very expensive. ||However, the main facilities, site and pool were ok, and the beach nearby is great. My main issue was with the site management and lack of staff available for emergencies, and then reaction from the hotel upon making a complaint. ||Whilst staying at the hotel we purchased additional tickets for 3 days entrance into the on site water park. This is part of the hotel facility and the lifeguards move between the splash park and the main pool. I.e. there is a shared staffing and it is free flow between the 2 areas, though they are about 50m away from each other. ||My children (aged 2 and 5) enjoyed playing in the small splash and slide area, although it is clearly very dated with sections cordoned off with tape and cushions fixed onto sharp edges. ||Separate to the main splash area there are 3 large water slides. There is a lifeguard positioned at the top and on a number of occasions he is the only lifeguard in the entire water park. When I rode the slide the inflatable ring flipped over and I flew out head first hitting the top left hand side of my head on the side of the slide and I couldn't stand up. ||Two women ran over to ask if I was ok as they had seen me fall. I said I wasn't ok and couldn't stand up. My hands were shaking. Before I knew it a child flew into my back on their ring and climbed over me to get out. One of the women that was helping me shouted up to the lifeguard to stop sending people down and to help but he didn't do anything. The lifeguard at the top was sending people down the slide and that seemed to be his priority. ||The woman that had helped me said the other lifeguard had been taking a 'break' in the toilets and that's why he had not been present. There were times at the main pool when there were no lifeguards present for over an hour. ||Some of the lifeguards seemed to be more responsive to people and I believe part of the problem is understaffing by the hotel. There does not appear to be any cover available for breaks and I often saw the lifeguards bring food from the buffet to eat their lunch while on duty.||When I raised my concerns with the hotel they said that they could not see why I had a problem because there was a lifeguard at the top of the slide. When I said that he didn't do anything to help they just repeated the same response. They denied that the main pool was ever without a lifeguard present, even when we saw this every day. ||It's quite clear from the photos attached that the lifeguard at the top of the slide cannot see the bottom of the slide so there is no way they can know that the last person has exited safely. ||We booked through Jet 2 and this hotel is included as a 'Family Favourite'. It is absolutory not suitable or safe for families or anyone. Do not book if you want a relaxing break where you...

My family of 5 came to Carema club on 28th July for a week. We had a one bedroom apartment which had been recently renovated, it was small but functional and clean. It has aircon which was great kept the whole apartment cool. The kitchen was well stocked with cooking utensils, washing liquid, a sponge and cloth, a hob and a microwave but no oven. Bathroom has a hairdryer and shower gel/shampoo. €20 for a safe for the week. Travel cot was provided and looked clean and safe for baby. ||The area is remote, it felt very safe and is very quiet. There is one shop and a couple of restaurants/bars up the hill. The beach is right next to the hotel and faces the sunset which is lovely. There is a bus stop outside the hotel, we went to Arenal den Castell one day and found the buses straight forward to navigate. One big downside for us was that the area is extremely hilly, which we did know before we booked but is a different kettle of fish when it actually comes to trekking up it numerous times a day with 3 kids. The apartments are all on a hill and there aren't as many ramps as perhaps there could be, it felt like a bit of a mission finding which ways we could actually access with the pram. I wouldn't consider the hotel accessible at all. ||We were half board, there good range of choice at both breakfast and dinner. There were themed nights like mexican and sushi but there were still other options available. Kids options and a fantastic pizzeria available every evening. Breakfast starts at 8, dinner starts at 7. The biggest bugbear for me was the flies! They are everywhere which isn't the hotels fault, but not enough was done in the buffet to deter them. There are 2 electric fly lamps which is absolutely not enough, flies were crawling all over the food.||All the staff are helpful and friendly from the cleaners to waiters to entertainers. The entertainment felt geared towards Spanish people (not a complaint just an observation) there was a kids club available but I didn't feel comfortable sending my child as I don't think he could have made himself understood. The kids disco was really good, all Spanish songs and my sons enjoyed copying the dance moves. There is a pool table and air hockey table. The pool area is great. The pool is not too deep and there is a kids pool available. There is artificial grass around the pool which felt safer than slippy tiles. The pool toilets were disgusting and definitely need cleaned more often. The splash park was great. Don't bother buying an inflatable for the pool as you're not allowed them. The pool towels are €10 deposit each and non refundable €2 each if you want clean ones. There is a laundrette €3 each for washing machine and drier. There is one shop beside the hotel, it is quite expensive but pack your own nappies as they were extortionate at €20 for a 24 pack!||Overall a lovely quiet family holiday, would go again when the kids are...