puerto pollensa help anyone???

[chosenone]

After many recommendations and research this seems the resort for us. We have 2 DC 7 and 5 who love basic pools, mini discos and crap entertainment, and the beach. We want the holiday as affordable as we can so we're torn between half board and self catering. Is eating out similar or more expensive than here? what about stocking up at the supermarket? Ice creams when we're out and about? Any tips gratefully recieved and if anyone knows the accomodation we're looking at is between Valentin Puerto Azul- Half board (more expensive option) and the Oro Playa aparthotel - self catering (cheaper option) both review well on trip advisor but the top one sounds cleaner and less tired.

I think it will be cheaper to self cater for breakfast and possibly lunch some days, and eat out in the evening. The price of eating out is probably similar to UK. You can reduce costs by having the odd 'cheap' meal (pizza or something you can share.) Consider specials and any fixed price menus. Local beers or carafe of house wine is cheaper than imported or a bottle of wine in restaurants. Portions are often so big that a starter and main or main and pud are enough. Instead of eating ice-cream as a pud in the restaurant, buy from a shop afterwards. Buying water and soft drinks (big bottles to dispense into beakers or sport bottles) is always cheaper in the supermarkets for drinking around the pool or on the beach, than buying from a pool bar. I know there are often rules that drinks by the pool must be bought from the pool bar, but really the cost would be ridiculous, so just be discreet.

Half board can be variable in quality and choice, but if a buffet it's probably better for picky eaters because there should be something they will eat. However it means no eating out in the evening, will this bother you? I presume there is a fridge in the room of the Valentin, otherwise you'll have to buy things from the pool bar for lunch, and buy daily supplies of food when on the beach, and you could end up paying more in the long run.

The hire of sunbeds and parasol on the beach is expensive daily, it is probably cheaper to buy a parasol there and leave it, and a couple of lilos.

I haven't stayed at either of the hotels you mention, as we tend to go B&B but there are bound to be some others along soon who have and will share their money saving tips as well.

i would opt for HB as Puerto Pollensa is very expensive to eat out in for every meal, we found a basic meal in the evening cost £100 for the 3 of us. Unless you're willing to spend holiday time cooking?

We have stayed at Puerto Pollensa for the past 2 summers (self catering). We have similar age DC's to yours. It is comparable to UK prices, however we found we just did a big shop in the supermarket (for essentials). We had breakfast at the villa, lunch was a sandwich on the beach and ate out most nights but had set menu's or the kids shared a portion then had ice cream as a pud whilst walking along the beach afterwards. We ate in a couple of times and it was a relief to make sure the kids were eating their veg (the never-ending choice of pizza, chicken nuggets, sausages etc all with chips in the restaurants can get a bit tedious). Check out when the market is on and stock up on fresh fruit & veg. A large part of my holiday enjoyment is spent eating out on the pavement restaurants and I personally would hate to visit the same buffet every night!

Thanks everyone. Have booked Valentin, will see how we get on, really looking forward to the break and think once we've been we can see how expensive it is for next time.

i stayed at the Vaelntin and my kids loved it! They were 3 and 5 at the time and it was fab! They still talk about it now despite some great holidays since (they refer to it as the Thomson the dog holiday )