ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT REVIEWS DESTINATIONS TRIED BH M allorca, M agaluf TESTED Craig David and Tinie Tempah on stage while Love Island & stars bask in the pool? Only in Magaluf, reports Rose Dykins t 7am, I’m awoken by The glitter cannons. The up as DJ and MC, and it feels like Tuesday and Thursday between Asomeone repeatedly moshing. The on-site arena 1999 all over again. June 15 and August 24. AllForget everything you thought younew knew hollering ‘Scotland!’ outside packed with thousands of “The calibre of performers about all-inclusives. Travel Weekly tests my window. The night before is bronzed, excitable party animals. ◗ PARTY ANIMALS has to be pretty consistent as a bit of a blur, but I look down Tinie Tempah screaming “Make BH Mallorca hotel appeals to we are building the Stage brand three resorts making the concept cool again and see the laminated orange some Noiiise!” into his mic. The clients who want the Magaluf as best-in-class for live music,” band around my wrist, with crowd roaring in response. And party experience, but are also says Kathryn Sayburn, managing ‘BH Mallorca’ printed on it, all within the vicinity of the hotel. tempted by an overseas festival director of Cursach Hotels, BH and remember. By the afternoon, it’s pool or an Ibiza trip. This summer Mallorca’s parent company. party time at BH Mallorca, where saw acts including Chase and These performances are Alex and Olivia from Love Island Status, David Guetta, DJ Tiesto offered as part of an all-inclusive pose for photos and pour shots and Steve Aoki on stage every package, with accommodation, into fans’ mouths. And the next food and drink, access to the evening, back on stage, Craig on-site waterpark and four David brings the house down weekly pool parties, and return with his treacly voice, doubling You feel like you’re flights thrown in, though non- residents can pay €30-€50 to going to a concert access the performances. or a festival – and you don’t even have ◗ MUSIC MATTERS to leave your hotel “I think it's fantastic,” says Jessica Greaves from Hays Travel. “If I turn around to my customer Y photograph mcgrath conor PICTURE: 40 travelweekly.co.uk 9 November 2017 9 November 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 41 DESTINATIONS ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT REVIEWS and say ‘by the way, included in your and three giant Jacuzzis. We created in the season. Finding a sunbed price, you get to see Tinie Tempah, Island Beach Club – home of legendary around one of its three pools isn’t too Craig David, and Alex and Olivia from MOre pool parties – and launched Stage, difficult, though queues at the bar are Love Island at the pool party’, it’s a MALLORCA Mallorca’s largest open-air music venue. rather lengthy. massive selling point. “We understand young people The pool parties are well-managed “You feel like you’re going to a want an experience when they travel, and feel relaxed rather than raucous; concert or a festival – and you don’t DIVE IN so we listened to their feedback and the glamorous dancers and inflatables even have to leave your hotel. You can Go scuba diving launched a ‘Disneyland’ for young to play with go down well. finish for the night and crawl back to in Puerto Pollensa people. It’s fun to stay here and your room, if you want to.” or windsurfing definitely fun to work here!” ◗ ADDED EXTRAS Tina Sweeney, of Independent and jetskiing in Hiring a pool party cabana for four Travel Experts, says: “You can see Puerto Calanova. ◗ THE LOWDOWN people costs €160, and gets you the why it appeals to the younger crowd The hotel’s refreshed rooms are simple same amount of credit at the bar. Fans who are into music, and I imagine it SIGHTSEE and functional, with a decent amount of Towie, Love Island and Geordie Shore appeals quite heavily to stag and hen Wander through of space; they can comfortably will enjoy the celebrity meet-and-greets dos as well. I think I could sell it to a the streets of accommodate four people sharing, that take place at each pool party. younger client. I personally wouldn’t Calvia, Deia with two in the bedroom and two in As for stage performances, there’s recommend it to couples, though, and Arta. the lounge. They have balconies with an elevated VIP area close to the main definitely singles.” seating, funky artwork on the walls, stage – access is €250 for four people, Targeted at 18 to 26-year-olds, waTCH tiled floors, mini fridges and full-length with a premium bottle of Grey Goose BH Mallorca keeps its clientele firmly Ahoy, me hearties! mirrors with ‘You Look Great!’ and the and mixers thrown in. Or, for clients in mind. “We launched BH Mallorca Watch the hotel’s social media tags at the top. who really want a front-row seat, in 2015, following a €15 million Pirates Adventure Rooms are serviced daily, and Stage-view apartments can be booked refurbishment,” says Sayburn. dinner show despite the antics throughout the for a supplement, allowing guests “We renovated 656 apartments, for world-class night, its public areas are hosed down to wander from their room to their converting them into fresh, modern acrobatics, dance and spotless by breakfast time. The balcony, look out over the crowd and suites with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and comedy. buffet has a great selection of food, enjoy the music from above. walk-in showers and flatscreen TVs with plenty of healthy options, a range Book it: All-inclusive rates start at €57 a with UK channels. of soft drinks, and San Miguel on tap. night. BH Mallorca can be packaged up “On-site, we built the world’s first Some nights are themed to focus on through operators including Thomas 18-plus water park, complete with Italian, Arabian or Mexican food. Cook, Jet2holidays and Expedia. high-adrenaline slides, a wave pool The hotel feels pretty full even early bhmallorca.com selFie CONTROL: Love Island winners Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies at BH Mallorca Y photograph vista ambient PICTURE: 42 travelweekly.co.uk 9 November 2017 ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT REVIEWS DESTINATIONS H ard Rock H otel TRIED Riviera M aya, M exico TESTED & Skiing? In the Caribbean? Kelly Ranson finds plenty of reasons to get off the sunlounger at this sporty resort taying at the Hard Rock Hotel If you have a client who is too much to do, so Woodward’s Packed with ramps and jumps SRiviera Maya, it’s a given more into adrenaline-seeking indoor space is ideal for families galore, the lifestyle sports brand to live like a rock star, but now than sunbed-lounging, but still twiddling their thumbs when the has built an impressive facility guests can amplify their skills loves the lure of an all-inclusive sun doesn’t come out to play. with indoor skateboarding, BMX and add ‘skateboard legend’ or and Mexico’s sandy shores, then biking, dry-land snowboarding ‘BMX prodigy’ to the holiday mix. you’re in luck. and skiing all available for guests The 1,264-room music to try out. Snowboarding while memorabilia hotel is renowned ◗ SPORTING CHANCE it’s 30C outside? Why not! for offering the ultimate in all- The gigantic Woodward sports And the centre has been inclusive holidays, so it seems the centre, which has just opened at There’s trampolining put through its paces by perfect fit to open an activity- the resort, is a magnet for active and cheer sessions, skateboarding hero Tony Hawk, laden sports centre at the resort. kids of all ages – and they don’t who was on hand to show his It’s a totally new experience in even need to be a pro on wheels and you can launch skills at Woodward’s grand Mexico and the Caribbean, and a to take part. yourself into a foam opening last month. million miles from the stereotype It is downright genius too; pit like a superhero There’s also trampolining, of lazing by the pool or propping let’s face it, on a rainy day in cheer sessions, parkour (free up the bar for two weeks solid. the Caribbean there really isn’t running) space and you can MEXICO: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya 9 November 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 45 ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT REVIEWS DESTINATIONS even launch yourself off a ledge into a giant cry from the usual all-inclusive buffet fare; there’s foam pit like a superhero (or on a BMX bike, for something for every palate, from Asian fusion to those with skills). Outside, there’s even more, Brazilian rodízio, and French cuisine to sumptuous including a ninja obstacle course. steaks. All skill levels are welcome as guests have to The high-energy hotel is split across two resorts, OF THE complete a one-hour instructor-led session before and adults can roam freely between them. Heaven BEST some free play to nail that perfect flip or jump. is the lavish and rather glitzy adult-only retreat, Woodward is available for guests aged seven complete with three tempting pools, private beach, 3RIVIERA and up, but instructors will offer ‘micro sessions’ for Heaven nightclub with its own pool, tequila-tasting MAYA under-sevens. sessions, beauty salon, gym and the Rock Spa, with TOURS Thanks to Hard Rock’s Limitless Resort Credit a staggering 75 treatment rooms. package (up to $1,800 per room for a seven-night Over in family-friendly Hacienda resort, the Chichen Itza stay and $3,600 for 14 nights), the cost is included, activity programme is endless and kids will love It’s a full-day so there’s no extra hard-sell to your clients.