OUT OF THIS WORLD (Hotel Jupiter-Saturno-Marte Complex (Alcudia))

Member Name: chrissypops

Product:	Hotel Jupiter-Saturno-Marte Complex (Alcudia)
Date:	13/06/01 (3158 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: FREE FOOD, FEW DRINK, LOADS TO DO KIDS CLUBS...

Disadvantages: NO HIRE OF TOWELS AND LOUSEY SOUND PROOFING

"Welcome, welcome. Come in wipe your feet and sit comfortably while we take your luggage upto your room".

Nice welcome eh? Well when you go to the Jupiter/Saturno this is what you get a warm, friendly welcome.

The Jupiter/Saturno is a hotel complex surprising of 3 hotels, The Jupiter, The Martie and The Saturno and is situated in one of the most popular places in Majorca, Alcudia. Alcudia is a beautiful place and suits most peoples status, especially families. We visited Alcudia this year in May and I can really understand why this part of Majorica is so popular. Sandy beaches, lovely food, friendly people, and sun, sun and more sun!

The Jupiter Hotel.

We stayed in the Jupiter hotel which is at the front of the complex. The reception area where you check in is bright, friendly and bustling with life. Children, adults, granddads, aunts and mums and dads can all be seen in this beautiful hotel. This complex is for fully inclusive holidays but it doesn't mean you are tied to the complex and even if you wanted to stay in the complex, then there is sure plenty to do.
As we got there on a bright Saturday afternoon, we checked in and were given our electronic key for the room and the lifts. As we were fully inclusive, we had to wear blue wrist bands. These are necessary as it tells the staff of the hotel that you have paid fully inclusive price and all the food and drinks are free. And I mean FREE, all soft drinks, local alcoholic drinks, all buffet style food, ice cream, and snacks served on the complex , you don't have to pay for. But I shall come to the food in a bit.


After we checked in, we took our luggage upto our room. The lifts are electronic key operated and you just swipe the card in the slots which call the lifts. On the whole the hotel was brilliant but here comes one of the first little niggles. There were 3 lifts you could call, but they were only small, 6 people at the most. Or a p
ushchair, 2 adults and if you are lucky 2 children. I would of thought that being a rather big hotel with 463 rooms and 8 floors, they would of had bigger lifts. Still if you have older children, or going as a couple, you can get fit and use the stairs. Otherwise, like me, who had a pushchair or buggy you have to wait for a while. Saying that, we were on the forth floor so with the help of my husband we carried the buggy up and down a few times during our holiday.


ROOMS


When we got our room and unlocked it with out electronic key, we were not disappointed. The rooms consist of two queen sized beds, a built in wordrobe with one side for hanging and shelves on the other side. A T.V and underneath, a storage facility for one of your suitcases. A writing table, with drawers and a balcony. If you are hoping for a sea view, you might have to strain your eyes as the beach is about 1 mile away. Each room has a view of either the pools, the front of the hotel looking over a small harbour or the sun gardens. So wherever you are, you still get a decent view. In some rooms, if you have older children, you get a queen sized bed and bunkbeds which is cool and when I spoke to a couple who we befriended, she told me that they were solid pine and very safe.
For Lucy who was 11 mths at the time, we had a cot, which we booked when we booked our holiday. This was free but if you book it at the hotel when you arrive you will get charged. So if you are going to need a cot, book it when you book and pay for your holiday.

My eldest daughter, Jess, slept in one queen sized bed and myself and hubby slept in the other. We did do a slight rearrangement of the beds and we just moved Jess's bed upto the wardrobe so she wouldnt fall out of bed. Although she's only done it a few times at home, Jess is a fidget so we thought best safe than sorry as the floors were tiled. Which brings me too another slight gripe about the hotel. Not a major
one, but the whole of the hotel floors are tiled. Easy to clean, granted, hard wearing but rubbish at sound proofing. Our family are no lightweights I assure you, but the first night we were there we all had an early night. The children were ok and slept very well, but both Tim and I were constantly woken up by people running up and down the corridors. On one night we were woken up and I thought someone was roller-skating down the corridor. It turned out to be someone checking out and the noise was the wheels of their suitcases. So don't forget to pack ear plugs.



Other than that the rooms were lovely. The TV was basic and out of 20 channels there was 2 English ones. Sky news and Eurosport. Still you dont go away to a foreign country to watch TV but it would of been nice to have a cartoon channel for the kids or maybe a film channel. I was particularly impressed with the balcony. It was solid, safe and no way a child can slip under or around the railings. It was made from brick and very well maintained. This is one of the most important safety features for me what with having children and all. The doors that lead onto the balcony were like French doors, sliding but also locked. Dont forget to take your adapter converter as their supply is 120 v not 240v. There is also a safely deposit box, which I highly recommend, which costs about £20 for 2 wks. This keeps all your money, passports and other valuables safe while you are on holiday. Bedding is changed every 3 days and towels changed daily if you leave them on the bathroom floor.


The Bathroom has a toilet, sink, bath, shower facilities and shelves to put your wash things, lotions etc on. Talking of towels I shall warn you now TAKE YOUR OWN BEACH TOWELS !. Sorry to shout it but this is the first all inclusive holiday which I have been too in which beach towels were not hired out. I think it is because t the Jupiter hotel isn't a beach resort but I would of thought you could h
ire towels for bathing by the pool. Anyway if you are thinking of going here, pack your beach towels. Even if you forget them, they are not that dear to buy, ranging from about £7 for a full sized beach towel, which would probably cost you £10 back home.


FOOD


By the time we got to our room, got sorted out an unpacked it was time for dinner. This was held in the main restaurant within Jupiter. The food is typically all buffet style food and a very wide range too. The Jupiter hotel offers hot dinners consisting of at least one dish with the following, red meat, white meat, fish, pasta, rice and they also offer a vegetarian dish. They also have a wide selection of salads, cold meats, bread rolls, a childrens selection and desserts. This has been the third time I have been on an all inclusive holiday and I wasn't disappointed. The food was lovely and because there is such a wide range to choose from, you end up trying all sorts. I usually started with a small salad, followed by a hot meal, then dessert.


The hot meals sections has things like pasta or spaghetti bolognese, lamb hot pot, fish in a variety of sauces, chicken in sauces. On some nights they do joints of meat in with the cooks come out a carve it straight of the bone for you or BBQ steaks. Is your mouth watering yet???? The desserts consisted of a variety of Ice cream favours( Vanilla, chocolate, coconut, orange, strawberry) and rice puddings, cakes, sponge cakes (lime and orange), fruit, tea and coffee. If you have a baby who is just being weaned then you are best to take a few jars or tins but the hotel do offer plain vegetables if you just want to mash them up. With Lucy she was used to my food( and if she can eat it she can eat anything!), so I just mashed everything up for her.


The childrens selection mainly consisted of burgers, beef and chicken, chips, pasties, sausage rolls, nuggets pasta bolognese, rice's and a few crisps too. Not too h
ealthy I hear you shout, well maybe not but I found with the hot weather, Jess lost her appetite slightly which is quite common. All I can advise is as long as they get enough fluids and eat some fruit and vegetables, them try and fill them up on pasta, rice's and salads. If they want chips all the time then its upto you whether you want the quiet life and suffer the consequences when you go home, or only offer what you want them to eat. The Choice is yours. You can go to dinner anytime after 6 pm but before 10 pm when it closes. Highchairs a readily available as unless your baby is very young or is asleep, you have to leave your buggy outside.


Breakfast and lunch is also served in the main restaurant and is also buffet style. For breakfast you have a choice of a full English breakfast, toast, a sections of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, or a continental breakfast. They also serve fruit juices, tea or coffee, a section of things to spread on your toast including cheese spread and chocolate spread! Breakfast is served from 8 am till 10 am each morning.


Lunch is serves between 12 noon and 3 pm and again has a range of hot a cold meals. As the Spanish are very customary, you have to be clothed to have your meals. For the men a top needs to be worn at all times while dining, as well as shorts or trousers. For the ladies again you have to put a top on and a skirt or sarong if you want to dine in the main restaurant. It might seem a pain as you've just got out of the pool but its best to respect their customs or otherwise they wont let you in. Its best to go in what you are supposed to wear, then get turned away and having to go all the way back to the pool or wherever you have come from, especially if you are hungry. Shoes must also be worn.


SNACKS

If you are feeling hungry between your main meals and I assure you that all that sunbathing will make you hungry you can go to the ice cream parlour for a cool, refresh
ing Ice cream or frozen yoghurt, which I must say is divine. You can also go to either the snack bar around the boating lake if you are near the adventure playground, or there is another snack bar by the main adult pool. Both which serve chips, pizza, sandwiches, hot-dogs, beer, juices and soft drinks. There is also a few fruit bars spotted around the complex too which serves soft drinks and a variety of fruit. Just what you need in the hot Spanish sun.

KIDS CLUBS

So how goes on holiday to spend time with the family only to palm the kids off to kids club???? MEEEEEEEEE . I dont feel guilty about it either. I love my daughters but its still lovely to have a little time on your own isn't it. I must admit I think the kids clubs are a brilliant idea and I support them whole heartedly. Cosmos offer 4 kids clubs ranging from under 3s to 15 yrs old.

Baby bugs ...Club for under 3s

This kids club is basically a creche facility and run in 1.5 hr sessions all day. This is bookable on the first come first served basis. 3 sessions cost £15, 6 sessions cost £25 and 12 sessions cost £40. We went for 12 sessions, which was well worth it. As the creche is open 6 days a week with the choice as 3 evenings it worked out that Lucy would be in at least once a day. When we booked, we had already booked a few excursions and the creche was booked up a few days. So in reality she was in the first week 5 times and the second week 7 times. So on more than one occasion she was booked in twice in one day. Lucy being a very laid back baby, so laid back I have to scrap her off the floor sometimes, wasn't bothered by this, and settled it lovely. The staff are trained and they have NEB certificates. As there is 3 staff within the creche it limits how many children they can have. If a child is under one, it has to be one to one care. If over one a member of staff can have 3 children under her supervision. This is a bit of a downfall but because
the club is run by cosmos and not the hotel they have to abide by the British child care law.

When you book up you also get a free T-shirt and a hat for them too and after filling in an enrolment form and reading the rules and health and safely you can leave them at the times you and the creche worker agree on. All you need to take up for them is nappies, wipes, any comforter that might be needed and any food or drink. If they are used to being left then I find the best way is to just settle your child in and then leave. Its better of your child and saves tears all around. If they do get over stressed or do need you then one of the carers will come and find you, or send a member of staff out for you. They do this as either asking you where you will be when you sign your child in or if you would like one, they do have a few pagers. If your child is not used to being left then again settle them in, and after 5 mins or so just decisively leave. You might hear them wailing as you walk out the door but believe me most babies settle within a few minutes. So don't worry. The creche workers at The Jupiter are wonderful, understanding, and have loads of patience. If you ask nicely and they are not busy you can co-ordinate creche times with the other club times if you have an older child. We did this quite a few times and it was great to have an hour or so on your own.

STAR BUGS

This club is for children from 3 to 6 years old and is FREE. Oh I just love that word, don't you? This club is run by the hotel but with staff from Cosmos. They do 3 activities a day and again is run as a first come first served basic, which means you have to put your child's name down quick. Again because of the health and safely laws, there is only 20/30 children allowed in the club room at a time, al depending on staffing. So even if you get your child in every other day, its a rest for you, but try and let others go in to. I saw quite a few parents hoveri
ng about the club doors waiting for the list to go up and it was always the same ones. Please give others a chance too.


The activities vary and they do take them outside so dont forget the sun lotion. When you enrol your child into the club you have to sign them in every time. You get a free sun hat and T-shirt and this is there uniform if you like. They dont have to wear it but if they do painting or water activities it saves their own clothes. Each activity is about 1.5 to 2 hrs long and they usually run a morning, afternoon and an early evening one. The activities they set out range from talent shows down in the lobby area to finding things " I Spy" around the complex. They also do reading, drawing, painting and games. I really recommend this to any adults who have children. Its a great way for you to get sometime to get a little undisturbed sunbathing before rushing around again to keep your children happy and contented. Its also great for your child. My Jess is very sociable, and made 3 0r 4 friends within the club, which was lovely to see. It also gave her something special to do without us, so it made her feel independent.

The hotel also run 2 other clubs called

COSMICS for 7-11 yrs old.

I dont really know much about this one as I have two younger children but you still get a T shirt and hat. Daily activities include Scavenger hunts, parties and theme days. Activities are 2 hrs each, 6 days a week, and evenings 4 days a week. Average amount of children are about 30/40 all depending on staffing.


IN ZONE for 12 to 15 yrs old. Apparently the reps organise discos, games video nights and sporting activities. Reps will even arrange day out excursions locally for them without parents. This of course will incur a small local charge but I'm assured it isn't a lot. In zone operates 6 days a week, for 2-3 yrs and again a few evenings too. In zone members also get to suggest and choose what
activities they want to do which gives them great exercise for their independence. On site within Jupiter/Saturno complex is a small night club which plays upto date music and serves soft drinks. I'm not sure what the opening times are as it was closed when we went but it opened up in June at the start of the summer season. Also the is B@se.com which is a special room at the top end of the complex which has a music system, play stations, TV and video, sofas and a near by drinks kiosk. This again was closed until the start of the summer season, which personally is silly. What ever time of the year, the older ones do need something to do in the evening.


What else is there for the kids?


Up the top end of the complex there is a variety of things to do for younger and older children. There is a play park which is brilliant from 2 yrs up. Its all surrounded by sand so if there are any small accidents there is a soft ish landing. There is climbing frames, slides, monkey bars, wooden train and a house too. Just remember that because its all on sand, its all a sun trap too. Dont forget a hat, T-shirt and sun lotion.


If you want something in the shade for the little ones then go and visit the soft play area next to the kids clubs on the first floor of hotel Jupiter. This is open around the same times as the kids clubs and is great for under 5s. I think personally it should be open all day, especially around lunch time and afternoon so younger children are out of the mid day sun. Still, its FREE, oh there's that word again, and has some great stuff in. Its full of soft toys, tunnels, bean bags, construction toys and a few high chairs too. Great for any child and you can always spend some time here if you couldn't get into the creche.


Next to the play park you have motorised cars which you pay roughly £4 for 15 mins. These ideally are for over 6 yrs old but with supervision. There have a little race track
or they can have a ride around the boating lake.

Anyone for golf??? Not normal golf. ..craaaazzzzyyyyyyy golf. 18 holes of what looks like easy holes to putt , but believe me, they are not as easy as they look. Did I say this was for the children? Oppps. I think adults and children alike will enjoy crazy golf. Go early in the morning after 10 am but before 12noon or early evening. Mainly because during the heat of the day it gets very hot up there but in the evening its shaded so its nice, cool and shaded.

So what else is on the Jupiter/ Saturno complex?


Well where should I begin? There is numerous drinks bars around the pools as well as one in each hotel and around the boating lake. The drinks bars around the pools are open all day and all night until 12 midnight when the entertainment finishes. The drinks Kiosks around the boating lake open drink 10 am till 6 pm most days. So you are never short of a drink in one hand or food in the other. There is also a on site shop which sells magazines, books, snacks, souvenirs, clothes and drinking water in bottles. The water in Spain isn't drinkable at al so you will need at least 5 litre bottle for about a week or so. This is for general drinking and brushing of teeth. Dont worry about ice cubes with drink, they are all made from purified water.


Entertainment.

There is just loads going on during the day so whether you want to just relax by the pool or get down to all that going on you can grantee there is something for you. For the sporty people out there, there is Tennis and Badminton courts, Volleyball( dry and water), 5 a side football, human table football, adult golf practice area, archery, bikes, fitness classes and rifle shooting. or golf, rifle shooting bikes and bowls you do have to lay down a deposit but you do get this back in full when you return the equipment. On the boating lake you have pedalos and rowing boats but for safety purposes any child sh
ould be accompanied by an adult. Be aware also all those fathers out there who are eager to take their sons or daughters on these pedalos about the weight difference. Just remember while most men are about on average 14 stone and over, your child will be about 3 stone up. Tim nearly capsized the pedalo as all the weight was on one side. He had to sit almost of the centre frame and pedal one food on each side just to make sure it was even. Now if it was him and a mate, I would of laughed but with a small child, even though they might be able to swim, it can scare the living daylights out of them and send them panicking. So just be careful.


For the people who like to take it easy on holiday there are some relaxing activities going on too. Quizzes, Karaoke are but some of the activities which go on during the day, as well as your own entertainment. Huh hummmm I meant drinking games or cards ;-)
For the evening dont forget to get dressed up and get into the swing for your holiday spirit with the evening entertainment. In each hotel there is a variety of things going on each night. Magic shows, Karaoke, Bingo, and a variety of other shows started around 9 pm and finished with a disco until 12 midnight. Just remember as you stagger upto your room with a bellyful of beer, to make sure you are as quiet as you can be for the others who have gone to bed. Twice I was woken up at 2 am in the morning by a couple who were rowing at the end of our corridor. Luckily They didn't wake the kids, but I was rather annoyed. I'm far from a fuddy duddy but I do have respect for others. They say that whatever you give out it comes back 10 fold, so you can guarantee on the one night you need sleep someone will come and wake you up just to get you back for the noise you made.

You can hire from reception number of items if you either forget or just want one for a few nights. Items like Fans, kettles, hairdryers, iron, radio cassette player, CD player, c
ool box, Beach umbrellas, wheel chairs, crutches, car seats and cots. If you go out on excursions ask at reception the night before if you can have a picnic box. Its FREE ! You get quite a lot in there too. A few rolls, jam, butter, bottle of water, tin of pate, sausage roll, a pastries that the Spanish like. There also do a special kids one which contains a few more extras like a balloon, a few lollipops, and a few other extras. Just pick your picnic up from the restaurant at breakfast before you go out on your trip.


Whats outside the complex that's of interest?



Well. .the beach for a start. Although it is about a mile away or about 20 mins walk from the hotel it is a lovely walk. You pass though a mini harbour with a few boats and then after passing a few houses you come to the main street where all the souvenir shops are This main street is about a good mile long and has everything you could which for. When we when the exchange rate was about 267 pesetas to the pound. Everything is cheap over there including clothes and snack to take back to the hotel. If you get peckish while you are out, there are some really cheap bars which serve food all day. There is also a Burger King and a Mc Donald's if you really missed home that much. Up the top end of this road there is an internet cafe. Sad eh? Well yes I must be, but I only went up there twice for an hour. It costs about 500 pts for 20 mins and goes up every 3 mins. I think I worked it out at £5 for an hour. Its ok if you just want to go and check your emails or have a quick chat( they have M S N, I C Q chat messenger), but not good to do anything longer... like Dooyoo. LOL. The cafe also do cheap hot and cold snacks and drinks too.


THE BEACH


This is miles long, white cool sandy beach with plenty of small bars along it for food and drink and there is toilet facilities all along the beach too. The sea is clean and cool, but the best thing
is, its shallow. You can walk out for about 1.2 mile and its only about a foot or so deep. This is brilliant for children and adults who are not too keen on wading in to great depths. You can walk miles on this beach as its stretches from Alcudia Harbour for miles to the next harbour.

If for any lazy reason you think that a 20 mins walk is just too much on holiday then a free bus would be a dream come true wouldnt it. Well Jupiter/ Saturno have make that wish. From 10 am to 4 pm a bus runs from the hotel to the beach and back again every 30 mins. We went to the beach a few times and it was lovely to walk down but bus back as all of us were shattered from all the walking and the sea air.

OLD TOWN MARKETS

These markets are great of getting all those souvenirs for your family and friends.. very cheaply. Its about 30 mins walk from the hotel and you can get a map from reception. If you dont fancy a walk, you can get a taxi which will cost you about 1000 pesetas (£4 ish). The market goes on for miles and miles and there is so much you would love to bring home but wouldnt survive the plane. We ended up keeping our eyes peeled and got some brilliant bargains. Tim's granny and one of my friends collect porcelain dolls. These retail here in England from £8 up. We got 2, beautiful wedding dolls for £4 a piece. Two plates which had Mallorica on it and was 3D ( all built up) for just over £2 a piece. I brought myself and another friend of mine, 2 silver dolphin necklaces for just over £7 each, and a few wooden toys for Jess and Lucy which were very well made ranging from £2 - £8 each. Don't be afraid to barter on the prices or make an offer. I reduced my necklaces to ½ the price she wanted. It just takes a little confidence and a few attempts in walking away.


If you just need a few bits and bobs, there are a selection of shops opposite the hotel as well as a supermarket and some friendly English pubs. Again these are
reasonably cheap in getting nappies, wipes, baby food, washing up liquid, sandals, postcards or food.


Well, after all that all I can say it my holiday was brilliant. Apart from the odd niggle about the towels, the sound proofing and the size of the lifts, the whole holiday was well worth the money we paid. We booked though TV Travel shop and with the discount they gave us this two week holiday was just under £1000. Jess was free and we paid £34 I think supplement for Lucy as an Infant. We took about £400 spending money over with us can came back with just over £100. We did go on a few excursions, a beautiful crazy golf place and Marine land in Palma and Son Amar which was an evening of wining, dining and entertainment. Opinions on which will soon be on its way.

If you want a holiday in Majorica, or Mallorica as the Spanish call it. Somewhere were you have as little or as much to do as you like. Meals and drink all included then Jupiter/Saturno is one of the best, family orientated hotels in Alcudia. I would definitely go back in the next few years. Staying here was truly.. OUT OF THIS WORLD :-)

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