Don't Waste Your Precious Holiday Time (The House of Katmandu (Mallorca, Spain))

Member Name: cloudwood88

Product:	The House of Katmandu (Mallorca, Spain)
Date:	06/02/09 (344 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Expensive, Boring

The House of Katmandu is a tourist attraction located in the centre of Magalluf, Majorca. It's hard to describe what's on offer here - but it's probably best to call it a funhouse. My friend, who has visited before, sold this to me as a sort of Madame Tussauds. Unfortunately this is of a far lower quality - with no real identity, and with not much to entertain.

The House of Katmandu is between Magaluf and Palma Nova and you can't miss it. The outside is by far the highlight of the experience - It is styled to look like an upside down Tibetan-style mansion. There are some nice fire and water features on the walk to the entrance.

As you walk through the house you follow the story of an adventurer and collector - The story is pretty lightweight and boring, and I think it makes the attraction poor quality for kids as there is a lot of reading.

The house consists of a number of different rooms showing apparently amusing and amazing artifacts and illusions. Frankly they are mostly very disappointing. I won't spoil the one or two decent attractions (most work best as surprises) for anyone who goes, and I'm sure someone will be 'pester powered' into going inside.

The House is supposedly filled with "rare artifacts" which mostly turn out to be fake 'natural history', like fish covered in fur, or dreary models built from matchsticks. The museum/ theme park crossover concept has really failed here -This is neither impressive nor amusing - Kids and adults would prefer a real museum than this tat. There are some illusions - but most people have probably seen similar elsewhere, there is nothing new on offer here.

It took me around half an hour to visit the house - This was at a very quiet time - It might drag out for a bit longer at busier times - but a lot of people would make this an even more disappointing experience if it is busy and you cant get close to the exhibits. This wasn't good value at all - I paid about 50 Euros for two. For a family trip it is very expensive as a timewaster (in the case of bad weather for example) as it wont take long at all to be in and out. The layout also prevents you from hanging about or retracing your steps.

You get given some "Katmandu Dollars" (worth £1 or £2) when you go in, which can be spent in the gift shop, bar or restaurant. The shop was full of cheap rubbish, so we decided to get some food as we were going to have dinner anyway - The food was fine - but choice was poor and the service was absolutely shocking! We shouldn't have bothered at all after our bad experience inside the so-called 'attraction'.

I really don't know who this is meant to appeal to. My friend and I decided to visit because she was pregnant, and Magaluf is pretty much a drinking town so that limited our options! I don't think many adults are going to get much out of this though. There is loads of filler and the illusions are basic and easy to work out.
I also don't think there is much for kids here - They will love the outside, and beg to go in, but once inside it is pretty limited. There is lots of reading - so young children are going to find this too difficult or boring. Younger children might also be scared by a few of the exhibits.

For a family day out this is an expensive waste of money - go to Marineland instead for some decent entertainment.

If you want to sample this for yourself (Don't!) here are the details:
Wheelchair access
Open 10am - Midnight Daily
Free Wireless Internet
Multi Language - English, Spanish, German
Free Parking
AVD PEDRO VAQUER 07181 MAGALLUF, MALLORCA
Tel: 34 971 13 46 60
www.houseofkatmandu.com

Summary: Avoid If You Can