Superb Hotel, only 10 mins from Palma aerport and right on the beach. Food was exceptional both at breakfast and dinner - only negative was apple juice was yuck but apart from that top class. Manuel in the bar was a real gent, loved his stories. Sangria in bar best ive had in my life. Only crib not being able to order food inside main bar and could have received a nicer greeting on arrival from 2 frosty reception female staff. Rooms very comfortable, walls a bit thin - could hear our german neighbours extra curricular activities each morning and night, which was funny!

I stayed here in September 2010, it's a belated review but I will try to be as specific as I can :)

I had a single room which was OK. Big enough, on the third floor, with all the necessary amenities and even with a sea view. I didn't expect a sea view since I had reserved a single room and knowing that most of hotels have just a couple of such rooms so practically there is no "choosing". But the sea view was surprising and much apreciated, thank you!
The hotel is impeccable - very clean, the personnel is attentive, the restaurant food is ok, nothing special though. A lot of options in the menu but after a week you get tired of all. If you can skip the halfboard do it - it's worth dining in the evening in the nice taverns on the promenade.
The hotel is in German area of the island but the hotel receptionists and waiters knew some English too. I was happy to practice my Spanish and this was much appreciated by the hotel personnel and the shops sellers near by. One of the highlights of my trip was meeting such warm people as the Spanish people,
The entertainment in the hotel is something to choose if you don't have another option to kill two hours in the evening after dinner - I did it on two ocassion, listened to some music.
I choose this hotel for the location and quiet atmosphere and I was not wrong. It's on the promenade, a few steps from the beach and in the quieter part of Playa de Palma, by me one of the best hotels in Ca'n Pastilla. The guests are older, not many children - very nice and quiet crowd. If you like a night life and a hard partying atmosphere you should choose Arenal, not Ca'n Pastilla, in Arenal the hotels are cheaper and the guests are mostly young people coming to party, party, party!
The pools are large and with enough loungers, I went there only once in one morning since I am a "sea person" not a "pool person" :)
In one evening I went to the Es Foguero show - very nice show, with flamenco dances in a cabaret style. It's held in a large villa property not far from the hotel. The transportation by bus was included in the evening event price, very nice! In fact, I was amazed by the amount of tour buses stopping in fron of the hotels, coming and going at all hours on all those narrow streets!
I did some trips, most of them organized trips by the tour operator but I don't recommend this way of it.
Went to the Port cristo and visit Cuevas del Drach, nice caves, there is a spectacular short concert you attend there but this organized trip included a lot of other uninteresting stops like a wood shop, a lether shop and a majorca pearls shopping center, etc, stops geared to spend more money and buy lots and lots of souvenirs. The public transportation is very good on this island or you can rent a car and visit it on your own - this is what I would do! Majorcan pearls and leather objects can be purchased anywhere in the tenth of stores near the hotels and mostly at the same price or even cheaper!
I liked better the half-day trip through the Tramuntana mountains to Soller, Puerto Soller, Sa calobra, Torrente de Pareis and back. We went by bus, by ship and by train and saw a lot of beautiful places. The Tramuntana slopes are spectacular especially the "tie-knot" slopes.
Seeing Soller and Calobra I complimented myself for choosing Playa de Palma to stay and not these places, pitoresque but smaller and crowded.
The beach near hotel is very big and clean, it's near Balneario 15, this means you have a place to buy food, drinks, rent shades, etc. (sun loungers to rent at 4.90 Euro each).
It's very nice to walk on the promenade and check the shops out of curiosity - but in general they have all the same low-cost merchandise made in China. If you get tired of walking you can take the sightseeing train to the Arenal and back - 4 Euro.
I did tried the specific majorcan pastries - ensaimadas, you can order them also from the hotel, But I was not very impressed. It's a dough made with lard and with all kind of fillings, too greasy for my taste. I liked Sangria better :). You should be attentive on it's price - if the price is cheap probably all the fruits are coming from a can and the wine is a low-cost version.
The hotel is quite near to the Palma Aquarium, at the next bus stop or at a nice walk and I highly recommend it, even if you are an adult! Very large aquarium, very well organized and very good services.
The best trip I had was the Palma city sightseeing tour (15 Euro). I took the bus 15 (1.25 Euro) which has a stop near the hotel and asked the driver for the Cathedral, it's not far, after one stop or two you get-off the bus. The touristic buses are starting the tour near the Palma Cathedral and you can stop and visit the landmarks of the city for as long as you like
and then continue with your tour - many interesting places. I can recommend the Almudaina Palace and the Cathedral (4 Euro), Belver Castle (2.50 Euro), Pueblo Espanol (6 Euro). I liked the most El Pueblo Espanol which is a must-see! A mix of architectural styles from the most important regions of Spain, it took me three hours to visit all of it but it was worth it.
There were other trips available, including one in Valdemossa but I don't regret it - it was supposed to show us the George Sand and Chopin museum, I didn't missed it. I regret not having time to visit Alcudia (in the English part of the island) and a boat trip to Sa Dragonera - maybe next time when I will return to Mallorca...
There are a lot of small shops near the hotel, on the promenade and on the inner streets. The best prices are in the larger supermarkets, part of international chains like SPAR (on the left, in the next inner line of streets, on Av. Caravella) or further at Aprop (near Fontanellas Playa hotels).
From the taverns on the promenade nearby I can recommend Cafeteria Marisa, it's a little after KFC, on the right. The waiters are nice and they remember you - it's a pleasant place to eat and look over the beach in the sunset. I do not eat seafood (mariscos) so I cannot recommend any place for that, sorry :)
All in all, I enjoyed very much the hotel, it was just as I expected . I enjoyed even more the whole vacation in Majorca, beautiful and relaxing spot at the right price.

I stayed at this hotel for 1 week and I have chosen it because it was 4 star rated. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the overall service.

First of all, at our arrival, the person at the reception told us there was a mistake and they didn't book the room for us for the first night. The solution was to go to another hotel and come back the next day, to check in. We refused, because we had received the confirmation that everything was OK with our booking. After 1 hour of negotiations, we were finally given a room ( I guess they sent someone else to another hotel for that night). But again surprise: it was not with view to the sea, which we had specifically asked for. Going again to the reception, we were told that the view was not specified in the booking confirmation, so they didn't take commit for it. It is not a big deal, anyway we stayed for very little time in the room, but I wished I knew everything from the beginning, so that I set the right expectations.

Further, during our stay, we got dirty or torn sheets which I found really unacceptable for this hotel. In addition, you get a soap and a small bottle of shampoo only at the beginning of your stay. During one week, nobody provided us anything else for the bathroom. Lucky us we did bring it from home.... The room is OK, there is a balcony, as well, but pay attention, because it is very close to the other room's one, so your neighbours can see what you are doing in the room :) .

If you chose as well lunch / dinner at this hotel, please pay attention at the fact that the drinks are not included. You will need to buy it every time, even if it regards only a bottle of water.

As a location, it is by the sea, so it is really convenient to go to the beach every day. Please note it is in C'en Pastilla, which is really really quiet. It worths going for families only or for people who just want a very quiet holiday. Another disadvantage would be that restaurants open late in the morning and get closed by 12 in the night, so you may have some problems if you don't eat at the hotel.

Finally, I wished the hotel reception gave us a map or some tips on what to do on the island or other trips they organize to the main points of attraction. It is something commom for all hotels that value their customers.

All in all, I didn't feel comfortable here and I think that for a 4 star hotel te service is very poor.

My roommate and I enjoyed the food, shows and the beautiful view from our balcony. It was so nice to simply walk across to the beach during our 7 day stay. The staff was always helpful and attentive to our request. I have nothing negative to say. I had a great time and I will definitely return to EL CID.