For some reason every other hotel we tried to book for the weekend was full, and after reading all the reviews, we decided to stay here anyway. It wasn't as scary as the others claimed.
Okay, it is not really a 4 star hotel, but it is clean, in a good location and our deal gave us half board as well. All for a very reasonable price.
On the good side, you are right on the playa, the other side of Palma from the mass-package holiday/drunken /loud British crowd. It is minutes from the airport, it is clean and housekeeping was incredibly efficient. Breakfast was fine and all the staff I dealt with were more than helpful.
On the downside, the beds were dire...they are a foldout camp bed style, no box spring, and they are made of that IKEA hard foam. Pillows were about three feet long and 2 inches thick, and you got one each. We had a double room and the two single beds were pushed together. It was livable, but no match for a Marriott bed. The hotel room temperature was slightly warm, even with the AC full blast. We had the luxury of cool nights, so opening the balcony was a good option (and dealing with a little noise and the occasional barking of the Rotweiller on the balcony from the neighbouring building).

On the "different" side, was the glass shower that is in the middle of the room, (with glass on all sides), and a buffet that wasn't really my taste.

The hotel is in "little Germany" and most restaurants had all their menus primarily in German. There are three topless clubs within 100 metres of the hotel (I wasn't looking for them...they were just there). The TVs are 13" and have CNN and EuroSport in English, so if you're going on holiday to watch tv, it's not ideal (but who does go on holiday for that purpose?)

It's passable, clean and great location if you want to be right on the beach. As for the Barcelo chain, I'd probably try another before passing judgement on the entire group.

The Flamingo is a clean, pleasant hotel sadly over rated. The food definitely was 4* and most of the hotel staff were polite and pleasant. There was no entertainment in the hotel,apart from Christmas Eve and the bars (apart from Christmas Eve) closed at 11pm! The local bars closed at 6pm! The only Englsih speaking channel on the tv was CNN

On arrival we were told we were only booked in for 6 nights (not 7 as on our itinerary) and were told by one of the managers to sort it out because they needed the room!!! I said the travel agent was closed and that they should contact the local accommodation agent. We had our 7 nights, but it was not a pleasant experience to be told to vacate our room!

The gym was non-existent. A small area just off the reception had one bike, one stepper and one rowing machine. The jacuzzi was a shower cubicle which you sat in, and again was just off the reception area. The indoor pool just had a screen accross from the reception. So if you got wet you had to cross the reception area, and anyone could see you in the gym or jacuzzi.
The bathroom was pleasant but to get into and out of the bath was difficult. I am not very tall and the bath side was very high.

The games room was just an area off the bar and you had a choice of cards, chess, draughts, ludo or pool. This was a big disappointment for those who came out with families. I had never played chess before but soon became an expert.

Position of the hotel was very good - extrememly close to the beach, bus stops and shops (when open). If you like strip joints and table top dancing then this is the place to go - but not at Christmas!

You also need to speak German in this hotel and area. They are not a friendly lot.

I would give the hotel a 2.5 star rating - definitely not a 4 or 3star. I have stayed in many hotels and I think this was the worst. We were completely and utterly bored and could not wait to come home

The hotel is in Playa de Palma which I can only describe as the German answer to Magaluf! There were lots of stag do's and people generally drinking vast quantities and falling about. We headed out into Palma itself each night - which is really nice and about a 15 minute taxi ride- although we did catch a glimpse of the carnage in Playa de Palma on our way home. It is full of neon lights and strip joints!! Fine if you like that type of thing.....

Even the little tapas restaurants cater entirely for the German tourists and you bearly hear a word of Spanish.

The hotel itself is fairly average - nothing to write home about. The rooms are a reasonable size and are nice and clean and the breakfast is good. The bathrooms are a bit unusual and there is a lot of flamingo pink everywhere!!

Save your money and go somwhere else. This hotel is full of German lager louts alwayr drunk (there is at least 4 germ. pubs very near the hotel). They are very noisy day or night, you will not get a quiet night sleep.. if your aircon works count yourself lucky. The beach is full and noisy and again lots of drunk young Germans singing and shouting. There is a strip club and worse near the hotel. If you are at least a little bit sensible person you will choose a different hotel and save your money.
This is a nightmare hotel and a holiday from hell.