We booked this trip last minute, as an easyjet package holiday, for 5 nights from 24th August. We just wanted something simple and somewhere where we could relax. We chose to look at Playa de Palma after being advised by a holiday company that it was more low key and away from the areas that younger people tend to visit to go clubbing. There wasn't a lot of information on Venus Playa and it seemed that not many English people stayed here but it looked like the best of what we could find so we booked it. We ended up having the best holiday we have ever had.

The hotel is simple. Very European and a little outdated - this does not mean it wasn't a good hotel! The room was fine - enough room for us both and a balcony - just what we wanted. It was perfectly clean and the shower, although it looked like it wouldn't be, was very powerful. Apart from the room looking a little outdated, it was everything we needed and we were very happy with it. We also arrived to a selection of fruit and water in our room when we arrived. The air conditioning was very powerful - we even had to turn it down! And although the key works it, if you leave the room there is an easy way of keeping it on if you think carefully ;) Oh and we didn't rent the safe and left ipods, iphones, cameras and money out and it was all still there every time we came back.

There is a large bar in the hotel selling drinks which were not expensive at all! The bar was never very full so we always got served instantly. We went half board which gave us breakfast and an evening meal each day. We stayed for the evening meal on the first night. It wasn't great for us but if you eat meat then you'd easily be able to eat well every night. It was just difficult for me as a vegetarian. But they did have a salad bar, cold and hot pastas, pizza, meat dishes, veg, breads etc and lots of deserts. Breakfast was much better. Fruits, cereals, toast, pastries, cold meats, cheese, biscuits etc The cappuccino was lovely. We were given our own table for the week which we simply went straight to every time we visited which was nice.

The pool area was fantastic. Ok, so it's not as fancy as more luxurious hotels but it had a lot of space and more than enough beds and seating. We never struggled to get a lounger, whatever the time of day. In fact, the pool area never really got busy. We had hours at a time during the day when it was just us at the pool. We even had a full day without anyone else outside with us! It was so relaxing and peaceful. There were hardly any children at the hotel and for the short time we saw any at the pool they were quiet and accompanied by their parents. Nobody ever went down to 'reserve' their seats by the pool. We also had some fantastic salads by the pool during the day - they were fantastic and around 3 euros each!

The majority of guests were German - I don't think there was any other English guests. This actually was fantastic. The German/Spanish/French guests were all very quiet and respectful. There was never any noise in or around the hotel - not even on an evening. It was nice to completely get away from other Englishmen and not have to engage in a conversation with anyone but ourselves the entire week.

There was a spa right next to the hotel, as well as countless cafes and restaurants, and it was a 3 minute walk to the beach and the strip. The beach was beautiful - white sand, blue sea. Cheap lounger rentals and not too busy or heaving with children. Food and drink in this area is extremely cheap - most meals were around 3-4 euros! The rest of Playa de Palma was similar to the hotel - we never crossed paths with anyone English all week. We even had a lovely Italian man who ran a cafe ask why we had come to this area as it's "where the Germans holiday - English go to Magaluf and Palma Nova" - this made us so glad we didn't go to that side of the island! We never once seen anyone 'wasted' or being loud or lairy. It was such a nice change and so unexpected!

We sat in so many lovely bars, outside, right by the beach for hours at a time at night. Look for the Havana Cafe - so chilled out and funky! The only issue we sort of had is that most people serving us assumed we were German so spoke in German to us. This didn't make it difficult to communicate once we said we were English, it just really made us wish we'd brushed up on our German from school or learnt a few useful Spanish phrases so that we could look as though we'd made the effort! - We are going to study Spanish together now that we have come back.

We have been to some amazing places in our time and stayed in the most luxurious of hotels - we were really expecting this to be a dump - the epitome of a 'last minute package deal'. However this turned out to be the best 5 day holiday we have ever had. We will definitely be going back next year - we've already been looking! It was so relaxing and helped us refocus on us as a couple instead of the daily grind. It was definitely romantic.

If all you want is a quick and quiet getaway to refresh your batteries then choose this hotel and this area! But be respectful of the way of life and the people from other countries - they go to this area for a reason, don't give us Brits a bad name by being rude or ott - keep it as beautiful as it is and prove everyone wrong - we're not all bad!

It was a prize-worthy hotel. Some disturbing parts though, screaming youngsters in the middle of the night.