These self-catering apartments are located in San Pedro del Pinatar
/ Lo Pagan, close to Murcia airport - San Javier airport
(about 10 mins) but also quite near Alicante
airport (45 mins) on the other side of the Mar Menor
lagoon from La Manga (see
map). They provide
accommodation for up to 4 people. Formally this is the Costa Calida (Murcia
region), but the Costa Blanca (Alicante region) starts on the edge of San Pedro
del Pinatar. Acommodation includes twin-bedded room and bed-settee. Being
attached to a 4* hotel means you have access to all hotel facilities, including
the pool.
The town of Lo Pagan (San Pedro del Pinatar) is a largely Spanish
resort, on the Mar Menor. It has a
nice long beach, and also boasts the famous mud (lodos) for which many people
travel here. The Mar Menor lagoon is also a major watersports hub. If you're
looking for self-catering holiday rentals, which need not be Saturday-Saturday
or a multiple of 7 days (away from midsummer usually only two
nights minimum booking), or for last-minute accommodation (they usually have
availability as they are still new and not too well known), it is worth
considering.
A great advantage is that outside of the high season, you
only need to stay 2 days, and they are easy to book (and cancel!).
Click here for prices and
booking information.
Location: attached to the Barcelo Lodomar 4* Hotel in Lo Pagan (very northern
end of the Mar Menor). Opposite the salt flats (national park, complete with
flamingos). (directions)
"Services: Reception, first aid kit, handicap access, car park. Cleaning
services and change of linen: On arrival and every 8 nights. Change of towels:
On arrival and every 4 nights. Distance to the beach and mud baths: 400 m.
Description: Thirty-six self-catering apartments with 1 bedroom, for 3/4
people, complete bathroom, living room-kitchen with breakfast bar, sofa-bed,
terrace/balcony. Air conditioning, heating, TV, telephone, piped music, safe
box, card lock, washing machine, 2 gas hobs, microwave oven, all pans, crockery
etc., refrigerator with freezer box, electric iron."
There is also a swimming pool which is open in the summer months, and a
health centre in the hotel complete with salt water pool, jacuzzi etc., mud and
beauty treatment, massage, and small gym (with cycling, running machines, free
weights). There are charges for all the health centre facilities. The appartments are located about 10 minutes taxi ride from Murcia (San Javier)
airport.
Prices go through the roof in August, the traditional
Spanish holiday month, as these are mainly used by Spanish holiday makers.
However, outside of this period things are much more reasonable.
Pros: The apartments are well equipped, kept in very good condition, and very
convenient. Flexible, easy to book, good availability,
outside of the high season can be booked for short stays,
2 air
conditioning/heating units (very useful), 4* hotel facilities, very clean, everything is kept
in good order. Also worth noting that all usual hotel things (towels etc.) are
provided, so you don't need to bring anything much with you. They even make the
beds and clean every 3 days or so! With two air-conditioning
units it is easy to keep cool. Having a telephone can be
very useful (see
tips for how you can make cheap calls). The nearby beach, on the Mar Menor,
is nice. You can travel either to Alicante (about 45mins) or Murcia (San Javier)
airports (10mins).
Cons: Fairly compact. The bed settee is narrower than a normal double-bed.
The TV is small and does not have satellite channels. No conventional oven, no ironing board. You might be
able to find a cheaper deal with a private rental, whether villa or apartment,
especially if you plan to stay longer than a week and off-season, although you
will have to look hard in the Summer from my experience. Hotel restaurant is not
cheap (about 15 euros for buffet), but there are other restaurants within
reasonable walking distance. Shops are some
distance away - 5 mins or so by foot to the beach where there are small shops,
20 mins walk to centre of San Pedro. (Nearest minimarket is about 5 minutes walk
on the Calle Rio Mississippi.) It is in a quiet area, with
the main clubs being at the other end of the beach; this is either an advantage
or a disadvantage depending on your point of view. The resort is a Spanish favourite, so not so many
Brits around (you may consider this an advantage!). Although
this is a quiet area, during
the summer there is live music (for 50+ age group) by the hotel pool every other night --this goes
on till midnight - early by Spanish standards!- if you do not keep Spanish sleeping hours, the noise could be a
nuisance.
