Zafiro Palace Palmanova

Fantastic Resort with great facilities Really enjoyed the meals, excellent quality and variety of food.

Beautiful hotel very clean and very friendly staff. Take full advantage of the a la carte menu. The only little fault would be that it was some times slow getting a waiters attention for a drink in the evening.

We usually stay at the Zafiro Hotel in Palmanova, but this year we decided to try something new and booked the Zafiro Palace. It was also our first time holidaying in April, and we were pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. Although both hotels fall under the same brand, they feel quite different. Zafiro Palace is noticeably more modern in design.. clean, stylish, and thoughtfully laid out. The reception and bar area is beautiful, and the welcome drink on arrival was a lovely touch. The restaurants are well furnished and visually appealing. Our room was spacious with a large balcony, and the mini bar (restocked daily and included in the all-inclusive package) was a nice extra, even though we barely touched it. Breakfast was perfect, and lunch at La Veranda offered plenty of choice. Dinner at the buffet could have been hotter, but it was decent and did the job. We upgraded to all-inclusive when we arrived, and we’re glad we did, especially for the drinks. The cocktail menu was excellent, and unlike other resorts, drinks were served in elegant glassware rather than plastic branded cups. It made the experience feel more premium, and we actually enjoyed the drinks rather than just drinking to “get our money’s worth.” The female bartender made a particularly good Old Fashioned! We also dined at the Japanese and Italian à la carte restaurants, which were both lovely. The female staff were especially attentive, and welcome drinks in the restaurants added a nice touch. The decor in each was so unique that it felt like we’d left the resort for the evening. One thing worth noting: inflatable lilos and rubber rings weren’t allowed in the pools, a first for us, and something we only learned when the lifeguard told us. Not a big deal, but it would’ve been helpful to know in advance. Because of this, our kids preferred the Dome Pool, which, unlike in the other local Zafiro hotel, is located separately, a short walk from the main pool. This meant we usually sat and watched the children as there isn’t a ‘big pool’ in that area and children must be supervised at all times. I imagine in the summer months it would be impossible to get a sun lounger facing the kids dome. It’s definitely a family-friendly resort, and I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to couples looking for a quiet, peaceful getaway. There were lots of babies and children, often loud, which was fine for us as a young family, and we totally empathise with parents of unsettled kids. But if I were travelling without children, I can imagine finding it a bit overwhelming. The only real downside was the gym experience. Each time we went (5 out of 7 days), there were young kids, some as young as 8 or 9 on treadmills, playing with weights, and running around. When my husband raised this with the spa reception, the staff explained that because the indoor pool was temporarily closed, children were allowed in the gym if accompanied by an adult. Still, it felt like a real safety issue and was qui