Palmaia, The House of AiA

This was our second visit to Palmaia. We first went in late November/early December 2023 and for that trip, we honestly would have given it 11 out of 10, it was incredible so we were excited to return. We stayed again this December 2024 and hope this review is helpful. Upon arrival we experienced the same wonderful welcome. The reception team are super friendly and we were given a yummy hibiscus Mocktail. The reception is actually in the neighbouring Sandos estate so you are taken in a little golf buggy into Palmaia. The bedrooms are simply beautiful and stepping inside we were instantly transported to that incredible feeling when we first saw the room last time. They are spacious and luxurious and our view of the sea was breathtaking. We were in room 547 which is on the top floor and I would recommend requesting a high room if you can as it’s quiet and offers wonderful uninterrupted views. Another wonderful offering at this resort is that you get your own “nomadic guide” who comes to greet you on arrival and adds you to a what’s app group. Our guide Kassandra was so responsive and helpful. The guides arrange all your restaurant bookings, share the daily activities itineraries and assist with any general questions or queries. I do think that this does provide a more personalised service than many other reports. We booked a spa treatment. There are many incredible ones to choose from and we went for the “Samunprai Herbal Ritual”. It was probably the best massage we have ever had. The spa itself is beautiful and the cenote that you can use whilst in the spa is a brilliant experience. It’s very expensive but I would say, as a special treat, it’s worth it. (It costs £289 per person for the cenote and the 2 hour treatment) We are vegan and the food was a huge draw for us visiting here with so many memorable dishes from last year making us keen to return. Some favourites of ours are the Green powerhouse smoothie at Plantissa, the Tagliata di Fungo at Mar De Olivo, the grilled corn at Charlys Taco Truck; and the Yakimeshi Herushi at UME. We also liked breakfast choices at SuCasa. A small thing however is that we noticed only very little changes in the menus since last year. Same with their Mocktail/cocktail list. It’s presented as their “current” cocktails but it’s identical to 12 months ago. Although the menus hadn’t changed, there were some things that we felt had changed since our last visit. Activities - we go here to enjoy the yoga (I would say that is a big reason for a lot of visitors) and this was previously offered twice a day. This has now been reduced to once every day and twice every other day. Likewise, the “full body workout” that we enjoyed every lunchtime last year was only now offered twice in the week we were here this year. Speaking with other returning guests, they were also discussing the reduced activity schedule. It meant that popular activities like the incredible gong bath and other sound bath sessions were so popular people where having to sit along the wall in the back of the room due to having no mats left to fit everyone in and meaning you had to get to the class 30 mins prior due to people queuing up to ensure a spot. I would like to say however that the teachers for all the activities and ceremonies are simply fantastic. The weather was hit and miss whilst we were there which obviously the resort cannot control, but all week the full activity list (apart from Pranayama) was held indoors. This was a real shame as being on the mangrove deck or the rituals deck really adds to the experience but even on the very hot and dry days, this was not used. My final point, I hate to say, but the service was a little inconsistent. The nomadic guide, the spa team, the speciality restaurants and the beach service was all fantastic. Sadly the SuCasa service was most times very slow and I had several occasions of food in SuCasa being served cold or luke warm but due to the length of time waited I didn’t send it back which I accept doesn’t allow them an opportunity to rectify. Likewise the service in Plantissa was oftentimes slow, often with nobody behind the counter to serve as they were clearing up tables or out the back. They were also unable to accommodate any food adjustment requests simply saying everything was already “made up” despite it being a 10-15 minute wait for it to be ready. This was not a problem last year where they were happy to accommodate a request for a single ingredient to be left out of a smoothie or sandwich. Overall this still is a beautiful resort with a beautiful beach and has some really special elements. Sadly it just feels like the standards have slightly dipped from our previous visit and that has left us undecided on if we will return again.

This is our second time at Palmaia and I love the overall experience. It’s all inclusive so the workout and spiritual classes are part of the package which is great. The classes could however improve on their spread, in that some days it’s too many similar classes in one day. Like 3 yoga classes in one day or too many of a similar type of spiritual Classes in one day. It’s mostly a vegan resort with options for non vegans. The fish of the day which is the same fish each day is sublime but the food has somewhat declined since last year. The pancakes for breakfast come out dry as if they are precooked. Some items lack seasoning and the service at Su casa in the evenings is very slow. Overall though, we love this resort and hope it will maintain an excellent standard and not fall into declines.

This was our second time staying at Palmaïa and it didn’t disappoint. Only the weather was disappointing but no one can control that. Had an amazing massage and facial, food was great as my husband is vegan, also we loved all the meditation sessions. Hope to go back again in the future. Thanks to the all the staff, you were top notch!

Palmaïa, House of Aïa is an absolute gem! From the stunning beaches to the delicious food, every detail exceeded our expectations. We stayed in a beautiful suite, which was the perfect space. The food is exceptional, a true 5* experience. The pools and the kids' club were a highlight. The range of experiences offered made our stay feel unique and special - don’t miss the early morning yoga sessions!

This resort is a must if you are looking for a relaxing and slow paced stay. As soon as you enter Palmaïa on your ride to your room, it is so serene. It has a focus on wellness of course so they provide events/classes that focus on wellness (mind, body, soul). I attended a few and wish I could have stayed longer to experience them all. One of my favorite parts was the food as well, as someone on a journey to eat whole, organic, non-inflammatory foods— this place is unlike any other. I was sad having to leave and knowing this access to well prepared & good ingredient meals would come to an end. The service was unmatched every single person I encountered who works at Palmaïa was incredibly kind, friendly and serviceable. I was upgraded to the Adults Only side of the resort that had a beautiful view of the pool and the ocean. It was stunning. Special shoutout to Driver Raul who was the one who took me to my room on the day I arrived. He initially did a small tour of the property and carried my bags up into my room. He would pick me up every night for my dinner reservation. One day I accidentally left some of my items on the golf cart and he so kindly brought everything back to me— I was so grateful. I would also seek his services after dinner if I wanted to attend the shows at the connecting resort or if I wanted to go to the beach bar. I did not know what the schedule for the shows was so he kindly sent me a photo as soon as I was dropped off for dinner one day. Raul was always friendly, timely, and answered all my questions about my stay. My nomadic guides Jacky and Kasandra were also super helpful making my reservations for dinner instantly. They would answer all my questions as well and would keep me up to date with the activities everyday. The day I wanted to book a massage I had reached out to the spa service but they sped up the booking process for me— truly super helpful ladies. And the spa!! If you have the opportunity to get a massage or a treatment here I highly recommend it. Everyone from the reception to the person who guides you to get changed and into your initial rooms were so kind. Magda, my masseuse, was exceptional! Made me feel so comfortable and relaxed and her hands are heaven sent! One of the best massages I have ever had. Lastly, Palmaïa is beautiful. It was sandwiched between the “jungle” and the beach on the other side. The beach was not packed at all and I was always able to find a beach bed with no issues, I loved that it was not so full— making it even more enjoyable and relaxing. Overall, I was looking for tranquility and I definitely received that coupled with great service. I Iook forward to going back.