Family Hotels & Resorts in Balaclava from AU$109

"Luxury with a Heart We had an absolutely wonderful stay at SALT of Palmar. Everything, from the food to the accommodation was truly five-star, and the level of service consistently exceeded our expectations. All of the staff were exceptional and genuinely went above and beyond to ensure every guest had the best possible experience. One of the highlights of our trip was the privilege of visiting a local school for students with disabilities, supported by the hotel. The school caters to children as young as five through to young adults, and the work being done there is genuinely inspiring. The hotel’s support goes far beyond simple donations—they have helped furnish spaces such as a music room and contribute to practical life skills training, including making beds, setting cutlery, laundry, and more. Their fitness coach also visits regularly to support sporting activities. What stood out most was how modest the hotel is about these efforts—you wouldn’t know about this incredible work unless you spoke to the manager. It’s definitely worth asking about if you visit. There was absolutely no pressure to contribute, but like many schools, they are always in need of resources and equipment. If you are planning a stay, it may be worthwhile bringing along items such as stationery, toys, or other useful supplies. Monetary contributions are also welcomed, but entirely optional. Overall, this was an unforgettable experience,"

"I would not recommend this hotel to anyone, but especially not to adults traveling without children. There were bugs in my room that were not cleaned up by housekeeping. My drinking water was not replaced. I only had one towel changed. Mostly it felt like a factory or an assembly line. Staff seemed to shuffle me from one station to another, with few being actually helpful or interested in my questions. Some of the staff were lovely. But they were sadly overshadowed and outnumbered by staff that were outwardly judgmental. I got side eye and spoken to with an undercurrent of disdain and condescension - all with fake smiles and the appearance of helpfulness. For example, around 4pm I asked someone about getting a boxed lunch for the next day. He literally rolled his eyes and said I missed the window, I needed to book that 24 hours in advance and he couldn’t help me anyway because that was the restaurants job. My first night at dinner a DJ appeared around 8pm, a disco ball came down from the ceiling, and colored spot lights started swirling around. Children - most without a parent in sight - appeared and started yelling with joy and running around. When I inquired about other restaurant options that were maybe more low key, without booming dance music, and fewer wild children, I was told with a laugh, a flip of the hair, and evil eyes… but this is a family resort!! For the price point of this hotel, the lack of customer service was unacceptable. "

"We spent 8 nights in this beautiful resort with our extended family. Had a great time! The rooms are spacious and the hotel location is great. The food at all restaurants was really delicious. The only negative aspect is the service at the main patio restaurant and at the pool. Had to wait a lot and always had mistakes in our food/drinks orders. Aside from that, we really enjoyed our stay. "

"wonderful experience"

"The hotel was good and had great amenities, especially good wateraports.However I would class it as a 4 star rather than a 5 star. The check in was poor. Having travelled 13 hours and through the night, I did not expect there to be be a delay in checking in....surely they could have found another room rather than keep us waiting.The room cleaning was inconsistent sometimes good, sometimes not so good. The gym was basic but the equipment was new. The gym bin was not emptied and the water dispensers were not filled up on a regular basis. "

"La Pirogue is one of the loveliest hotels in the world! A well-balanced mix of laid-back island charm, with professionalism, friendliness, fun activities and the best hotel food you will find anywhere (mix of authentic local and themed international, always something for everyone and a classy pastry section straight out of Paris!). The grounds are picturesque and immaculate, whilst the staff are amazingly friendly and attentive. Cannot recommend La Pirogue highly enough! "

"."

"Great property in a fantastic setting. Downside is the food and restaurants with lack of vegetarian food options available."

"Excellent property - nice room clean and fantastic staff."