The Bakour La Manga Splash is the hotel with the slides at km 14. It is on the Gran Vía, on the stretch of La Manga that belongs to San Javier. It is a four-star hotel aimed at families, and almost everything people say about it comes down to the same thing: the kids do not want to get out of the water.
It is one of those plans we repeat every summer. Here is what we saw during our stay, how to go without sleeping at the hotel and what other family plans you have nearby if it turns out not to be for you.
Quick fact
The hotel runs on an all-inclusive basis and has its own water park with slides and play areas. Its website does not publish opening dates or seasons, so if you are going outside summer, check first on the official Bakour La Manga Splash website or by phone.
What the hotel offers
What's on offer
- 1A water park inside the hotel, with slides and water play areas, on top of the pools. It's the big draw and what comes up most in reviews.
- 2The Baku Room, a family room themed around Baku, the hotel's mascot: children's bunk bed and a welcome pack for the kids. It sleeps three adults and one child, or two adults and two children.
- 3Play area and organised children's activities, with an entertainment team.
- 4All inclusive among the board options. If you go room only, breakfast is paid separately.
- 5Free parking, wifi and 24-hour reception. No pets allowed and there is no gym.
Sleeping in the Baku Room
We slept in the Baku Room, the family room dedicated to Baku, the hotel mascot. The children's bunk beds are built into a unit with a sea theme, the terrace follows the same decoration and even the TV welcomes you in Baku's colours. When we arrived, the children had a welcome pack waiting for them in the room: it is a small touch, but the holiday starts with a smile. The double bed is large and comfortable.
Slides, children's area and pool bar
The water park is the first thing the children want to do when they wake up and the last thing they want to leave at night. There are slides with bends and drops for the bravest, a splash area for the little ones with mini slides, tipping buckets and water games, and pools with plenty of sunbeds and shade.
Next to the pool is the pool bar, where you can have something cool without losing sight of the children while they are in the water.
Entertainment, Baku Club and buffet
There is entertainment every day, with activities for all ages, and the Baku Club, the kids' club with its own staff, where the children make friends and the parents get some time to themselves.
The buffet has lots of variety, both for the child who only eats one dish and for anyone who wants to try a bit of everything. What we liked most was the live cooking: they make omelettes and eggs to order, right in front of you.
Rooms and booking
Besides the Baku Room there are Confort and Confort Premium rooms (the latter with sea or marina views) and suites for up to four adults. Booking on their own website, they advertise a 5 % discount and free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival; compare it with what you see on other platforms.
Can you go without staying there?
It is the question we get asked most by people who live here or have an apartment in La Manga, and the answer is yes: you do not need to stay. The hotel sells a Day Pass, for the whole day, with the slides and the buffet lunch included, and an Afternoon Pass, for the afternoon. Both give access to the pools, the water park and the entertainment.
They have to be booked in advance and depend on availability, so in the busy weeks of summer it is best to do it early. You can book on the Bakour La Manga Splash website or call the hotel (the phone number is on its directory listing).
What to know before you book
It is a hotel designed for going with children and spending the day between the pool and the slides, not for finding peace and quiet.
The location helps: at km 14 the beach is a short walk away, and Puerto Tomás Maestre, with terraces for dinner, is a couple of kilometres off. If you are looking for other hotel or apartment options, they are all in accommodation in La Manga.
More family plans in La Manga
If the hotel does not suit you, or you have already done it and want a change, La Manga has plenty for kids with no entry fee:
The list
- 1The Mar Menor beaches, with no waves and shallow water: you will find the best ones, stretch by stretch, in Mar Menor beaches for children.
- 2A taster session of sailing, kayaking or paddle surfing at a local school: check the water sports and activities and sport listings, and ask about the minimum age.
- 3Eat somewhere with a kids' menu and high chairs: in the restaurant directory each listing shows which services it offers.
- 4If you get a cloudy day, there are ideas to avoid being stuck in the apartment in what to do in La Manga when it rains.
And if you are going with very young children, remember the summer basics here: bring your own shade from midday, water shoes for the Mar Menor shoreline and plenty of water.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bakour La Manga Splash?
On the Gran Vía de La Manga, km 14, in the municipality of San Javier.
Does it have a water park?
Yes. The hotel has its own water park with slides and play areas, as well as the pools.
Can non-residents get in?
Yes. Bakour sells a Day Pass, with the slides and the buffet lunch included, and an Afternoon Pass for the afternoon. They have to be booked in advance.
