Last year, Michelin announced a new distinction, for hotels rather than restaurants. The Michelin Key is awarded to hotels that are ‘not simply a room for the night, but offer an outstanding stay’. The Michelin Key hotels are the crème de la crème of the more than 5,000 hotels featured around the globe in their famous guides. The awarded hotels ‘excel in design, architecture, service and personality’. A hotel does not have to have a certain number […]
There’s nothing quite like a spa experience to help you unwind and benefit from some time away from tech screens and other distractions. If your holiday accommodation in Mallorca doesn’t have a spa, or you’re an island resident who wants some time out, the website Hotel Treats is worth a look. Two of my girlfriends and I recently bought our first Hotel Treats’ spa pass and lunch. Our chosen hotel was Palma’s smart, contemporary-style 4-star […]
Here are three more rural hotels in Mallorca with restaurants that I recommend. Jacaranda This is the restaurant of the 5-star Finca Serena, the appropriately named rural hotel near Montuïri, in the heart of Mallorca. The estate covers some 40 hectares that are home to vineyards, more than 800 olive trees, and fresh-produce plots, but also plenty of space for walking, jogging (if you’re so inclined), and soaking up the peace and beauty of the […]
I’ve become such a country girl since we moved to rural Mallorca in 2004. Although I love the buzz of eating out in Palma and the pleasures of a seaside restaurant, sometimes I crave the tranquillity of eating in a rural restaurant. There’s something about hearing birdsong and cicadas along with the soft buzz of conversation and gentle sounds of cutlery meeting crockery that soothes my soul. Here are some of my recommended rural restaurants […]
For anyone who’s visited this famous village, finding sanctuary when the streets are crowded with tourists sounds a little unlikely. But the sanctuary I’m thinking of is in a place of tranquillity and natural beauty on the edge of Valldemossa. Hotel Valldemossa describes itself as a natural sanctuary. This adults-only 5-star hotel reopened last summer after the IT Mallorca group of hotels acquired and renovated it. Five-star hotels with spa facilities are in abundance in […]
I’ve written about Ca’n Beneït in Binibona before because it’s my favourite small rural hotel in Mallorca. I love the people who work there, the surrounding countryside of the Serra de Tramuntana foothills, the handsome ginger cat, and so much more. We’ve stayed in several of the rooms and suites but for our latest visit – in February – we were in the Panorama Suite, which truly lives up to its name, being on the […]
If you’ve ever wondered about the golden crossed-keys pins that some hotel concierges in Mallorca (and around the world) wear on their jacket lapels, read on to find out more about this elite sector of the luxury hospitality business. These concierges are members of the global professional association known as Les Clefs d’Or or, in Spanish, Las Llaves de Oro. Around 4,000 members of this association work in over 80 countries and 530 destinations all […]
The Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel is set on the verdant, hillside area of Mallorca known as Son Vida. It overlooks the island’s capital and the Bay of Palma beyond and has been described as the Beverley Hills of Mallorca because of its allure for the wealthy. Here’s where you’ll find architect-designed villas with sumptuous gardens, all enjoying breathtaking views and privacy. The owners of these properties have fairly easy access to a highway all […]
Have you ever booked a hotel on the basis that it had a spa … and then not used the facility during your stay? I know I have. It might have been a reluctance to go through the hassle of changing into swimming gear or sportswear, or finding that the spa didn’t live up to expectations (I remember a hotel spa that was too chilly for poolside relaxation after a swim). One spa that is […]
Have you stayed in Binibona in Mallorca? It's a rural hideaway that's home to a highly recommended hotel with only ten rooms and suites and a high level of personal service. Find out why we love it.
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