Drink on a rooftop, anyone? Here are two places to do just that this summer on the east coast of Mallorca. Sky Bar, Sol i Vida in Porto Cristo When I visited this hotel in Porto Cristo in 2019, it had just opened under the name of Som Dona. I’d gone to record an interview with the general manager for my Mallorca Sunshine Radio show back then. Som Dona was newsworthy because it was the […]
The resort of Sa Coma is a half-hour drive from where we live in rural Mallorca, but we stayed for a night there recently because we’d received a gift voucher for a tasting menu lunch at the neighbouring Tomeu Caldentey Cuiner restaurant. Staying in the Protur Sa Coma Playa Hotel & Spa meant we could enjoy some wine with our lunch and make a mini-break of it. We’ve stayed at this 4-star hotel a couple […]
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 […]
If your choice of a hotel is determined by the number of official stars it has, you’ll have plenty of places to choose from in Mallorca: the island now has some 65-and-counting 5-star hotels. If that sounds bewildering, you may wish to check out the Michelin Guide’s new distinction for outstanding hotels: the Michelin Key. It’s the hotel equivalent of the Michelin Star for restaurants and was launched on April 29, 2024. What is the […]
For our first wedding anniversary after moving to Mallorca in 2004 – and several subsequent anniversaries – we spent a night away at the romantic Hotel Valldemossa. The hotel – originally two 19th-century stone houses – has gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and countryside as well as La Cartuja, the Royal Charterhouse. The Polish composer Chopin famously spent a mid-19th century winter in the former monastery with his lover, the writer George Sand (real name […]
La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel – which features several times in my novel Daughter of Deià – re-opens today for the 2024 season. The iconic village hotel celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has plenty of interesting activities and developments lined up. Art This has long been a hotel for lovers of art and, for the third consecutive year, Belmond continues its collaboration with the international art gallery Galleria Continua. As part of the art […]
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 […]
For the third year running, we spent our wedding anniversary (coinciding with Valentine’s Day) at Mallorca’s hideaway, rural 5-star hotel, Finca Can Beneït. This was our fourth visit in total to this beautiful property in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serra de Tramuntana, and each time we’ve found enhancements to the guest experience. The Arrival The first enhancement we noticed this year was the installation of a gate at the entrance to the finca. […]
Where to stay this winter in Mallorca's beautiful Portocolom.
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 […]
Eat Drink Sleep Mallorca 