The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Immerse yourself in Balearic beauty PARK HYATT MALLORCA
The opening of the first Park Hyatt resort in Europe has brought a new standard of luxury to Majorca.
Location 8/10
On a quiet part of the east coast of Majorca – an hour from the airport – in the Cap Vermell estate overlooking Canyamel valley. It is five minutes’ drive from Canyamel beach with plenty more secluded coves and broad bays up and down the coast. Pretty villages and historic towns such as Capdepera and Artà are a 10-minute drive away. The hotel is an ideal base year round for all sorts of activity breaks, including cycling, hiking, riding, fishing and watersports.
Style/character 8/10
The hotel is laid out around a square like a traditional Majorcan village. Clusters of buildings in honeycoloured stone with dusky pink paintwork are divided by streams and paths. Even though it is new, it feels surprisingly authentic and will be even more attractive when the flowers and plants have had a chance to grow and the stone has weathered a bit.
Service & facilities 9/10
Nothing is too much trouble for the cheerful local and international staff. Facilities include two smallish pools – one adults only – plus a paddling pool, but the country club currently under construction (opening spring 2017) at the base of the complex will have huge indoor and outdoor pools, as well as tennis courts and fitness areas. Treatments at the sumptuous Serenitas spa include a terrific quartz sand massage. There are four golf courses within a six-mile radius, including the adjacent Canyamel Golf. Bikes are also available.
Rooms 9/10
The 142 rooms and suites are spacious with classic, understated décor in calming tones of taupe and stone. All have terraces and some have a small garden area. Rooms feature dreamy beds, sockets – including USB – just where you need them, a walk-through wardrobe, Nespresso machine and kettle, Bose Bluetooth speaker and hotel information on a tablet. Bathrooms have dual washbasins, with a television integrated into the mirror and Bottega Veneta toiletries. Overhead and hand-held showers are wet-room style and all rooms have baths.
Food & drink 9/10
The variety of bars and restaurants – all with plenty of outdoor tables – means you could easily spend a few days at the hotel without eating elsewhere. The Balearic restaurant serves traditional Majorcan food with creative touches such as grilled John Dory with plankton risotto. Breakfast also takes place in Balearic, with a lavish buffet and chefs cooking up omelettes, waffles, grilled vegetables and anything else you fancy. Café Sa Plaça is good for a light lunch. There are drinks and snacks at the pool bar during the day, too. David García, who won a Michelin star at Albora in Madrid, is at the helm of the Tapas gastrobar, where the vibe is informal but the gourmet tapas are seriously good. And then there is the superb Asia restaurant, where the menu changes according to the countries that visiting chefs are from.
Value for money 8/10
Double rooms from €400 (£340) in low season; rising to €800 in high. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.
Family-friendly?
One child up to 12-yearsold can stay free per room; there is a charge of €75 for children aged 12 and over. Cots available. The miniclub offers activities for four to 12-year-olds, including T-shirt painting, treasure hunts and musical games. For a complete guide to the best hotels in Majorca, see: telegraph. co.uk/tt-majorcahotels