Palma ticks all the boxes for a short city break, all year round. The capital of the Balearic Islands, it’s got a lot to offer including a sandy beach, stunning architecture, an abundance of bars and restaurants and a fun nightlife – what more could you want? We hopped over to the island and caught the last of the summer sun, setting up camp in Melia Palma Marina.
The Melia Palma Marina is one of the few Melia hotels in Palma and sits on the waterfront of the city’s port. Palma is a relatively small city and the hotel is around a 20-30 minute walk along the waterside into the city centre. If you’ve exhausted yourself sightseeing, you can also jump on one of the hotel’s free city shuttles. Running at certain times of the day, it takes you directly to Palma’s famous gothic-style cathedral, a definite sight to see in Palma. Other highlights to tick off include Palma’s Arabic baths and Castell de Bellver, and you can take a train to one of the many towns and vineyards dotted around the island. If you’re looking to let your hair down and partying is on the agenda, there are also plenty of bars and clubs only a stone’s throw away.
After pounding the streets of Palma, we caught some rays at the hotel’s rooftop pool. Overlooking the port, we found zen by grabbing a cerveza at the bar, taking a dip in the pool and soaking up the sunshine. To get even more relaxation out of our stay, we checked out Melia Palma’s Yhi Spa, which includes an indoor pool and jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and seven treatment cabins. Access to the Yhi Spa is dependent on the room you book, but can also be purchased as an add-on.
We checked into one of Melia’s Level Premium Rooms with a sea view. Up on the sixth floor, the balcony provided stunning views of the marina and the ideal spot to sit and watch the boats come in and out of the harbour, with a coffee or Cava in hand. Highlights within the room include a whopping king-size bed, a walk-in rainfall shower kitted out with Ritual products, and quiet yet mighty air conditioning to keep you cool, a godsend during those summer months.
When morning came, we headed down to the hotel’s banquet-style breakfast buffet, which was stocked with plenty of goodies to set us up for the day, including local Mallorcan delicacies like sobrasada and ensiamada – two of the best things to come from the island. There is also the Moss restaurant within the hotel, serving up fresh Mediterranean dishes. If your room is part of The Level, you can also get access to the hotel’s private lounge for breakfast, drinks and snacks throughout the day. We recommend taking advantage of their daily cocktail hour and pit-stopping at the self-serving bar on your way into town – free-flowing Cava? Si si!
It’s worth noting that Melia Palma Marina is an adults-only hotel, so we’d recommend checking it out for a romantic getaway or a long weekend with friends. During our stay, we felt right at home at the Melia and were definitely able to make the most of the hotel’s facilities, even with a tight sightseeing schedule.
Av. de Gabriel Roca, 29, 07014 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
melia.com