Esplendido Hotel

Rooms

Spread over four floors, the wide selection of rooms offer bright, fun and retro-chic styling. Those at the front have glorious views of the tranquil bay; those at the back face the steep garden and most have lovely patios.

We would definitely plump for a sea-view room; even if it's one of the smaller standard rooms. Their white walls are perfectly suited to that special light that you only get by the water's edge. All fourth floor rooms, regardless of size, have Juliette balconies, too. For proper outside space, book a terrace option (we liked their electrically operated canopies).

If you're worried by noise, have small children or simply want a bargain, you might prefer one of the garden view rooms. They’re darker and don’t face the sea, but they are peaceful.

For true luxury, there are the two Atico suites or Suite Esplendido. The Atico suites share a large terrace facing both the sea and garden (so it catches the sun all day), while Suite Esplendido has a separate sitting room and a private terrace with a Jacuzzi.

All rooms are equipped with in-room entertainment systems, WiFi and air-conditioning. There are some fantastic little extras, too - complimentary minibar drinks, restocked daily, Nespresso coffee makers, homemade treats at turndown, even beach bags and flip-flops. Stylish bathrooms have slate floors, good showers and Marie Stella Maris toiletries; most have a bathtub, too.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

An excellent buffet breakfast is served in a smart sea-facing dining room and adjoining terrace (8am-11am). There's a huge array of charcuterie, cheeses and freshly baked bread and pastries, as well as hot dishes to order and the usual cereals, yoghurts, fruit and homemade jams. Jugs are filled with fresh juices and healthy smoothies. It's very relaxed and informal, with plenty of smiling staff keeping things ticking over.

For other meals, we recommend the hotel's bistro restaurant - it's popular with outsiders too, so you will need to book. For dinner, there's a regularly changing contemporary menu of tapas using local ingredients such as fresh Soller red prawns or spider crab croquettes. Classics like burgers, steak and pasta are perfectly cooked, or if you prefer something lighter, the Asian-inspired dishes, especially the grilled seabass with Thai salad and yellow chilli, hit the spot. We loved dining outside on the promenade watching the world go by (though the prices are a little steep). Lunch includes a choice of simple but tasty salads, soups or sandwiches which can also be served poolside.

If you want to head out, Port de Soller has plenty of seafront restaurants. We enjoyed fresh fish at Es Canyis and bolder contemporary fare at Restaurant Agapanto, which is a short walk along the left-hand side of the bay - you'll see its fairy lights twinkling at night from the hotel. Other guest favourites include nearby Sa Barca and Villa Luisa. Return to the hotel bar for a nightcap - they have a fantastic selection of spirits and cocktails.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

This is the best place on Mallorca for combining mountains and sea, and for relaxing in style afterwards...

• Swim from Port de Soller's narrow sandy beach, or take to one of the hotel's 2 outdoor pools (one adults only, the other heated with a kids' area)
  
• Indulge in the spa's indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, waterbeds and thermal showers. Treatments range from Swedish massage to pedicures. You can also pre-book yoga or Pilates sessions (private or group)
  
• Take a stroll along the harbourside - most of the seafront has been pedestrianised, and there are plenty of cafés for pitstops
  
• Stand-up paddle board, with a local company just 30 metres away on Espléndido beach
  
• Take a boat trip from the harbour: there are daily summer cruises along the spectacular coast, including some to the cliff-ringed cove and river gorge of Cala Tuent (though the beach here gets crowded in summer). If you're a bit of a landlubbber, check water conditions beforehand - the sea can be rougher than it looks!
  
• Don't overlook the pretty old town of Soller, with its neo-Gothic churches, modernista architecture and fragrant citrus groves; the historic tram linking it with the port stops outside the hotel every 30 minutes and takes about 10 minutes
  
• Hike into the dramatic mountains behind Soller: popular routes include the pilgrims' path through the Barranc de Biniaraix, the 1000m ascent of L'Ofre, and strolls around the lakes of Cuber and Gorg Blau. Hiking poles are available to borrow from reception
  
• Or wander to one of the lighthouses on the headland for views back to town - and onwards towards Deia
  
• Don your lycra, hire a bike from the shop next door to the hotel and pedal off to explore the local area; they have a good range from electric to kids, and the hotel has a large bicycle storage space
  
• Take the scenic wooden train to Palma for a day among the shops, galleries and tapas bars of the island's capital
  
• Back at the hotel, explore the top floor to find the yoga studio, a series of lounges and a library, with a good selection of books and vinyls
  
• Relax on your terrace or in the leafy gardens (there are plenty of sunloungers), then head to the lounge bar to chill out over a cocktail

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Pilates
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Well being
• Yoga

Kids

Esplendido is one of our most popular hotels in Europe for families, which means there will always be lots of other littl'uns to play with, although with guests returning year after year, many of the children are now in their teens. Staff are very welcoming to all ages and there are plenty of family-focused facilities. The proximity of the beach is a godsend; the town and port are brilliantly child-friendly, and don't underestimate the excitement provided by the many local ice-cream shops and the tram to Soller!

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Book a Large room (28m2) which has a king bed and queen sofa bed plus space for a baby cot. The Esplendido Suite and the two Garden Terrace Family Suites are also suitable for families as they have separate bedrooms. There are 10 pairs of interconnecting double rooms (among Garden View, Garden Terrace, Sea View and Sea View Terrace categories). There are no twin rooms, so children may have to share the sofabed. Garden rooms are darker and more peaceful for smaller kids, though all rooms have shutters and effective blinds.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 35 minutes
• Doctor: 10 minutes
• Supermarket: 400m

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Location:
Esplendido Hotel is centrally located in the seaside town of Port de Soller, approximately 30 minutes from Palma and Mallorca's airport.

By Air:
Fly in to Palma Airport (35km / 30 minutes' drive). From here, we recommend taking a taxi, a hotel-arranged or public transport to Soller. You could hire a car from the airport, but parking at Esplendido can be tricky due to it's central location. Also, make sure you have a few euros with you for the Soller tunnel toll.

Getting around:
There is plenty to keep you occupied around Port de Soller, but if you want to explore further, you could hire a car after a couple of days. We went car-free, making use of the tram to Soller and the train from Soller to Palma.

Detailed directions are provided when your booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Mallorca and getting around