Blau Privilege PortoPetro Beach Resort & Spa

Under an unassuming portico between two windowless walls, the hotel's main entrance gives little indication of the vast and sprawling resort that lies beyond. Inside, the reception space is smart and contemporary, with polished limestone floors, bold back-lit light features, and a spiral staircase down to the lobby bar below. Lighting is low and moody, creating a relaxed, upscale vibe, with jewel-color sofas providing a splash of warmth to the generally neutral decor. 

Blue-tiled walkways link the numerous rows of low-rise accommodation blocks, though some are starting to look a little weather-worn. The buildings themselves were built in 2005, and none are over three stories. Regular golf buggies transport guests between the various sections of the massive resort and around its picturesque pine-forested grounds, extending over half a mile along the cliffs and affording spectacular sea views. Clientele is an even mixture of couples and families, mostly originating from the U.K. and Germany. 

The resort skirts almost half a mile of rocky coastline overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the southeastern corner of Majorca. The charming fishing village of Porto Petro, with its picturesque marina and handful of restaurants, is just under 10 minutes on foot, while the larger resort town Cala D'Or, with its numerous bars, restaurants and shops, is 10 minutes' drive. The hotel has direct access to two small beaches (with sunbeds and umbrellas for a fee), but there are also many nearby coves to explore -- the white sandy beach and nature reserve of Cala Mondrago can be reached in 20 minutes by local bus (10 minutes by car).  Palma de Mallorca Airport and the beautiful old town of Palma are about an hour's drive away. 

Nine separate accommodation blocks houses the resort's 319 rooms and suites. All are similarly decorated in soft tones with homey contemporary furnishings, tile floors, and patterned fabrics. They have spacious furnished balconies or terraces, many featuring lovely sea views.  Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi (which can sometimes be slow), well-stocked minibars, and flat-screen TVs (with limited English-speaking channels). Turndown service is provided and room service is available 24/7. Some rooms are very far from reception, restaurants, and other facilities (block nine is the farthest), but a buggy service is available at regular intervals and can be requested by phone. 

Standard Rooms have a small sofa bed area in the bedroom which can accommodate one child, while Family Rooms have extra beds or an adjoining room as well as the sofa bed. Junior Suites have large semi-partitioned lounge areas, while Suites have separate lounge areas, second bathrooms, and larger terraces. Bathrooms are bright and contemporary with black marble vanity units and underfloor heating; most have walk-in showers, and some have shower/tub combos. Robes and slippers are provided throughout. 

Private villas with sea views and butler service are also available. These villas have two bedrooms (one with a double bed, one with two twins), two bathrooms, and large living areas with fridges, microwaves, and Nespresso machines. The large terraces of the villas have tables and chairs, sun loungers, and private pools or whirlpool tubs. 

The free buffet breakfast offers a wide choice, including cooked-to-order eggs options, sparkling wine, and fruit smoothies (although coffee is from a self-service machine). There are five different bar areas in the resort, one of which is for adults only (PURAbar Ponent), as well as four restaurants, and a barbecue area with picnic tables. The First Date restaurant is tailored to romantic meals but can be pricey, while La Finca serves breakfasts and lunches outdoors and offers cookery classes in the evenings. The main restaurant offers breakfast and dinner with sea views, and there is also a Japanese restaurant, Midori. 

The resort has extensive sporting facilities, including nine tennis courts (five hard soil and four clay), four swimming pools (one for adults only, one indoor and heated), water sports on-site, outdoor exercise classes, and a well-equipped gym. A large spa offers a wide range of treatments as well as sauna, steam room, and hydrotherapy pool. Younger guests are well catered for with a playground, pool area, games room, and a free kids' club. There is also a large conference center in the resort; reports suggest breakfast can be very busy during conferences.