HSM President Golf & Spa

For a hotel with such a grand name you'd be forgiven for expecting something a little more polished at the HSM President Golf & Spa. The hotel was built in the '50s, making it one of the oldest hotels in Alcudia; a new section was also added in 1986. Unfortunately, much of the property still feels like it belongs firmly in the last century. While swathes of white marble do add an touch of class, the reception is a bit of a jumble of '70s-style wood paneling, colored glass, and dowdy seating. Dated feel aside, the hotel is spotlessly clean throughout and staff are friendly and efficient. Set into a rocky hillside, the property has a slightly quirky layout whereby the first guest room level starts on the fourth floor, as well as tiered pool terraces connected by steps (these are not ideal for travelers with special mobility requirements). This does, however, make for some superb sea-view panoramas, while just across the road a short path leads down to a seafront terrace bar and small beach. Although offering most of the facilities you'd expect at a typical resort hotel, the atmosphere is quiet and conservative, attracting mainly older couples, though also a fair share of families on summer vacation. 

The hotel is set into the hillside in a particularly peaceful neighborhood characterized by old fishermen's cottages overlooking the north end of Alcudia Bay. Situated away from the main hubbub of the Port d'Alcudia tourist resort, there are just a couple local restaurants within walking distance and nothing in the way of nightlife. The resort center with its numerous bars and eateries is five to 10 minutes away by car, as is the marina/port and start of the wide sweeping beach. Much closer, however, at just a minute away on foot, is a small sandy beach with calm clear waters. Also just a short stroll away is the 18-hole Alcanada Golf Club, where guests receive a discount. The pretty town of Pollenca is a 15- to 20-minute drive, while the island's capital Palma de Mallorca and the main airport are around 45 minutes away.

The hotel has 238 rooms, nearly all of which have twin-size rather than double beds. They are decorated in a dated -- though spotlessly clean -- combination of textured yellow walls, lots of wood paneling, and floral pattern bedspreads. Doors swing (rather than slide) open to balconies or terraces, around half of which offer lovely and expansive sea views; others overlook a small garden -- which was inhabited by a couple cats during our visit. Amenities include 20-inch flat-screen TVs (the hotel is slowly rolling out 32-inch), mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. The lack of stocked minibars, hot drink facilities, and room service is a shortcoming. Tiled bathrooms are well-maintained, with shower/tub combos, wall-mounted hairdryers, and generic toiletries. In 2015 four Junior Suites were added, which have seating areas and larger sea-view balconies.

Although not immediately obvious, the hotel has quite a range of facilities tucked around its various parts. Most dining takes place in the restaurant, a bright and spacious dining room serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, each with live cooking stations. A snack bar can also be found next to the stage area, and provides reasonably priced sandwiches and salads; a second bar is located across the road, and has a spacious seafront terrace and full a la carte lunch menu (and impressive range of mojitos). Reports suggest quality of food is very good. The stage provides live entertainment nightly, with two professional shows each week. Despite feeling relatively small, the hotel manages to squeeze in three decent-size pools, including a larger-than-average kids' pool, another with sea views, and the third built over two levels. Another highlight is the hotel spa, a high-ceilinged space with plenty of natural light and sea views, plus sauna, steam bath, massage rooms, a modern gym, and large heated indoor pool with whirlpool function. There are also two tennis courts and a football pitch, though these are rarely used. A small kids' club has a sandy playground lacking in shade; organized activities are impressive, and may include archery or darts. The kids' club staffers usually get rave reviews from guests. The hotel provides loungers on the small sandy beach, although the stretch is not exclusive to guests (all beaches are public). Cyclists also have keycard access to a storage shed with desk and tools.

The optional all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner served buffet style, as well as snacks such as burgers and sandwiches at specific times of the day (between mealtimes). Branded soft drinks and beer, as well as local spirits and wines, are covered at the main bar, while the snack bar offers cocktails and a longer list of snacks at a discount; drinks at the beach bar are not included in the plan. Self-service beer and wine in the restaurant are also covered; half-board guests can also pay a small supplement to use these.