Innside By Meliá Palma Bosque

With the last of three phases of renovations completed in 2017, the Innside Palma Bosque (formerly Tryp Bosque) has undergone quite a dramatic transformation. Its facade is now a swish combination of matte silver, crisp white, and shimmering glass that overlooks an equally sharp and modern front terrace. Stepping inside, the reception area is also unrecognizable from its former incarnation. The space is bright, smart, and tasteful, with 21st-century styling that blends cool concrete floors, low-profile furniture, and white marble-topped tables. Chilled-out dance music creates a buzzing, club-like vibe, and colorful works by popular Palma graffiti artists add some hip urban cachet. The front desk is also deliberately unobtrusive, with the aim to integrate the hotel's public space with the surrounding neighborhood.

The open-plan lobby extends through to a relaxed restaurant and lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hotel's shimmering centerpiece -- a fabulously polished pool terrace where guests float on inflatable flamingos perfecting their Instagram pose. Toward the rear of the property is a spacious sun terrace overlooking an unexpectedly peaceful tiered garden, with labeled herbs and botanical plants. The property mostly welcomes younger vacationing couples and friends stopping in Palma for a few days, and while on our summer 2017 visit, we noticed it's a popular stopover hotel for airline pilots and other crew.

The Innside Palma Bosque is located in the Son Armadams neighborhood west of Palma's center in residential area with local bars, shops, and restaurants. It's less than 10 minutes on foot to the Paseo Maritimo promenade and main road that edges the city's marina along Palma's busy seafront. From here, buses regularly run to Palma's charming Old Town. The trendy Santa Catalina neighborhood brimming with restaurants and bars is about 15 minutes on foot, as is the 14th-century hilltop Bellver Castle. Sandy beaches at Cala Major and Palma Beach (Can Pere Antoni) are both about a 10-minute drive away, while Illetas Beach is 30 minutes via bus (which stops just outside the hotel). Mallorca Airport is about 15 to 20 minutes' drive. 

All of the hotel's 271 guest rooms have benefitted from a makeover, with a sharp monochrome palette, wood-effect floors, and modern minimalist furnishings. Road-facing rooms tend to lack outdoor space but they're slightly larger, and most units open to balconies overlooking the pool. "Swim Up" rooms aren't exactly that, but open to terraces that connect to the pool. On the high-end, 11th-floor "Bay View" rooms feature superb sweeping panoramas that take in the cathedral, partial sea views, and surrounding mountains.

All rooms come with free reliable Wi-Fi, 32-inch flat-screen TVs (with mostly Spanish and German, but a few English-speaking channels), and free minibars replenished daily with water, juice, and Coke. Upgraded perks include hooded bathrobes and espresso machines, with the addition of local craft beer in the free minibars and larger (43-inch) TVs. 

All bathrooms are open-plan -- so not ideal for non-couples -- with spacious rainfall walk-in showers in the center that frosted glass. Toiletries are quality Sampar brand and hairdryers professional standard. "Swim Up" rooms also add large soaking tubs positioned next to the sliding terrace doors. 

The hotel certainly scores high for leisure and relaxation facilities. Much of the action takes place around the super-chic 65-foot (20 meter) seasonal outdoor swimming pool, which is lined with loungers and Bali beds (reservable for a fee with various drinks packages). There's also a separate splash pool for kids and free pool towels. During warmer months, the glass wall of the neighboring indoor pool opens up to provide direct access, and it's closed off and heated during the rest of the year. Just upstairs from here is a large sun terrace with more loungers and daybeds. A sauna and steam room are also available to guests, plus there's a super-modern gym with a virtual fitness room offering guided workouts that include yoga, spinning, pilates, and even meditation.

Dining is also a highlight at Innside Palma Bosque. Each morning a quality spread of hot and cold items, including eggs, bacon, and plenty of healthy options, is served in the bright and contemporary restaurant for an extra charge. Several times a week, breakfast is accompanied by live DJs, which not all guests appreciate. The eatery is also open for lunch and dinner, serving reasonably priced quality dishes that fuse Peruvian and Japanese favorites, and there's pasta on the menu. Room service is available until late in the evening. For much of the day, the space has the informal feel of a coffee shop, while in the evening the vibe moves to the cocktail bar. The 2017 renovations added a rooftop bar terrace with retractable ceiling overlooking the pool that stays open until late, with regular DJs.