Salles Hotel Marina Portals

From the road the Salles Hotel Marina Portals looks more conference center than resort, with its uniform rows of thin windows and broad, characterless facade of gray brick. Once inside, however, the austere frontage gives way to rather lavish interiors that combine plenty of the hotel's original features -- swathes of marble and elegant chandeliers -- and a masculine and moody palette of red, black, and stainless steel. Despite its 1970s origins, thanks to the last major renovation in 2015, most of the hotel's public areas feel smart and modern. Numerous neoclassical statues from cupids to Roman busts are also scattered throughout the polished property and its monochrome-striped hallways. Set into a hillside, guests actually enter the hotel on the third of seven floors, with the ground floor opening up to extensive and well-tended gardens (though overlooked by an ugly apartment block). It's mostly couples at this upscale hotel, though families with kids and vacationing groups are also well-represented. We heard plenty of British accents on our visit, as well as a few German, French, and Spanish guests.

The hotel is located on the main road that winds through the Majorcan town of Portals Nous -- one of the more upscale and relaxed resorts set on the west coast of Palma Bay. There are a few cafes, restaurants, and shops in the immediate area, while a 10-minute walk downhill is the millionaire yachts, high-end shops, and refined eateries of Puerto Portals. Right next to the marina is a short stretch of beach, and around the coast another relatively secluded sandy cove. Roughly 12 minutes on foot is the aquarium and amusement part of Marineland Mallorca, and the Real Golf Beninat golf course is a seven-minute drive. A 10-minute drive to the west is the wild nightlife of Magaluf, while in the other direction, the more civilized cobbled streets of Palma are 20 minutes away; Palma de Mallorca Airport takes around the same time. 

All of the hotel's 188 rooms have been renovated between 2013 and 2015, with old dark-wood furnishings replaced with sleek, white minimalist fittings, large padded white headboards, and fabrics in several hues of blue. Old-fashioned terra-cotta tile floors and textured walls, however, remain and date the interiors a tad. All rooms open to balconies or terraces, with rattan seating and views over the gardens and surrounding hills; the top two floors also have partial sea views and none overlook the road. In-room amenities include coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars (well-stocked minus spirits), and 32-inch flat-screen TVs with a handful of English-speaking channels (including one for kids). Wi-Fi is free of charge, reliable, and speedy; safes are old key-style though also free. Wall-to-wall marble- or stone-clad bathrooms are crisp and equipped with shower/tub combos with both rainfall and handheld showerheads. Toiletries are chain-branded and all rooms come with slippers and bathrobes. Family rooms have two of everything, including two terraces, minibars, and TVs.

An extensive buffet breakfast is always included in the rate and served in the hotel's spacious and bright dining room; there are also a station offering cooked-to-order eggs and an alfresco terrace (added in 2015) overlooking the gardens. Buffet lunch and dinner are also available, with show cooking, for a supplement or part of a half-board plan. A lobby-side bar/restaurant offers a la carte breakfast, together with a tapas menu from lunch until late; there are also a separate dining area, big-screen TVs, and twice-weekly entertainment. Light meals and snacks are also served at one of two poolside bars. Most guests agree that food quality is generally better than average. 

Facilities are also impressive, with a large kidney-shaped pool and separate relax pool (with submerged loungers) surrounded by spacious sun terraces. Sunbeds were all replaced in 2016 and are topped with comfy cushions, and Bali daybeds and apple-shaded pods are also available to hire (though expensive). Waiter drink service is available around the pool. Once a disco, the hotel's spa is a atmospheric space full of mosaic and neoclassical touches, offering a bubbling heated pool, aromatic showers, sauna, and steam bath, plus body treatments that include chocolate therapy. Child-friendly fun comes in the form of a splash pool, a pirate-themed playground, and an indoor soft play area, though there's no kids' club or animation program.