Calle Sant Bartomeu 24, El Arenal, Spain | (251) 219-4428
A five-minute walk from a lovely beach
Convenient location for exploring Palma and a few surrounding beaches
In walking distance of local bars, restaurants, and entertainment
Small but satisfactory spa with sauna
Guest rooms are clean and have balconies
Small indoor and outdoor pools, and a poolside bar
Meeting rooms available
No tea- and coffee-making facilities in the rooms
Wi-Fi is reportedly hit or miss, especially on higher floors
Restaurant food can be lukewarm and unappealing
Dated, mishmash decor in the meeting rooms
There are better adults-only hotels in Mallorca. Though there's nothing terribly wrong with the mid-range, 133-room Torre Azul, it isn't special enough to warrant a stay, aside from the inexpensive all-inclusive deals that entice many of its guests. Guest rooms, while unmemorable and a bit dreary, do have balconies and flat-screen TVs. Decor is hit and miss, the food is often unappealing, the pool is small, and the views are uninspiring. It does not deliver on its four-star status, but as a three-pearl, would be considered a better value. For a more cheerful, more freshly maintained option, the nearby Mediterranean Bay Hotel is a much better choice.
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Scene
Adults-only hotel a few blocks from the beach
Now a family-run hotel, the Torre Azul has changed hands a few times over the past decades, and it shows. There isn't a consistent theme to the decor, and while certain features are impressive -- a sparkling piano in the bar area, for instance -- they feel out of place in the hotel's otherwise dated atmosphere. As with the 10-story white building, the restaurant is vast and quite bland, with no distinctive style to speak of. The lobby at least offers some more interesting touches such as an engraved wood reception desk. As an adults-only hotel, it offers peace and privacy, though unfortunately is surrounded by lower-end establishments and favored by a noisier, younger crowd. There can be disturbing noise on the street, though this has more to do with the hotel's location than property management.
Location
Arenal has seen better days, but is still home to a beautiful beach
Arenal is a part of Mallorca that saw its heyday in the '60s, '70s, and '80s, but that has slowly gone downhill ever since. It is home to lots of rusty rooftops and buildings in need of serious repair, and can feel seedy in certain parts, especially the further one gets from the water. That said, it has a beautiful beach with a wide shore of white sand and calm crystalline waters. In high season, this beach is usually packed, but it's always a cheerful, if not occasionally rowdy place to be. It's full of bars, restaurants, touristy shops, fast food joints, and seaside shacks mainly catered to German tourists. The Torre Azul is just a five-minute walk away from the sea, and with a bus stop to Palma city just a two-minute walk from the hotel, it's a convenient base from which to explore the city. The Palma de Mallorca Airport is just under 10 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Dark basic furniture with average views
The dark wooden furniture in the rooms at the Torre Azul make it feel more like a business hotel than a beach resort. Other than having a balcony and flat-screen TV, which reportedly only has one English channel (though many German ones), the rooms are basic. Decor includes pink-striped bedding and curtains, with cream-colored walls. The shower/tub combos are spacious, and the bathrooms are clean, with nice granite countertops. The hairdryers look ancient, but the selection of toiletries includes aromatherapy salts, which are a nice touch. The Double Room with sea view is a bit of a misnomer, as the view is really of a few rundown hotel towers with a slither of blue in the distant skyline. For a bit more water in sight, opt for a room with a pool view. Being on a higher floor isn't necessarily an advantage, as the skyline isn't remarkable. Minibars and safes are available on request, and rooms are air-conditioned -- though somewhat inconsistently.
Features
Decent spa, small but private outdoor pool, and meeting rooms with mishmash decor
The Torre Azul's most outstanding feature is its spa, which has a nice sauna and rainforest shower, though the giant print of a tropical Buddha that lines the wall behind the indoor pool doesn't feel authentic or inspire much peace. Similarly unfortunate decorative choices are common throughout the hotel, which has several lounges and a meeting room filled with a mishmash of dated and gaudy furniture. Though clean, spacious, and well-kept, the dining area -- where guests feast on often lukewarm or unappealing choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- is in need of actualizing. The piano at the bar is a beauty, but given the underwhelming decor of the bar itself, feels completely out of place. The hotel's pool is small for a property of its size, but is surrounded by trees and greenery, which provide a nice degree of privacy. Wi-Fi is free but the signal is reportedly quite poor.
