Zafiro Can Picafort

The Zaifro Can Picafort has the feel of an all-inclusive resort with the benefit of one-bedroom apartment accommodations, which together make it an extremely popular destination for families vacationing with small kids. The resort is located in a quiet area outside of town, but the atmosphere is nothing but, with activities everywhere, all the time, and crowds during the busy season. The enormous pool area is surrounded by a large sundeck with scores of sunbeds, and the vibe is definitely social. Travelers seeking quiet communion with the sun may want to book elsewhere, as happy bands of roaming toddlers don't make for a peaceful sanctuary. The resort is surrounded by lush gardens and lawns, but the common spaces are not terribly unique or bursting with island character. There are plenty of common spaces, but they are filled with numerous tables and chairs. For families traveling together, and tourists up for a good time, including plenty of games and sports and, of course, sun time, the Zafiro Can Picafort is a good, safe choice.

The Zafiro Can Picafort is located in a quiet area on the north shore of Mallorca, in Santa Margalida, a 15-minute walk from the beach at Playa de Picafort. Downtown Can Picafort is about a 15- to 20-minute walk from the resort; the town has a number of restaurants, bars, and shops. The nearest grocery store is a half-mile away, and, conveniently, cars and bikes can be rented at the hotel. Palma airport is within a 50-minute drive.

Rooms at the Zafiro Can Picafort are all one-bedroom apartments in a variety of layouts. Each apartment has a balcony with a pool or garden view; many ground-floor apartments have private lawns with hammocks and lounge chairs for a real luxury feel. Units are modern, spacious, and clean, but feel a little bare because the decor is all beige, with light-wood furniture, and clay-colored tile floors. A few upgrades were made after our visit, such as padded headboards and colorful accent pillows on sofas, but the overall effect is still drab. Some colorful artwork or other accents would go a long way toward further brightening up the spaces. Apartments have living room areas with sofa-sleepers, and kitchenettes equipped with sinks, microwaves, two-burner cooktops, coffeepots, kettles, toasters, mini-fridges, cookware, dishes, and utensils. Bathrooms are clean and modern, with shower/tub combos and sufficient counter space. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free toiletries, and safes (though use incurs a fee). Housekeeping services are provided only on weekdays.

Swim-up apartments, which provide direct access to the pool from private terraces, were added after our visit. Royal Terrace Apartments, located on the top floor, offer access to a shared rooftop lounge with hot tub and Balinese beds.

The Zafiro Can Picafort is built around a huge, lagoon-style pool and sun area. There are toddler and baby pool areas, a swim-up bar, and a fun water park and splash pool for kids, complete with a pirate-ship slide. The pool is surrounded by lots of colorful sunbeds and beach umbrellas, and there's a poolside bar, La Palapa, which offers a kids' menu, cocktails, and an adult bistro menu. The property has seven outdoor pools, including a separate relaxation pool surrounded by breezy cabanas and five swim-up pools attached to apartments, added after our visit. A large fitness center is well stocked with cardio, weight, and other fitness equipment; the hardwood floors, natural light, and flat-screen TVs make it a pleasant place to sweat. Other amenities include a soccer pitch, putting green, games room with ping-pong and pool tables, a movie theater with twice-daily screenings, and bike rental and repair services. The kids' club will keep the younger set engaged all day long, including at the big playground, and nightly mini-disco, before the formal evening entertainment begins. The Caprice Buffet restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, as well as themed dinner buffets in a dining room that can often be crowded, but works well for families with kids. There's an a la carte Grill for more upscale dinners, and the Babalu Café Lounge Bar serves fresh juices, soft drinks, beer, and cocktails. A Sports Bar shows soccer and other games and is equipped with a pool table. For guests who don’t want to venture off-site, there's a fairly large supermarket at the resort, stocked with Spanish and international food items, diapers and baby supplies, pool toys, liquor, and souvenirs. Finally, there's a lobby business center for printing boarding passes and accessing the Web, and on-site laundry facilities, a near necessity for families with kids.