Mallorca has been one of my favourite islands for a long time, especially after A and me got married there a few a years ago and hold lots of precious memories linked to the island. We usually try to visit Mallorca every year for a long weekend, but haven’t enjoyed the luxury of staying a little longer until now – a fact that we changed this September when we decided to spend our fall vacation on the island. To make the most of our stay, we chose two of the Mallorca’s best hotels, beginning with five fantastic days at the St. Regis Mardavall. Read along to learn more about our stay at this stunning resort.
The perfect Mallorca hideaway by the sea
As we had done quite a big long-distance trip earlier this year as well as many shorter city escapes, we were looking for a laidback vacation with lots of sunshine, quality time by the pool and beach as well as fantastic food. We knew that The St. Regis Mardavall ticks all of these boxes, as we had stayed at the resort during a previous holiday five years ago. The resort, which is considered as one of the most luxurious properties on the island, is located near Punta Negra, in the southwestern part of Mallorca and only a twenty minutes drive from Palma.
We arrived at the St. Regis Mardavall in the morning after an early flight and despite having noticed the hotel about our early arrival time, there was no one at the valet parking or the reception. However the friendly concierge team took over and escorted us to the beautiful bar terrace where a coffee as well as fantastic ocean views made up for the wait. After about 20 minutes a friendly receptionist took care of our check-in procedure. As the room wasn’t ready for another two hours, we took advantage of our wait by enjoying the fabulous breakfast buffet as well as taking a first walk around the beautiful property.
Set against the famous Tramuntana hills on one side and against the Mediterranean Sea on the other side, the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca is surrounded by lush gardens with beautiful flower arrangements, palm trees and pines in which you immediately can feel the serenity of a true luxury resort.
A brand new room design
As we booked our stay directly through SPG (now: Marriott Rewards) Platinum services, we were upgraded from a Deluxe Room to a seafront Junior Suite. located on the fifth floor of the main building. The Junior Suite had a lovely balcony overlooking the garden and pool area and of course: the deep blue sea! All hotel rooms have gone through a much needed make-over in early 2018, so that the Junior Suite we were allocated in was more than brand new. Combining wooden floors, luxurious blue and beige fabrics and modern accessories, the layout of the room felt elegant but airy. The bed was huge and extremely comfortable, with luxurious cotton linens and lots of pillows.
Our beautiful and newly renovated Junior Suite
Our balcony, was spacious and offered great views
What I especially liked about the room layout was the spacious closet area located in the hallway and kept separate from the main room. Same for the spacious bathroom, which was equipped with a walk-in rain shower, a bathtub, a double-sink as well as a separate toilet area. I love it when the bathroom has enough space and is well equipped with enough towels and high-quality products. Both is a given in any St. Regis resort I’ve visited so far and the Mardavall resort is no exception: Super soft towels, bathrobes as well as Remède amenities made our bathroom the perfect mini Spa experience. The bathroom has plenty of daylight too coming from a window facing the room.
To round things up, our Junior Suite was equipped with quite an impressive mini bar area as well as a Nespresso coffee machine (always a big plus when traveling with A as you know). Apart from the regular housekeeping in the morning, the St. Regis Mardavall also offers an impeccable turn down service, with fresh towels and water every night. Which brings me to one of the most special things about every St. Regis property: The service.
Our bathroom was equipped with a double sink and a big bathtub
What you need to know about the service at St. Regis Mardavall
First and most important thing: As in every St. Regis resort you have the unique butler service at your disposal when staying at the Mardavall. And as in every St. Regis it is great: From the friendliest room tour in the industry to helping out with questions, packing service or complimentary daily pressing: The St. Regis butler service has (and does) it all and I like it a lot.
I terms of front-desk, pool and restaurants, the service of the St. Regis Mardavall was good as well, but not as great. I think what I didn’t like was that it was not 100% consistent – so there were good and bad days, very much depending on the team on duty. Some days the team would be super friendly and attentive, other days we would have to wait to get someones attention when trying to order something and not even be greeted. So if I would improve one single thing it would be the service level – something I think is crucially important for a high luxury resort such as the St. Regis Mardavall.
On the positive hand, the staff speaks several languages, which is good if you don’t speak Spanish (which we both do, but I know that for many guests is important).
Choose between the pool, the Spa or the Mediterranean Sea
I’ve seen quite a few hotels and pool areas while being on Mallorca during the last few years, but nothing beats the St. Regis Mardavall when it is time to relaxing, sunbathing and swimming. As mentioned before, the resort is surrounded by a beautiful garden, which is at the same time the lounge area around the huge hotel pool. The loungers are comfortable, the towels are fluffy and there is a lot of shade provided either through pine trees or umbrellas. It also never feels crowded and you got privacy and space. The pool area is serviced – so you can order drinks and food at your lounger or can go to the pool bar area to grab a bite.
The St. Regis Mardavall has an ocean front location, but be aware that it’s not your classic beach resort. Instead, there is a small bay with a (more or less private) landing stage, from where you can take a dip into the Mediterranean Sea. The view is beautiful and the waters are crystal clear and there are barely any people there. I really enjoyed the quiet location.
If the huge pool and the sea are not enough, you can also enjoy a day at the fantastic Arabella Spa. The access is complementary for hotel guests and includes several indoor pools, an outdoor pool area with daybeds, different saunas and a gym.
The good life: Food and drinks at the St. Regis Mardavall
Let’s talk about one of the most important things for me when traveling: Food and drinks. The breakfast buffet at Acqua was amazing, with lots of fresh fruit, cereal and eggs made to order. Additionally the buffet was well equipped with cold cuts, cheese and a lovely bread and pastry selection. For lunch, we only tried the pool bar, which was fine but somewhat underwhelming compared to the price tag it comes with. For dinner you can either dine à la carte at Acqua or at Es Fum – the Michelin Star restaurant of the hotel. The St. Regis invited us to try the latter, which was such an amazing experience that I wrote a whole post about our dinner which you should check out.
Breakfast is enjoyed best on the beautiful terrace.
Light and lovely: Lunch at the pool bar.
Restaurant Acqua has a nice terrace and beautiful interior design.
Es Vent offers a range of cocktails as well as champagne and cava.
Passport & Palmtree conclusion
I think the St. Regis Mardavall is one of the most beautiful resorts Mallorca has to offer and it definitely lives up to their high luxury 5 star status. The new room design is a game changer, making the resort feel like a true home away from home. Of course the pricetag is very high, not only for the rooms but also for any kind of oncosts like food and drinks. This as well as the fact that the resort is mostly frequented by German guests should be something you are aware of before booking. For a vacation where you want to relax and enjoy yourself, the St. Regis Mardavall is the perfect choice and we would definitely come back.
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