Castillo Hotel Son Vida

4 April 2023HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Marriott
Location: Palma – Mallorca
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: https://www.marriott.com/es/hotels/pmilc-castillo-hotel-son-vida-a-luxury-collection-hotel-mallorca/overview/

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida and I must say, it was a truly memorable experience. Castillo Hotel Son Vida is a luxury hotel located in the hills overlooking the city of Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The hotel is situated within a 13th-century castle that has been carefully restored and renovated to offer modern amenities while retaining its historic charm and grandeur. I love the fact that they still kept the ancient touches throughout the entire hotel while it has been modernized over the years. Behind every corner, there’s another surprise waiting for you. Paintings, pictures and other art work, it’s all there and I loved learning more about this historical place.

The hotel features 164 luxurious guest rooms and suites, each of which is elegantly furnished and decorated with classic and trendy touches. Many of the rooms offer stunning views over the city of Palma and the Mediterranean Sea. Part of the rooms are renovated last year and they did an amazing job. Let me tell you more about the rooms later.

From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the stunning panoramic views over Palma that greeted me, and these continued to take my breath away throughout my stay. I couldn’t stop taking pictures. The lobby at Castillo Hotel Son Vida is very luxuriously appointed and truly has this castle-feeling especially with the grand staircase.

Front desk staff was very welcoming and gave us all the information we needed to know about the hotel. Our room keys were handed in seconds and we were ready to explore our beautiful room.

As mentioned, the deluxe room we stayed in was very luxuriously appointed. I really appreciated the contemporary style. The room was large and offered comfortable beds and a cozy sitting area with nice couch and a design chair. The room has been decorated with style. The nice balcony with a panoramic view over the gardens was a great bonus!

Bathroom was a five star bathroom for sure with double sinks, large bath tub and a separate oversized (rain)shower. Separate toilet is always nice. The local toiletries were of a great quality, they smelled great.

One of the highlights of my stay was the massage I had at the hotel’s spa. The therapist was very nice and professional, and the treatment itself was simply wonderful. It began with a gentle scrub to prepare my skin, and then continued with a deeply relaxing massage that left me feeling completely rejuvenated. In some hotels, the treatment rooms are quite dark, but here at Castillo Son Vida there’s a lot of natural light that came in the room. Loved it. The spa area also has an indoor pool with jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. That’s right, even when it’s raining you can enjoy a swim. A full size fitness facility is available as well!

Speaking of swimming, the outdoor pools are gorgeous. Surrounded by palm trees it makes you feel like you’re in paradise. As the hotel is located on a hill, the views are beautiful. Castillo Hotel Son Vida is surrounded by a golf course. The area is maintained in an excellent way as you would expect. And since this is an adults only hotel, there are no kids here.

The food at the hotel was truly exceptional, with a wide range of delicious dishes to choose from. Every meal I had was expertly prepared and beautifully presented, and I particularly enjoyed the breakfasts outside with the perfect picture view. The breakfast buffet has something to offer for anyone! I particularly liked the fresh orange juice, smoothies and local pastries. Oh, and we had the best table with the best view!

At night, we had dinner at Es Castell Restaurant. The meal began with a serving of ham and truffle croquettes, which were absolutely delicious. The croquettes were perfectly cooked, with a crispy exterior and a rich, creamy filling that was bursting with flavor. The truffle added a wonderful earthy note that complemented the ham perfectly, making for a truly memorable start to the meal.

For my main course, I opted for the lamb, and it was one of the best lamb dishes I have ever had. The lamb was perfectly cooked, with a tender, juicy texture and a wonderful depth of flavor that was both rich and subtle. The accompanying vegetables were also expertly prepared, with just the right amount of seasoning to bring out their natural sweetness and flavor.

For dessert, I couldn’t resist the crème brûlée, and it did not disappoint. The custard was perfectly smooth and creamy, with a rich vanilla flavor that was perfectly balanced by the crisp, caramelized sugar topping. It was the perfect ending to a truly exceptional meal.

An after drink in Bar Armas is highly recommended. Here you can see some ancient weapons while you enjoy a wonderful drink.

Castillo Hotel Son Vida is exquisite, with a wonderful sense of luxury and elegance in every corner. However, what really made my stay stand out was the exceptional level of service and attention to detail that I received from the staff.

Overall, I cannot recommend Castillo hotel Son Vida highly enough. If you’re looking for a truly special experience with exceptional views, food, and spa treatments, this is the place to be.

The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort

27 May 2021HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: St. Regis – Marriott
Location: Mallorca – Spain
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.stregismardavall.com

The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort is rated as one of the best hotels of Mallorca and I couldn’t wait to explore this luxurious five star resort. What is so unique about the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort is the personal touch. Every single element seems like it has been curated and vetted to the extent that every experience there seems like you are in a pillow of comfort, midst of tranquility, and bathed in luxury.

The resort is beautifully located on the southwest coast of Mallorca. Make sure to check out the bay area just behind the resort. It is just stunning!

As soon as you walk into the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, you are welcomed with wonderful smiles. Staff made us feel home in just seconds and gave us all the information we needed to know about the hotel. I just couldn’t wait to explore and experience this place. The grand lobby area itself is spacious and very appealing. I love the fact that they do take their time to check-in their guests. There is no large check-in desk here, but separate desks where guests are welcomed in a very personal way. This definitely is the highlight at the St. Regis Mardavall – the high level of personalized service! Each room comes with a personal butler service.

Let’s start with the rooms.

The St. Regis Mardavall has very spacious rooms. Our junior suite was superbly comfortable, very clean and filled with all the right amenities for a relaxing holiday. All rooms are of a very high standard and offer views of the beach or garden. The king sized bed is among the best I experienced. It is all in the details here, of example: I contacted the hotel upfront to request of soft bed. Upon arrival they took care of the request. Each guest is treated as an individual and every single request was suited. Just amazing! Another thing I really appreciated was the sitting area with two good sized couches and electronically controlled drapes. The rooms have been renovated over the last years and all look stunning. They all come with a Nespresso coffee machine, fully stocked minibar and an oversized desk. The view from our balcony was breathtaking!

The bathroom was beautifully tiled and contained many amenities, including a separate large walk in shower for two and a wonderful bath tub. Fancy Remède toiletries are offered, I am in love with those products. Did you forget your tooth brush or shaving products? No problem, each room provides them in case you forgot to bring yours.

Again, do note that a booking at the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort comes with a butler service that will make sure you will have a great time. Really nothing is asked for too much! We needed some extra hangers for our clothes – for example – and they brought some in just minutes and helped us unpacking. Great! The service level truly is out of this world!

Every space of this hotel is clean, engaging and inspires you to focus on your wellbeing. Speaking of wellbeing, Arabella spa is quite large and is located on the ground floor of the hotel. The place is designed to relax and forget about your worries. There’s an indoor/outdoor pool with plenty of loungers. I particularly liked the salt water pool with adjoining saunas (Finnish + salt) and steam room. If you are into working out, the hotel offers a large fitness facility.

Make sure to book a treatment here. I thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing full body spa treatment. For me the experience was like returning to balance… it was like an escape from the everyday and physical wellbeing while being in the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca’s tranquil and welcoming surroundings.

The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort has several pools and the most stunning gardens. It does look like paradise here! We enjoyed the pools and the surrounding areas. This resort is huge and there’s a lot of privacy for the guests. No party music here, no yelling or screaming. It is very peaceful. Do note that kids are very welcome at this hotel. They have their own place where they can be kids and play and fool around. There’s even a kids club that will make sure children have a wonderful time.

Regarding the food and drinks, choices here are endless!

The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort offers a wide variety of bar settings from casual at the pools to more formal for the evenings. I loved the Aqua Restaurant. This Mediterranean restaurant has a cool vibe. The food here is outstanding and did not disappoint. We started with a wonderful selection of tapas. The grilled turbot was served perfectly as requested. As always, I saved some space for dessert and luckily I did because the cheese case was to die for. All in all, a wonderful restaurant with again (this is a St. Regis property after all) the best service!

Es Fum is the signature dining option. This Michelin (*) rated restaurant only offers the best. Unfortunately I could not experience this restaurant as it was closed due to Covid19, but that gives me a reason to come back! Based on the pictures of the dishes I saw, it must be quite an experience to have lunch or dinner here.

Breakfast is served at the Aqua Restaurant. It offers a large selection of bread, pastries and yoghurts. The large buffet has something to offer for anyone! The thing I appreciate in particular are the amount of healthy options. I saw a lot of fruit, nuts and vegetables.

I am in love with the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort! The biggest factor for me are the people who work at the resort. Most of the staff even remembered our names. How cool is that? The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort is on par with some of the best hotels in the world which I have been fortunate enough to stay at. My senses were completely satisfied beyond anything I could imagine. We were treated like royalty here and cannot wait to return one day. A perfect place indeed!

Springhill Suites by Marriott – New York Manhattan / Times Square South

3 January 2020HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Marriott
Location: New York – USA
Official website: marriott.com/…/nycsh-springhill-suites-new-york-manhattan-times-square-south

Located in a very interesting and convenient spot in Manhattan New York, Sprinhill Suites Manhattan Times Square South is one of the newest hotels in town. Making part of the Marriott brand, this hotel offers comfortable accommodations at a very good value compared to other hotels in New York. From the moment we arrived untill the time we left, we felt great. The staff is just wonderful and will do their upmost best to serve you in a fantastic way.

Upon arrival, everything is explained in a friendly yet professional way. The lobby is just wonderful with plenty of comfortable and trendy sitting areas. It is great to hang out here. We actually met several international guests and it was so fun and interesting to chat about everydays life.

Our keys were handed in just seconds before we headed to our wonderful room. The King Studio we stayed in had a good size for New Yorks standards and was comfortably appointed. All rooms at Springhill Suites New York Manhattan Times Square South are brand new and comfortably appointed. Standard amenities are a coffee machine, HD television and a safe. The king sized bed was heavenly! Slept like a baby throughout my stay. I also appreciated the small sitting area which was ideal for reading or browsing on my tablet. Plenty of sockets in the room as well which is rarely the case at most hotels! Loved it!

Bathroom was great featuring a large walk-in rain shower, single sink and toilet. Every spot in the room was spotlesly clean. Complimentary toiletries are provided in each room.

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A full size fitness center is accessible 24 hours. It is equiped with the latest technology equipment. Love to watch a movie while working out. The build-in screens were a treat. Sprinhill Suites New York Manhattan Times Square South also a large business center with separate meeting rooms and printing facilities.

A great advantage of staying here is the complimentary breakfast. That is right, when you book a room at Springhill Suites New York Manhattan Times Square South, you can start your day with a delicious breakfast. The breakfast room is large, we never encountered any trouble finding a place to sit. It is a buffet style breakfast offering fresh products. The food was delicious and I appreciated the mix of sweet and salt. There’s just something for everybody.

As said before, the location is excellent. The subway is only a few steps away from the hotel and will take you anywhere in the city. Madison Square is reacheable within walking distance.

Our stay at Springhill Suites New York Manhattan Times Square South was wonderful. From the personal approach to the comfortable rooms and amazing breakfast, the hotel is top notch and I highly recommend to stay at this hotel when you are in Manhattan, New York!

Marriott Rotterdam

25 July 2017HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Marriott
Location: Rotterdam – The Netherlands
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: marriott.com/…/rtmmn-rotterdam-marriott-hotel

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Convenient location

Located in one of the tallest buildings of Rotterdam, the Marriott Rotterdam is one the best hotels in the city. It used to be the Manhattan hotel but they recently (about one year ago) renovated the hotel and it is now a Marriott hotel.

Renovated Lobby Area (loved it!)

When I entered the hotel I was wowed by the stunning lobby area. It just looks amazing… A contemporary designed place where it is great to hang out, enjoying a drink and making new friends. I just love the place, it is all about connectivity in a friendly and luxurious environment. Pillars bar and restaurant is located here as well which I will tell you more about later!

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Five Star Accommodation

After a friendly and efficient check-in, I was ready to explore my beautiful executive room. Again, I was amazed by how different the rooms are now. The room was extremely large and absolutely stunning! The comfortable lounger was great for relaxing and surfing on my iPad, the large designer desk was excellent for doing some work and the best was among the most comfortable bed I have slept in. Marble bathroom both has bathtub and separate shower.

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Since I was staying in an executive room, I had access to the executive lounge located on one of the top floors. Here you can enjoy complimentary soft drinks, wine and light snacks (cheese, crackers, etc.) throughout the day. It actually is a pretty good deal to upgrade your room with access to the lounge. Views are outstanding and there’s a relaxed atmosphere. In the next upcoming months they are going to renovate this lounge as well which will make the place even more comfortable.

Pillars Restaurant

At night I had dinner at the Pillars restaurants and I must say that the food and service were excellent! It is not just an ordinary hotel restaurant… I noticed several non-hotel guests enjoying a delicious meal here. The menu is varied, from meat to fish, from healthy options to let’s say less healthy but yummie choices, it’s all there and prepared in an excellent way! As a starter I enjoyed the confit salmon with a gel of watercress, pickled cucumber ribbons and Ice Plant. The Caesar salad with grilled chicken, Parmesan cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing as a main course was delicious too! And a good dinner of course has to end with a yummie dessert.

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After all the eating and drinking, I was happy to find out that there’s a full sized fitness center at the Marriott Rotterdam.

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Breakfast is served on the first floor. The buffet style breakfast offers something for anyone. It is a very restaurant with the most comfortable chairs. A perfect start for the day and the surrounding views of Rotterdam makes it even more special!

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Marriott Rotterdam is a top notch five star property which I thoroughly enjoyed. Staff was very professional and kind, interior has been nicely updated and rooms are among the best rooms I stayed in while in Rotterdam! It is not one of those formal five star hotels, I felt at ease and was treated in a very kind yet professional way. If you are looking for a luxurious five star hotel in Rotterdam, this definitely is the place to be!

Marriott Amsterdam

2 June 2016HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Marriott
Location: Amsterdam – The Netherlands
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: marriott.com/…/amsnt-amsterdam-marriott-hotel

The Marriott Amsterdam is a centrally located five star property in Amsterdam. The hotel is pretty large and from the outside you wouldn’t tell the interior is that beautiful. As soon as you enter the Marriott Amsterdam you will enter a world of luxury and attention to detail! I was greeted with a smile and at check-in I was warmly welcommed.

The room we stayed in was a recently renovated junior suite. I was (and still am) in love with the new rooms. They are of a true five star level and offer great amenities. The small couch was great for relaxing and watching television… And talking about the television, it actually was the best television I have ever watched at any hotel, including a Netflix account! Bathroom was great and had a walk-in shower and oversized sink.

One highlight of the Marriott Amsterdam is the Midtown Grill, their signature steak restaurant. Without doubt, the best steak ever! First of all, they showed us the different kinds of steaks with great pleasure. We had the t-bone and mignon steak and honestly, my mother and I both were in heaven. The meat was prepared in such an excellent way that we actually couldn’t believe the taste. No wonder it is that famous in Amsterdam. Oh, and do order the Oreo Cheesecake afterwards! You won’t be disappointed! A special thanks to our waiter Rodriggos to make our evening unforgettable!

Next to Midtown Grill is the fitness center. The gym is larger than an average fitness center and offers great and up to date equipment for your convenience.

The next morning we had breakfast which is served at Midtown Grill. The buffet style breakfast is excellent and guests can enjoy several hot and cold dishes including some à la carte egg preparations. If you have lounge access, you can enjoy breakfast at the club lounge as well. During the day, complimentary soft and hot drinks are offered. At night, you can enjoy small bites such as cheese, crackers and other snacks at no additional charge. Also, wine and beers are included. Definitely worth an upgrade to the club lounge!

I’m a fan of the Marriott Amsterdam! The hotel is up to date and offers great rooms and facilities. Service is great. Five stars all the way!

Marriott hotel – Warsaw

14 August 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

Hotelchain: Marriott
Location: Warsaw – Poland
Classification: 5 star hotel
Official website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wawpl-warsaw-marriott-hotel/

The Marriott Warsaw is a five star hotel located in the new part of Warsaw. It is one of the tallest buildings of the city and has some breathtaking views including a full view of the … . The shopping Mall (the largest one of east Europe) is a 5 minute walk. Very convinient!

The lobby is pretty large and although the Marriott Warsaw has already its age, they have renovated the lobby by putting some nice and modern furniture. The lobby bar is beautiful, do try their lemonade with mint and lemon, very tasty! Upon check-in, guests are asked which view of Warsaw they prefer. I requested a room one of the higher floors with a view of the culture palace.

And yes, we did get a room on the 32nd floor with an amazing view! The rooms are typical Marriott rooms with nice beddings. The bathroom was kind of dated and not very large. I did appreciate the large desk and comfortable small sitting area. The beds were very comfortable! We had a great night’s sleep.

The Marriott Warsaw has a fitness center with the latest equipment. It is run by Holmes Place. There is an indoor pool too. We had a treatment and thoroughly enjoyed our relaxing massage. They do have specials on weekdays so look out for those.

On the top floor of the Marriott Warsaw is the Panoramic bar, it is te highest bar of Poland. Views are great and drinks are reasonably priced! Every day they have happy hour from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Be sure to visit the bar when in Warsaw and enjoy yummie cocktails with spectacular views.

All in all, the Marriott is a good hotel. Although I do prefer the old town of Warsaw, the Marriott has a good location within the new town.

Marriott Cologne

31 March 2015HotelAdvisor Leave a comment

The Marriott Cologne is one of the finest 5 star hotels in town! I stayed here with my sister for just 1 night and really enjoyed the hotel in this beautiful city. The hotel is located in the center of Cologne within walking distance of the major sightseeing spots. The cathedral is only a 5 minute walk and all the shops are nearby.

The reception area is quite spacious and is elegantly decorated. The front desk staff was very friendly and accommodating! Everything was done with a smile and check-in went smoothly. They will give you all the information you need without being “over the top”. I really liked the different seating areas and bars.

We stayed in an executive room which gave us access to the executive lounge. The room itself was a very large room with a very comfortable lounge chair. The bathroom had a tub, toilet and single sink. Slippers and bathrobes are available. The toiletries were of a good quality. Everything in the room was clean and well maintained. There was so much space that we could bring the whole family! Oh, and the beds were great!

The thing I liked most about the Marriott Cologne was their Executive Lounge! One of the nicest I have ever seen with a great selection of snacks, candies and non-alcoholic beverages. During the evening, free cocktails and spirits are offered at no additional charge. In fact, I saw a lot of people having “dinner” at the lounge! There are indeed lots of yummie food options!

We had dinner at their restaurant, a French Brasserie. Although it is decorated in a totally different style, we liked the decoration. It kind of felt we were in a ski resort J The food was of a good quality and staff was great!

Before we were going to bed, we visited the (small) spa area. It is located on one of the lower floors. The fitness area is large! Lots of working-out options. They also have a bio and a traditional sauna. Again, everything was really clean and well maintained.

The next morning we had breakfast. It was a buffet style breakfast and loved every bite! The Marriott Cologne is a great 5 star hotel in a very good location. I do recommend paying a little bit extra for the Executive Lounge, you won’t be disappointed!

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