Mallorca Travel Diary: Part 2
After the first three nights of our trip, we moved onto our third property in Mallorca for our final night on the island: the beautiful Finca Serena nestled within a 40-acre estate in the heart of the Mallorcan countryside. This hotel is part of Small Luxury Hotels, a member site that allows you to book over 500 luxury properties in its curated portfolio of hotels around the world. Located slap bang in the middle of the island, the luxury 5 star property provides a countryside idyll for guests to escape to, that feels a world away from the coastal retreats that Mallorca is best known for.
The design of the hotel is rustic chic: imagine a collection of serene stone farmhouses spread across the estate, converted into luxuriously laid back and minimal bedrooms. Interiors are simplistic and contemporary: expect whitewashed stone walls, and stripped back interiors in neutral tones throughout all of the bedrooms. If you want more space to spread out and get cosy (eg. a separate seating area), make sure to book a suite. A small lounge next to the reception also welcomes guests when they arrive, complete with sofas to curl up in and books to browse, incorporating original arches and soaring ceilings into the design.
Surrounding lemon orchards and vineyards provide a peaceful backdrop for the hotel: the outdoor pool is a real showstopper, offering stunning views over the Mallorcan countryside and the hills beyond. I can imagine that this would be a dreamy sun trap in the summer months, where guests can spend the hottest hours of the day lounging on sun beds, and enjoying an aperitif as it cools down. Much like the rest of our trip, the weather was pretty temperamental during our stay, so we spent most of our final afternoon on the island at the hotel spa, which is home to a heated indoor pool, sauna, and steam room; private treatment rooms are also available for massages and facials.
At mealtimes, guests can dine at the Jacaranda restaurant, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant informed by the seasons and local ingredients. We had high hopes for our dinner here, however we found our meal to be a little underwhelming, with dishes focussing on style and presentation rather than flavour; the menu is quite compact with limited options to choose from and guests must opt for a pricey set menu, so there may not be something here that appeals to everyone. On the flip side, breakfasts here are a generous affair: in the mornings, you’ll find a communal table groaning with homemade pastries, fresh yoghurt and fruit, and all of the meats and cheeses you could want. Cooked options are also available, although these are quite simple, and in my opinion, you’d be better off loading up on fresh fruit and cheeses from the buffet. Every afternoon, homemade pastries are also laid out in the lounge and are complimentary to all guests, which is a lovely touch. On one occasion, we also ordered room service to our bedroom, which was delicious and filling.
Throughout the hotel, service is lovely - staff are polite and welcoming, and will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. Overall, I can’t wait to visit Mallorca again: this was my first time visiting, and I can easily see why so many travellers revisit year after year as it’s a beautiful island. I definitely visited at the wrong time of the year this time - on my return, I plan on revisiting in the summer months when the island comes to life, and you can spend entire days on the beach. My tip would be to book one of the larger suites at Finca Serena for a more luxurious stay, and I also would skip mealtimes at the hotel; instead, I’d recommend travelling to other parts of the island for more flavourful and local fare. Finca Serena is a beautiful and laidback property that I would definitely return to if I had a car and was able to travel to other parts of the island; if you’re travelling without a car, one night here is the perfect amount of time to kick back and enjoy everything that the estate has to offer without feeling the need to leave, but I probably wouldn’t recommend staying longer unless you had the means to travel around by car or taxi.
This was a press stay, but all opinions are my own. I do not accept and write about press stays unless I enjoy them.
