Portomar Apartments - 4-Star Superior Hotel

You come here for a seafront base with room to live in rather than a standard hotel room with just enough space for a suitcase. Portomar Apartments sits in Portocolom, where the old fishing-village character remains part of the setting, and the accommodation works particularly well if you like having a balcony, a sitting area and a kitchenette under the same roof.

The hotel's website is available in English, German, Spanish, French and Dutch, so you can at least prepare your stay and read the practical details in a familiar language. Inside, the tone is more apartment than formal hotel: air conditioning, soundproofing, a private entrance and daily housekeeping make the return from the water straightforward, while the 24-hour front desk keeps the practical side covered.

The address is Carrer d'Hernan Cortés 22 in Portocolom, on Mallorca's east coast. The property is beachfront, with the sea forming part of the immediate setting rather than requiring a shuttle or a determined march in dive kit. Cala Marcal Beach is about a six-minute walk away.

You also have other stretches of coast within reach: Cala Brafi Beach is about 0.7 mile away, while Platja de S'Algar is around 1.2 miles away. For a meal away from the property, Thai Colom is roughly a two-minute walk away, Ca'n Tomeu is about 850 feet away, and Restaurante Pizzeria La Pizza is around a four-minute walk from the apartments.

Palma de Mallorca Airport is about 33 miles away by road, with a driving time of around 50 minutes. The Caves of Drach are about 12 miles away, and Santuari de la Consolació is around 8 miles away by road.

The main decision is whether you want a compact base for two or a proper apartment for a group. For a couple who plans to eat out and wants a straightforward place to sleep, the Standard Apartment or the Junior Suite keeps things simple. If the view matters when you are drying off and deciding whether you have the energy for dinner, choose an apartment with a frontal sea view or the Penthouse Suite with harbour view.

For families or dive groups travelling together, the two-bedroom, three-bedroom and penthouse apartments give you separate sleeping arrangements and considerably more breathing room than a single room. The largest apartment accommodates up to seven people and has four bathrooms, which could save a fair amount of corridor traffic when everyone returns at once. Smaller family options accommodate up to four guests and include family or interconnected-room arrangements.

Every apartment has air conditioning, a private bathroom, a balcony, a flat-screen TV and a kitchenette with a hob, microwave, refrigerator, kettle, kitchenware and dining table. That refrigerator matters when you return hot, thirsty and not remotely interested in a complicated evening. Soundproofing, tiled or marble floors, heating and a seating area round out the practical side, while slippers, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer take care of the less exciting parts of packing.

Breakfast is served as a buffet, giving you a dependable start before heading out for the day. Portomar also has two restaurants, with Calipso positioned in front of the residence and serving lunch and dinner outdoors. Its menu is built around pasta and pizza, which is exactly the sort of food that does not require a long discussion when you are hungry.

For drinks, D. Bar is a wine bar serving traditional tapas and wine. The Poolside Bistro takes the lighter route, with smoothies, cocktails, light meals and finger food. There is also a coffee house on site, plus a snack bar and a bar for the moments when a full meal is more ambition than appetite.

Special-diet menus can be requested, and children's meals and a child-friendly buffet are available. Breakfast can also be brought to your room. The apartments' dining tables and kitchenettes give you another option when you want something easy and private rather than another restaurant meal.

The seasonal outdoor swimming pool gives you an easy way to cool down without going back to the beach, and there is a separate children's pool for family stays. Sun loungers, umbrellas, the sun terrace, garden and outdoor furniture make it possible to claim a patch of shade and let the day slow down properly.

The spa and wellness centre is the more purposeful option, with a sauna, steam room, hammam, hot tub, hot spring bath and relaxation area. Massages include full-body, couples, back, neck, head, hand and foot treatments, while spa packages, facial treatments, body treatments, manicures and pedicures cover the less aquatic forms of recovery.

A fitness centre is available if your idea of rest includes moving deliberately for a change. Away from the property, you can arrange bicycle rental, bike tours, walking tours, canoeing, hiking and snorkelling; a golf course is within 3 km. Billiards and board games offer quieter alternatives when the weather, or your legs, has other plans.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and check-out from 08:00 to 11:00. The front desk is open around the clock, with private and express check-in and check-out, concierge service, a tour desk and luggage storage. Car hire can be arranged, and a safety deposit box is available at reception.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The property has a lift, wheelchair-accessible facilities and facilities for disabled guests, while non-smoking rooms and a non-smoking policy throughout keep the indoor arrangements clear. Cash is accepted, and city tax is paid on arrival.

Children of any age are welcome. Cots can be requested for infants, subject to the selected accommodation and availability, while extra beds are not available. The minimum age for check-in is 18, and pets are not allowed. For the airport journey, arrange a private transfer or shared shuttle with the hotel if you do not want to handle the 33-mile road trip yourself.