INNSiDE by Meliá Palma Center

INNSiDE by Meliá Palma Center is a four-star city hotel for divers who want the sea during the day and Palma on the doorstep afterwards. You stay in the middle of the action rather than beside a resort strip, so the evening can mean a short walk to the old town, a drink on the rooftop, or dinner without planning your life around a taxi.

The hotel has 101 rooms over six floors, with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi throughout and a 24-hour reception. English, Spanish, Italian, German and French are spoken by the hotel team, which makes the practical business of checking in, arranging a transfer or asking for local help pleasantly straightforward.

This is a useful base when diving is only part of the trip. Palma supplies the streets, shops and historic sights; the hotel adds a pool, spa and places to eat without asking you to leave the city behind.

You are in Palma de Majorca, on Font i Monteros, 23, in a lively central area close to the main shopping streets. The city centre is effectively at the door, while the old town, Plaza Mayor and the cathedral are all a short walk away. Església de Santa Caterina de Siena, Bar Cristal and Santa Magdalena Church are also among the nearby landmarks.

The sea and the beach are about 2 km away on foot, so this is a city base rather than a hotel where you step straight from breakfast onto the sand. That distinction matters: bring it into your choice if beach access is the main event, but it works well if you want Palma's restaurants, architecture and shops within walking range.

Palma de Mallorca Airport is 9.5 km away. An airport transfer is available through the hotel, and vehicle hire is also available if your plans extend beyond the centre.

The room choice is mainly about how you want to sleep and what you want around you afterwards. Double rooms suit couples, while twin rooms make practical sense when two divers want separate beds without turning the night into a negotiation. Balcony versions add an outdoor corner; the Premium Whirlpool Double room is the one to look at if the room itself is meant to do a little more of the relaxing.

Air conditioning matters in Palma, particularly when you return warm, salty and ready to stop moving. Blackout blinds appear in some categories, useful when an early start has been followed by a late city evening. Rooms can also include a minibar, safe, television, Wi-Fi, desk, hairdryer, iron and toiletries, depending on the category.

A private bathroom is standard across the listed room categories. The Loft, INNSiDE Studio and The Townhouse offer a different format from the straightforward double and twin rooms, while balcony rooms give you somewhere to sit outside rather than merely another view through glass. Check the individual room card carefully: equipment varies by category, and not every room carries the same list.

The main dining address is the Rooftop Bar & Pintamonas Restaurant, set on a terrace above the city. Its kitchen works with Mediterranean cooking and modern techniques, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. That gives you a proper evening option on site rather than leaving the hotel to fend for itself when the day's diving has done the job on your appetite.

Breakfast is a buffet, with breakfast included and half-board options available depending on the booking chosen. The hotel also has a café, bar and snack bar, so there are lighter ways to refuel when a full restaurant meal is not what you want.

The rooftop setting is the useful detail here. You can eat with the city below rather than in a sealed dining room, then keep the evening simple with a drink upstairs. No culinary theatre is required; the practical point is having Mediterranean food, a buffet breakfast and several levels of effort available under one roof.

The rooftop pool is the obvious post-dive landing place: an outdoor pool with a sun deck, sun loungers and Bali beds, plus a Pool Bar serving drinks and snacks. It is seasonal, open from June to October, so it is worth treating it as a warm-weather facility rather than a year-round promise. The terrace also gives you city views without requiring another expedition.

For a slower recovery, the spa has a relaxation area, heated pool with water jets, sauna and steam bath. Massages and facial treatments are available. That is a more convincing plan for tired legs than pretending a vigorous sightseeing schedule is compulsory.

There is also a 24-hour gym with areas for aerobic work, bodybuilding, toning and stretching, along with a library and bicycle hire. Cultural excursions can be arranged through the hotel, while Palma's historic centre is close enough to explore on foot. You can also use the terrace simply to sit down, which remains an underrated activity after a day in a wetsuit.

Check-in runs from 15:00 and check-out is at 12:00. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested. Reception operates around the clock, and lifts serve the upper floors. The hotel is accessible to wheelchair users, with accessible facilities and lift access.

An airport transfer is available through the hotel. Nearby public parking is available for a charge, so drivers should treat this as a city-hotel arrangement rather than expect a private parking space beside the entrance. Car hire is also available for trips beyond Palma.

Useful everyday services include luggage storage, concierge assistance, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing. Room service, a safe, minibar and toiletries are available according to the room or service concerned. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and the property is non-smoking. Pets, including assistance animals, are not accepted.

The hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club. Its location means that much of Palma can be handled on foot, while the beach, airport and outside-the-city dive plans are the moments when you will need transport.