I looked out the airplane window as we were making our descent into Palma and I saw turquoise shores and mountains. We landed and found the bus that would take us to Sóller, a small town on Mallorca. Once we got to our stop we navigated to the Gran Hotel Sóller and realized there was directional signage posted everywhere just for the hotel. It was a short walk and we arrived at the front entrance. Nice cars lined the driveway, palm trees grew along the hotel building and to the left was a 1930's Bugatti T55 Super Sport Roadster parked by the doors. No wonder this place has five stars, everything about the arrival felt luxurious. Sóller is a quiet, traditional Spanish town, a gem not overrun by tourists.
THE ROOM
We checked in and were given a key to our hotel room on the 4th floor. Our room had a king bed, an all-marble bathroom, and a balcony that overlooked a river and the Tramuntana mountains. I took a moment to just soak in my surroundings, the sounds of the river, birds chirping, and the train just a few blocks away. We left the balcony doors open while we settled in the room.
THE POOL & SPA
Once we were all unpacked, we put on our swimsuits and went up to the rooftop pool. We thought it would be best to slow down before exploring the port the next day. There were only a few people relaxing by the pool and there were many lounge chairs open. From the rooftop you had a view of Iglesia de Sant Batomeu, everything just felt so serene. After a dip in the pool, we moved over to the large, white daybeds with a mountain view. Next, we went down to the spa which had an indoor pool, steam room, and sauna.
BREAKFAST
Our reservation came with daily breakfast, so we took advantage of that before going to the beach. It was the perfect way to start the day, the breakfast buffet had everything for a complete and hearty meal. The server greeted us, offered some coffee, and gave an additional menu that listed custom omelets and other hot foods. The buffet had delicious bread and pastries, various cured meats, colorful fruits and a build your own yogurt bowl. It wouldn't be a vacation without mimosas, they had orange juice and champagne available to make your own breakfast drink!
THING TO DO IN SÓLLER
Aside from relaxing at the Gran Hotel Sóller, we had some time to explore the city and venture out to the port as well. There is a main square just a few minutes away where Iglesia de Sant Batomeu and restaurants with outdoor seating reside. We ate our dinners here and drank our sangrias every night. We also took a tram to Port de Sóller which cost about 7 euros each way. We walked along the beach, ate lunch by the ocean and enjoyed all the naranja specialties like an orange mojito and a Copa de Sóller (orange gelato). There are many hiking trails on the island as well.
We had a lovely stay at the Gran Hotel Sóller and it was just what we needed after visiting Barcelona. The change in pace and scenery allowed us to reset and immerse ourselves in Spain and I couldn't have asked for a better visit.