Against all odds, Gran Hotel Son Julia has turned a previously undicovered part of the island into a haven of luxury and tranquillity
Three years ago the luxury hotel Gran Hotel Son Julia opened near the town of Llucmayor in an area of the Balearic island of Mallorca almost untouched by tourism. It was a risky venture. Up until this time the general consensus on the island was that in order for a hotel to be competitive it had to be either on the coast or in the Tramontana mountain range. Anything else was doomed to failure. In the short time it has been receiving guests, Gran Hotel Son Julia has proved that theory wrong.
Son Julia, about 15 minutes from Palma on the southeast side of the island, is set amid a pastoral setting where farmhouses and ancient stone villages dot the rolling hills. This is a land of almond trees that in early spring turn the landscape white with blossoms, and orange groves that perfume the air.
The hotel itself is situated in a restored 15thcentury manor house and offers 25 rooms and suites. The most spectacular of these, and possibly the largest hotel room on the island, is the Imperial Suite which measures 400 square metres. Inside there is a private kitchen, separate living and dining areas, three giant plasma TV screens and a marble bathroom big enough to include not only a separate walk-in shower and huge Jacuzzi but also a state-of-the-art mini gym.
For something a little more down to earth Son Julia has stupendous garden rooms located on the ground floor. As the name indicates, each room comes with a large terrace and a peaceful, private garden, and boasts wonderful views. Common to all rooms is the use of warm colours and lush fabrics as well as oversized beds, flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms and high-speed internet access.
And don’t let the unassuming façade fool you. Son Julia is full of surprises. There is a wonderful spa complete with steam rooms, hydro-massage Jacuzzi, a vast array of aquivedic treatments and even a heated indoor swimming pool under an ancient stone ceiling. One thing you won’t want to miss is the Oriental Salon with its spectacular, handcarved, Arabian fretwork from floor to ceiling.
The hotel sits amid more than 150,000sqm of land that has been transformed into a series of immaculate gardens, the centrepiece of which is the exterior swimming pool surrounded by Deddon deck chairs and sun loungers with large Italian umbrellas. This is also the site of the Mandarin Pool & Grill restaurant where you can enjoy a piece of fresh grilled meat or fish, a healthy salad or just a cool drink between dips in the pool.
And in Mallorca you’re never too far away from anything. There are two golf courses within 20 minutes, the boutiques and restaurants of Palma are just 15 minutes away and the famous Es Trenc, with its wide white-sand beach and bright Caribbean blue waters, is only a 10-minute drive from the hotel. It’s a wonder no one discovered this area before. – Guy Fiorita