Hotels - Mallorca - Spain

Mallorca's tourism industry is robust and there are countless hotels on offer. European tourists flood the market during the summer months, whiling away afternoons on the beach and enjoying the historic architecture. Most of the accommodation is in Palma, though every city and district occupies its own share of the market.

Mid-range and upscale options abound in Mallorca, and many of the finest hotels are kept in converted mansions or castles from ages past. During July and August, hotels book up so it's a good idea to reserve early if planning a trip at this time. Some of the finest hotels on the island are the Gran Hotel Son Net, Puro and Castillo Hotel Son Vida.

Gran Hotel Son Net is a luxury hotel housed in a manor house built in the 1600s. It offers elegant rooms richly decorated with expensive artwork and an ideal location in Puigpunent. Pura is in Palma's old town and is extremely stylish. Meanwhile, Castillo Hotel Son Vida occupies a castle from the 1200s and boasts one of the best views of the entire island.

Palma is Mallorca's cosmopolitan hub, with the greatest number of hotels priced anywhere from mid-range to upmarket here. The hospitality industry is backed up by myriad hotels and bars and a variety of historic sites like Bellver Castle and La Seu. Nearly half of all Mallorcans live here and with the constant influx of tourism, Palma stays vibrant and busy throughout the year.

The island's resort communities are scattered around the island, and each has a full range of amenities including restaurants, boutiques water sport facilities and a full gamut of service. A few key resorts are Magaluf, an area in the south that caters to young British travellers with dance clubs and English pubs, and Aclúdia, host to the Bellvue resort, the largest of its kind in all of Europe.

Staying in Migivegjorn, south of Palma, gives visitors the opportunity to take in the impressive San Salvador Monastery, an impressive work of Gothic architecture. But even here, the beach is still the primary draw, with hotels and al fresco restaurants hugging the coastline.

In the northern reaches of the island, Llevant is attractive to tourists who crave an outdoor adventure. In this area, Costa de los Pinos is particularly well built-up. Five-star hotels are found here, some of which are part of larger resort areas with golf courses and other upscale facilities.

Sierra de Tramontana is even better for outdoor enthusiasts. Lodges here are tucked into mountainous pine forests which occasionally give way to secluded beaches. The accommodation options operate independently of the metropolitan infrastructure in places like Palma so most tourists to this part of the island come in search of a quiet retreat.