Golden olive oils, stone cottages in honey hues, mellow yellow wines from autumn vineyards bathed in a golden light – Mallorca in Spain well suits its name of ‘La Isla de Oro’, the Isle of Gold, as penned by writers and poets in the early 20th century. And if you enjoy a sense of history the idyllic place to stay is the lovely Hotel Ila D’Or. Don’t just take my word for it, Agatha Christie and Annie Lennox both thought so too!

above: A local vineyard bathed in golden light on the last day of the harvest in autumn

You’ll find a very warm welcome here too, not least at Hotel Illa d’Or (the Island of Gold in Catalan), as I found out last week during a very memorable stay in Mallorca.

Nestled among the pine trees, this lovely hotel lies to the north of Puerto Pollensa in a quiet spot at the end of Puerto Pollensa Bay with a private jetty, a spa and health club, outdoor pool and seafront dining. The views across the bay are breathtaking making it an idyllic spot for breakfast, lunch or an aperitivo before dinner! It’s about a 45-minute transfer from Palma airport.

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Sea-views rooms at Hotel Illa D’Or

My sea-view room was light and welcoming, decorated in a contemporary style in soft neutral tones and the view, pictured below, was superb. The rooms throughout the hotel vary in size and layout but all share this stylish design.

The location of Hotel Illa D’Or

Hotel Illa D’Or is in a stunning setting, surrounded by pine trees, right on the water’s edge with a small private sandy beach and a larger beach next door. The restaurants and shops of Puerto Pollensa are just a short stroll away.

I found it to be the perfect base from which to explore the north of the island. The historic inland town of Pollença is just 6 miles away, with its charming squares, winding alleys and local craft shops. It’s easily reached by car or the local bus service.

As always, food featured highly on the agenda and Mallorca did not disappoint. Whether traditional or more modern, everything I ate, or indeed drank, was a delight. Highlights included the typically Mallorcan sausage, sobrasada; a soft spreadable sausage made of cured pork and spices and the locally produced wine, which I’ll be sharing more on in a future post.

Read all my articles from across Spain and her many lovely islands.

Hotel Illa D’Or first opened in 1929 and is still run by the same family which no doubt adds to it charm and sense of intimacy despite having some 120 rooms. The hotel has welcomed many an illustrious guest over the years including, Agatha Christie, and more recently, Annie Lennox. I loved the sense of refinement and history that the hotel exudes. I knew, as soon as I arrived, that this was going to be a very special break on the island of gold.

The Hotel Illa d’Or celebrated its 85th birthday in 2014. ¡Salud! Many happy returns.

My trip to Mallorca was sponsored by Hotel Illa d’Or and Classic Collection Holidays. As always, all thoughts expressed here are my own, uninfluenced opinions. 

More photos from my visit to Mallorca can be found on Flickr.