To be pretty clear upfront, I had a great time in Mallorca, couple of months ago. Playing golf in beautiful sunshine in the middle of the European winter, having great company with like-minded people – what else could you ask for?

Well, you could want to live like a king while you are there? Exaggerated? Yes of course, but understandable at the same time.

Golf in Mallorca is a feast for the senses. People playing golf here are hedonists, longing for joy, fun, elegance and pleasure. And they get exactly that. The golf courses in the region cater for exactly those people, offering great golf and at the same time great amenities, great food and service.

Imagine you could play like a king, eat like a king and sleep like a king! Sounds promising? Then you should maybe consider the Castillo Hotel Son Vida Mallorca as one of your next golf trip destinations. Not only are the courses top-notch, the hotel seriously screams superiority, classiness and luxury. No wonder the hotel is part of the prestigious “Luxury Collection“, a sub brand of hotels that really live up to utmost luxurious requirements.

The Castillo Hotel is run by the Marriott hotel group, sits on top of a mountain in the Urbanización Son Vida, the famous neighborhood of stately mansions, overlooking Palma and the bay.

And when I say it lives up to kings, then I mean that quite literally. In the decades since the hotel opening in the early 1960s, it welcomed guests such as the Spanish Royal family, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer of Monaco, Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Anthony Quinn, and many more.

A quick extract to the hotel’s history:

It wasn’t until the 16th century, when Mateu Vida acquired the medieval castle that now houses the hotel, that the building was baptized. The castle’s subsequent owners, the aristocratic Desmás and Truyols families, kept the castle’s distinctive name, marking the beginning of a proud heritage of elite service, elaborate feasts, and profound relaxation. Near the turn of the 20th century, Fernando Truyols and Despuig undertook extensive and extravagant renovations as a gift to his wife, Magdalena Villalonga. The result was a villa with the look of a castle, complete with a tower.

Fifty-seven years later, the Truyols family sold the private Son Vida estate to Steve Krusak, the founder of “Urbanización Son Vida,” and on June 23, 1961, the castle opened its doors as a luxury hotel. Three years later, the island’s first golf course, the Golf Son Vida, was inaugurated next door. In 1995, the hotel was purchased by the Schörghuber Group, renamed Castillo Hotel Son Vida, and designated as one of the “Leading Hotels of the World”.

In January 2005, the hotel closed its doors and undertook a renovation and rebuilding, which was completed the following February. Two years later, in March 2007, the legendary hotel became a member of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury Collection, joining the ranks of the world’s most extraordinarily, unique luxury hotels and resorts.

Today, Castillo Hotel Son Vida shines with a rich legacy and history, drawing influential guests from all over the world, including politicians and celebrities who have chosen the Castillo as their Mallorcan destination of choice.

So much to the history of this beautiful building. Once entered, it screams sheer class and grand hotel atmosphere through paintings, sculptures, furniture, carpets and not least through the service attitude of its staff. The huge sun terrace is a magnificent example how extravagant a place can be to sit back, relax, enjoy views, food and drinks.

The terrace is called “The Balcony of Mallorca” and it really offers an astonishing view, overlooking Palma and the bay and rolling hills of the southern part of the island.

By the way, you have the same view from one level below, which is the big dining room of one of the restaurants and many hotel rooms have the same view, too. Breathtaking in the morning sun as well as throughout the day.

Its 164 rooms and suites, are ensconced within a Mediterranean park and the greens of the traditional championship golf course Arabella Golf Son Vida, the oldest course on the island.

The restaurants entice guests and locals alike with exquisite dishes and superb wines: Spanish/Mediterranean gourmet cuisine takes pride of place at the Restaurant Es Castell while the Restaurant Es Ví excels in traditional tapas cuisine – with a great selection of wines of the best regions and vintages to round off the range of culinary options.

In terms of wellness, the hotel offers everything you could ask for: a modern gym, numerous saunas and steam rooms, three pools, massage and relax areas, always combined with great views over Son Vida.

Wether you’re staying in a standard room (picture above) or a garden suite (picture below), you will find extravagant furniture, tapestry and carpeting to comfort your stay in every way possible.

What’s also nice is the proximity to the golf courses. The Golf Son Vida course meanders around the property and you get to the club house either by foot or with the Son Vida shuttle service which is picking guests and golf luggage up to take them to one of the golf courses or to one of the hotels, without leaving the Son Vida neighborhood – which by itself is impressive enough with its huge mansions and villas along the curvy and hilly roads.

Definitely a very nice place to be in the world.

You don’t have direct beach access, but that’s probably not in the intent of most guests here anyway, to get to a beach and lie in the sand with another crowd when you could have a tranquil pool with a view and luxurious service at your fingertips.

For more information and rates at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida, please check their website. It is indeed a hotel with rich history and definitely worth the consideration if you plan a trip to Mallorca. I’d highly recommend it. It’s not cheap though, but you might have guessed that already…

In order to get an even better picture of the hotel, the surrounding, the amenities and more of what it has to offer, you should watch the official hotel video:

All pictures are © marriott.com.
Marriott was one of the sponsors of the golf tournament I played.