This three-star aparthotel with its collection of 315 apartments arranged in lovely gardens around two curvaceous outdoor pools is a real hit with many customers.

Cala Bona Hotels - Floriana Pool 1

On Tripadvisor at the time of writing, 85% rate it excellent or very good based on 56 reviews, and a stupendous 92% or these reviewers would recommend the hotel to others.

You can stay self-catering here and take advantage of a well-equipped kitchenette in every apartment, or go half-board/all-inclusive and enjoy a great choice of food and drink.

As you may know, here at Suntrap Holidays we don’t review just any old hotel – so what’s so special about this one?  What makes it so popular compared to the other Cala Bona hotels on offer?  Please read on to find out…

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is it?

The Floriana Resort is set back about 500 metres from the beach in Cala Bona, the pretty little family-friendly resort on the east coast of Majorca, just north of the slightly larger resort of Cala Millor.  In fact, if you fancy a stroll there is a popular promenade linking the two resorts and you can walk to Cala Millor in about 10 minutes; and in 20 minutes you can stroll to Sa Coma.

The buildings are gardens of the Floriana complex are in a quiet area, further back than most hotels in Cala Bona, yet the resort centre – with its shops, cafes, restaurants bars and lovely sandy beaches – is within five minutes’ walk.

Cala Bona Hotels - Floriana Pool 2

Like other Cala Bona hotels, the Floriana is about 90 minutes from the airport by taxi, slightly longer if you are on a coach that has several dropping-off points.

What are the rooms like?

The apartments here, spacious, immaculate and light, are one of two types – the one-bed apartments sleep a maximum of three adults and one child, whereas the two-bedroom apartments sleep at most five adults and one child.

Each apartment has a private bathroom including bathrobes and toiletries – and a hair dryer.  You will also find heating/air conditioning; satellite TV; safe and phone, and a balcony.

Because the hotel offers self-catering packages as well as half-board, each apartment is geared up to preparing meals, with lounge-diner, and a kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator; microwave; two-ring hob; kettle and toaster.

What about food and drink?

Even people who come here on a self catering basis are reported to pay to eat here in the evenings, which says something about the quality and value of the food here compared to some of the other Cala Bona hotels.  In fact, self-catering guests can even go all-inclusive for the day – it’s a good idea given the standard of food and drink on offer here.

Cala Bona - Floriana Hotel Restaurant

Breakfast and evening meals are served buffet-style in the main hotel restaurant, and the food gets excellent reviews.

For breakfast you will find sausage, bacon, eggs and all the other ingredients of a very full English.  Or you can pig out on cereals, toast, cheeses and cold meats if you want to eat, erm, more healthily!  In the evenings you will find a great choice of meat, fish and seafood dishes on offer – all said to be prepared to a very high standard.

Once a week you can don your finest and attend the “Gala Dinner” where they really do pull out all the stops to show you what the chefs can do here.

The contrarily-named La Luna snack bar, open all day from 10am till 6pm, offers drinks and light meals that you can take at the bar or on comfy chairs.  There is also an outside area where you can enjoy that midday snack in your swimwear between dips in the pool.

What’s outside?

There are two large pools here, set amongst the trees and gardens and very pleasant indeed.  You’ll find plenty of sun beds and umbrellas except perhaps in high season, so please do try to resist joining the towels-at-dawn crowd.

Children are particularly well catered-for here, with two dedicated pools to choose from.

Unusually amongst Cala Bona hotels, and probably because there is plenty of space in the resort’s grounds, there is a sports centre.  Here you can have a go at archery and rifle target practice (BEFORE you find your way to the bar, OK!), and there’s also a volleyball pitch.  However, the real show-piece is, get this, no less than 10 clay tennis courts.  Six of them are at the back of the complex away from the sea, and these courts are amazing because they really are set amongst the Majorcan countryside, yet still on-site.  It’s a great space and a unique setting for tennis.  Each year the Floriana attracts many people because of this great facility.

If you fancy exploring the surrounding area, you can hire a bike through reception – it’s flat along this part of the coast and particularly well-suited to a little cycling – makes a change from the pool and the beach.

The Floriana can also arrange any of these activities if you really are determined never to use that sun bed: horse riding; golfing and diving.

What’s on offer for the kids?

The Floriana really must be one of the best Cala Bona hotels, if not one of the best hotels in Majorca when it comes to family entertainment.  Apart from the two dedicated pools, the kids have no fewer than two mini-clubs for ages 4-12; a

Cala Bona Hotel Floriana Kids Playground

children’s playground and a kids’ disco at 8:30pm.  The first hour of the evening cabaret show is designed with kids in mind too.  They really do go out of their way to look after the kids here with something on throughout the day and into the early evening.

What else is there?

A heated indoor pool is available until the end of May, but please check whether it is open in the early part of the winter if you are going then and this is important to you.  There is also a sauna (for a small charge); steam room and gym.  And when you’ve worn yourself out with that lot, there’s a TV room and a games room.

Is there internet access

There’s an “internet corner” at the Floriana available on a pay-as-you-go basis, but no WIFI in the rooms.

What are the staff like?

The animation team deserves a real pat on the back at the Floriana resort – they work very hard and the kids’ entertainment is to a very high standard according to many people who have stayed here.

Watch out for the comical bar staff here – one of their favourite pastimes is allocating a nickname to each guest!

Who is this hotel best for?

Really, this hotel is going to suit anyone looking for a relaxing Majorca holiday in the sun, but it’s especially good for families.  The 24/7 party crowd will be better off in a Magaluf hotel, though, as this is not a resort with a 6am finish!

Verdict

If you are looking for a family-friendly aparthotel in a quiet area yet within minutes of the beach, with large, clean pools and a relaxing feel, the Floriana Resort Hotel could be the one for you!  I score this lovely place 9/10.

You can take a quick look at the availability on this and other hotels in Cala Bona here: Cala Bona Hotels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is it?

The Hotel Cala Bona occupies probably the prime position of any of the Cala Bona hotels, right next to the harbour and the town’s main square.  This means that you can get to several beaches and the town’s bars, shops and restaurants within minutes.  A quick tip about those beaches – the nearest one is all pebbles, a whole one minute’s walk away, but if you want sand, I’m afraid you’ll have to hike for a full two minutes to get to the next cove!

Cala Bona Hotels - Front

If you come by car, you will be pleased to know that the hotel has its own car park, and the transfer from the airport takes about 90 minutes by car.

What are the rooms like?

There are 195 double, twin and single rooms here, arranged in five buildings with quirky names like “Nemo” and “La Pergola”.  The older main building is the one next to the harbour.  This one was built in 1924 – the grandfather of Cala Bona hotels – but it has, you will be pleased to hear, been refurbished since that time without losing some of its old-world feel, such as the lovely wooden shutters on the balcony.

Some people prefer the older block because of its harbour views, others prefer the newer blocks.  Note that although you can request a certain building when you book, and it’s true that the staff will do their best to accommodate your wishes, there is no guarantee that your room will be in your chosen block because sometimes, well – they’re just full!

Rooms are of different classes and prices – for example some have air conditioning and some don’t; some have a sea view etc. – so make sure you choose carefully the type of room you want.  I think I am right in saying that the single rooms don’t have a balcony or sea view.

ALL rooms have a private bathroom, flat-screen TV, direct dial telephone and a balcony or terrace.  The vast majority of people are more than happy with their rooms judging by the many positive reviews.

Who is this hotel best for?

It’s not a “young and lively” hotel and the average age here is higher than in some of the other Cala Bona hotels.  This could be explained by the fact that some guests, according to the reviews, have been coming here for 20 years or more – so maybe in about 1960 they would have been right ravers, but by now they’ve calmed down a bit..

Of all Cala Bona hotels, this one has got to be one of the best if you have walking difficulties.  It’s so central, and pretty much on the flat.  If you have mobility problems just ask for a room on the ground floor, where, as one reviewer puts it, you can often see electric wheelchairs lined up outside, being charged up!  In fact, the hotel can arrange electric wheelchair hire if you need this, but please check this at the time of booking to make sure they can get you one – you wouldn’t want to be marooned!

What Facilities does the Cala Bona Hotel have?

There is a swimming pool where you can lounge on a sunbed taking in lovely views of the Majorcan mountains.  There’s

Hotel Cala Bona Pool

also a separate children’s area in the pool.  In the summer the hotel has an entertainment programme with shows and live music.  There are also two TV rooms here, and an on-site hairdresser.  Wireless Internet access is also available – you can buy a card from reception.

What about food and drink?

There is a buffet-style restaurant and the full English breakfast here seems to be something rather special if you read the reviews.  In the evening there is a good choice of fish and meat dishes – a  beef carvery some nights too – and all of the usual accompaniments such as tasty fresh salads.  Plenty of fresh fruit too.  If you have special dietary requirements, just let reception know and they will do their best to accommodate your needs.

This hotel has something that you won’t find in all Cala Bona hotels – its pavement cafe facing the harbour where you can sip a glass of chilled chardonnay as you watch the boats bobbing in the water.

There are also two bars – a pool bar and a lounge bar, where you can treat yourself to your favourite cocktail or nibble on a bar snack if you get peckish between meals (unlikely at this hotel if you have the English breakfast!)

What are the staff like?

“Regulars” are certainly very much in evidence here and you will quite likely find that most hotel guests here are not on their first visit to the hotel.  This has a lot to do with how they are treated when they are here.  The porter often comes in for special praise, although one customer describes the barman as “sometimes funny” and I can’t decide if that’s good or bad..

Verdict

For a quiet, friendly hotel in prime position within the lovely Majorcan resort of Cala Bona, the Hotel Cala Bona is difficult to beat.  I score it 9/10.

You can book at the best prices on this and other hotels in Cala Bona here: Cala Bona Hotels