Portofino Apartments

As the name suggests, this complex is made up of a pair of apartment blocks. Though both dating from the '70s, Portofino Apartments looks like the fresher of the two buildings. Apartamentos Sorrento,  positioned uphill, appears more dated. Reception is at the Portofino -- its entrance marked by various random arcade machines bleeping and flashing outside -- while inside the lobby is sparse, clean, and functional. Two Barcelona sofas add a touch of style and a far wall is covered with colorful photos of local coves and beaches. Besides a bar-cafe just off reception and a small sun terrace, most facilities (including the two pools) are located in the Sorrento section, which is accessible via a scruffy outside elevator that connects the two areas. Clientele are mostly families with kids, especially over the summer months, though there are also some couples and groups of vacationing friends.

The hotel is located on the south side of Santa Ponsa bay and overlooking its wide stretch of sandy beach. It's set on a fairly busy road lined with lined with cafes and bars, plus shops selling beach gear and souvenirs. Although the beach is just a couple minutes away on foot, the area is the quieter end of the resort town, with most of the clubs, restaurants, and nightlife in the area at the other side of the bay (around 10 minutes' walk away). For wilder partying, a bus stop can be found just across the road from the main entrance which connects to Magaluf in about 25 minutes (or it's a 10-minute cab journey). There's also a small and quieter beach -- Caló d'en Pellicer -- about eight minutes away on foot, and the property is a five-minute drive to Santa Ponsa's golf course. The charming cobbled streets of Palma's Old Town are under 30 minutes' drive away, and Palma de Mallorca Airport is around the same distance.

The complex has 119 one- and two-bedroom apartments split between the two buildings; those in Portofino, renovated in 2015 and 2016, feature wood-effect flooring, simple IKEA-style furniture, and bare white walls. The Sorrento apartments still had some old-style furniture and wall tiling at the time of our visit, though are due for a further refresh in 2017. All have living rooms with sofa beds, small dining areas, and 32-inch flat-screens TVs (with a handful of English-speaking channels, among others). Kitchenettes (with fridge-freezers, electric hobs, kettles, toasters, and microwaves) are part of the open-plan living areas in Portofino apartments, and closed off in the Sorrento block (though the unit we saw had a pass-through window). 

All apartments open to balconies, usually overlooking the pool or the road (which can be a little noisy at times), though some top-floor units are treated to sea views. Bedrooms have all been updated and include leather-effect headboards, though safes are still old-fashioned (and not free of charge). All bathrooms were given a makeover in 2016 and are clean and contemporary with walk-in showers, plus wall-mounted soap dispensers and hairdryers. Apartments have no Wi-Fi coverage (free Wi-Fi is available in reception).

The hotel doesn't offer much in the way of dining, though there is a cafe serving breakfast (not included) and light meals including pizza and burgers through the day. A poolside hut serves various drinks including reasonably priced cocktails; ice cream is also available. Just opposite is an on-site supermarket selling a good range of groceries and essential vacation items. There are two swimming pools, both on the Sorrento side of the complex; one is long enough for a decent swim though quite narrow, and the second is higher up with bay views and a separate kids' section. Both are surrounded by plentiful loungers and one is edged by a tidy tropical garden, however due to surrounding buildings, pools are mostly in shade until the afternoon. During our visit, there was plenty of patchy paintwork and poor grouting around the pools. There's also a small fitness room, though no spa facilities. Free Wi-Fi is available around the reception area.