Lugar Parc de La Mar 6, Cala d'Or, Spain
Low-rise apartments set in quiet section of large complex
Laid-back Cala Egos location, less than a 10-minute walk to beaches
Apartments all have kitchenettes and furnished terraces
Choice of livelier or quieter pool areas, plus kids' pools
Supervised kids' club and poolside activities
Buffet and a la carte dining, plus a pizzeria
All-inclusive, half- and full-board rates available
Wi-Fi is available throughout (for a fee)
Guest rooms lack sea views
Kitchens are tidy but dated
Basic bathrooms don't have hairdryers
Shortages of loungers during high season
Fee for Wi-Fi (per device)
Apartamentos Ses Cases d'Or is a three-pearl, low-rise aparthotel located in Majorca's relaxed Cala Egos neighborhood within walking distance of its sandy coves. Guests have access to a wide selection of facilities at this all-inclusive property, with ample dining and leisure options and plenty for kids to do. There's also the bonus of its own semi-secluded pool terrace, although sunbeds can be in short supply during peak season. The 44 apartments are basic and have IKEA-style furniture, with functional kitchenettes that are tidy but dated. All have outdoor space, though visitors expecting sea views will be disappointed. For apartment accommodation overlooking the water, check out the Aparthotel Roc Las Rocas, which also features direct access to lovely natural pool.
Scene
Relatively secluded Mediterranean-style apartments part of larger complex
The Apartamentos Ses Cases d'Or is one of three aparthotels that share a large vacation complex with various facilities. The other two other properties are Es Bolero and Club Martha's Aparthotel, and guests check in at the latter. The front desk is finished in luminous marble and situated in a clean, modern lobby flooded with sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows. The Ses Cases is tucked away from the complex's main grounds, with pleasant and well-tended gardens with palms, olive trees, and trimmed shrubbery. Whitewashed Mediterranean-style one- and two-story buildings house two apartments in each block, which are centered around a generally peaceful and relaxed pool terrace. Like all similar hotels in the resort, it can feel a little crowded during high season -- mostly with British families with young kids -- though it manages to maintain a more secluded and laid-back atmosphere than most.
Location
Set in laid-back Cala Egos, walking distance from beaches
The hotel is located in the tourist district of Cala Egos, just south of the popular resort town of Cala D'or. The neighborhood is almost entirely geared toward the vacationing crowd who descend here every summer, and is practically closed during the winter months. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops within a short stroll of the hotel, though the atmosphere is quiet and serene, with minimal noisy nightlife. Calo d'es Pou Beach is just a five-minute walk away and is a pleasant but small stretch of sand that can get busy at peak times. Cala Egos beach is a little less than 10 minutes away on foot as well. A train-shaped resort bus can be caught a block away from the hotel, giving guests access to other parts of the town, including Cala D'Or center and Cala Ferrera. Palma de Mallorca Airport is just under an hour's drive away, while Palma's quaint Old Town is a bit farther.
Rooms
Unfussy apartments with spacious terraces and simple kitchenettes
The property's one-bedroom apartments open up to spacious upper-floor terraces or patios that border on the communal gardens. There's no sea views to be had here, though many overlook the pool and all include garden furniture and loungers. Decor is simple and unfussy, with a mix of older-style tiling and wooden fixtures, and more contemporary IKEA-style furniture. Old-fashioned kitchenettes are tidy, and come with electric ranges, fridges, and simple cookware.All apartments include dining rooms that double as lounges, and come equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs and sofa beds, allowing up to two extra guests. Tiled and granite-topped bathrooms are functional, with shower/tub combos and basic toiletries, but no hairdryers. Wi-Fi is available for an extra charge, though connection is generally unreliable and there's a per-device fee. Use of the safe also incurs a charge.
Features
Access to wide range of facilities, plus a separate quieter pool terrace
Guests of the Apartamentos Ses Cases d'Or have access to all of the facilities around the Club Martha complex. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner served buffet-style in the main restaurant -- a bright dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and an alfresco terrace -- with a menu that rotates every five days. The buffet food has received mixed reviews, though most enjoy the Spanish and Japanese theme nights. There's also a popular bar-pizzeria, and the a la carte Restaurant Natalie on-site. Moogie terrace bar serves daily cocktails and ice-cream in addition to a standard lineup of drinks. Rates are available for everything from accommodation-only to all-inclusive.Most activity is centered around the main swimming pool, which includes poolside animation activities and is surrounded by a sun terrace and shaded lawns. There's also a spa offering massage treatments and a heated indoor pool. Apartamentos Ses Cases has its own quieter pool area that's separate from the main complex, which includes a baby pool, but loungers can be in short supply during peak season. For children's entertainment, there's Molly Club, catering to kids from four to 10, while in the evening there are live shows on an outdoor stage. More adult-oriented entertainment tends to be live music and (usually mimed) West end shows.
All-Inclusive / Food
Covers most drinks, buffet, and a la carte dining, plus limited snacks
The optional all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the buffet dining room, as well as a limited menu in the a la carte Restaurant Natalie or the pizzeria. Snacks are also served in the bar area, though only during specific times in the afternoon. All branded soft drinks and local alcoholic drinks are also included until late (though not cocktails). Any combination of breakfast, dinner, half-board, and full-board packages are also available, with full-board options including water and wine. Plans only cover food and drink, with Wi-Fi, safes, and some of the sports facilities incurring a fee.