Helios Mallorca Hotel & Apartments

The Hotel Helios Mallorca is an old-school (near) beach resort built around a central pool and sundeck lined with lounge chairs and sunshades. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, if a little worn around the edges. Guests don’t have to worry about walking through the common areas in bathing suits or dressing up for dinner. There isn’t a lot of partying going on, like at other all-inclusive resorts, but there's music and entertainment in the evening. The buffet restaurant is large and sprawling, with tons of tables; it’s not an elegant or chic dining room, but the food is good and plentiful, and the vibe is casual. The walls are hung with large photographs of the Majorcan seacoast. There is a big biking scene here -- the hotel provides special facilities for cycle storage and upkeep -- and the restaurant makes sure to offer plenty of athlete-friendly food on the buffet.

The Hotel Helios Mallorca is located in the beach resort village of Can Pastilla, surrounded by shops, bars, hotels, restaurants, and fast-food franchises. The hotel is a few feet from the three-mile long, white sand Playa de Palma. Also next door is the Palma Aquarium. Buses to Palma City Center stop just outside the hotel. Palma Airport is within a five-minute drive.

Rooms at the Hotel Helios Mallorca come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from Singles to Doubles, Family Rooms, and One-Bedroom Apartments. All guest rooms have furnished balconies overlooking the sea, pool, or street. Street-facing rooms get some traffic noise. Rooms are clean, but the furniture and decor is basic beach hotel and shows some slight wear and tear. (Rooms have been undergoing renovation in 2015.) Apartments include living areas with sofa beds, and kitchens equipped with microwaves, two-burner cooktops, full-size refrigerators, cookware, dishes, and utensils. Refurbished rooms are sleek and decorated in whites and grays, with modern bathrooms enclosed by smoked glass. Amenities include air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Beige-tile bathrooms include separate showers, and toiletries.

The Hotel Helios Mallorca is bracketed around an outdoor pool with a spacious sundeck, lined with sunbeds, beach umbrellas, and sunshades. And Playa de Palma beach is just beyond offering another spot to swim and sunbathe. On days when the weather doesn't cooperate, guests can head to the heated indoor pool. There's a large buffet restaurant with live cooking stations, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Activities include tennis, ping-pong, miniature golf, a pool table, a TV room, and a card and game room. For kids, there's a children’s pool and a playground. There are special facilities for cyclists, including a bike storage area with individual locks, a bike wash station, repair equipment, special laundry for cycling clothes, and a variety of cycling routes. At night, the Helios features entertainment and music.