Calle Assumpcio 14, Portocolom, Spain | (888) 635-3814
Cliffside sea setting, with direct diving cove access
Sensational views from many rooms and rooftop terrace
All-inclusive package includes meals and drinks
Homey rooms have flat-screen TVs, furnished balconies, and AC
Two outdoor pools and a hot tub with sea views
Pool bar and all-day buffet restaurant
Small spa offering treatments and sauna
Tennis courts, outdoor squash court, and small gym
Bus stop outside with airport links
Free Wi-Fi in common areas
Dated decor throughout property
Rooms are small and some face the street
No in-room fridges or kettles
Fees for in-room safes and Wi-Fi, and beach towels
Food and evening entertainment is mediocre
Gym isn't air-conditioned
No kids allowed (pro for some)
No parking facilities
Hotel only open May through October
The adult-only Hotel JS Cape Colom is a dated mid-range property, a short walk from Porto Colom's bay village. A largely British and European crowd come here for spectacular sea views and tranquility, and expansive terraces here don't disappoint. However, food is mediocre, and the 119 rooms are due for an upgrade with their old-fashioned linens, rattan furniture, and worn bathrooms. They come with flat-screen TVs and furnished balconies, plus sea views in some, but no mini-fridges and use of safes require fees. Two outdoor pools include a long lap one, and wellness amenities consists of massage rooms, tennis courts, and bright gym. Families should check out Ola Aparthotel Cecilia, where kids are welcome.
Scene
Adult-only hotel with beautiful sea views, but dated decor and poor food
With panoramic sea-view terraces, two pools (one semi-olympic), and decent wellness amenities for a three-pearl hotel, this adult-only resort ticks a lot of boxes. Avoiding noise and kid-packed features, adult couples and groups of all ages come here to take in the view and embrace the Mediterranean's outdoor lifestyle. However, interiors are dated and uninspiring throughout -- think loud yellow pleather sofas in the lobby, wood furniture filling white-walled spaces without decor, and old-fashioned patterned linens in rooms. Fortunately, great terraces steer guests outdoors, and diving cove access is direct via steps and a cliffside ladder. Note, the hotel is only open May through October.
Location
Prime bay location, a short walk to the beach and town
The hotel's peninsula setting benefits from breathtaking cliff and sea vistas in almost every direction. Steps from the hotel lead directly to a diving cove (with cliffside ladder). While it's not a proper beach, waters here are great for snorkeling, and sandy shores aren't far. A sleepy fishing village, Porto Colom is somewhat rundown, but some bars and restaurants fill its small streets, which are a 10-minute walk away. Fifteen-minute walks in the other direction lead to livelier Cala Marcal and its beach. A bus stop outside the property runs to the resort town of Cala D'or and the Caves of Drach, with maximum journeys of 25 minutes. Busses from Palma de Mallorca Airport take over two hours and aren't direct, but they drop travelers outside the hotel. The airport is roughly 50 minutes by car.
Rooms
Homey, but dated rooms; some with great sea views
Small, simple rooms have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open to balconies that either face tennis courts and the street or stunning sea vistas. The design is certainly dated, featuring pale-yellow walls, blue patterned bedspreads, colorful striped patterned curtains, and rattan furniture. Terra-cotta floors and sea-themed artwork reflects the Mediterranean setting. Desks, chairs, and nightstands come standard, as do phones, satellite flat-screen TVs, and air-conditioning. No tea- and coffee-making facilities or mini-fridges are provided, and fees apply for both safes and Wi-Fi. Balconies have plastic furniture, while terraces in upgraded rooms offer loungers and sensational views. Basic, white-tiled bathrooms are showing their age, and they have shower/tub combos, limited toiletries, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Note that some past guests have complained of thin walls.
Features
Outdoor pools and cove access, al fresco drinking and dining, and spa facilities
Although the Hotel JS Cape Colom offers a good range of features for a three-pearl property, not all are of high quality. Standouts include two outdoor pools: the main pool has serene sea views and a whirlpool, but no loungers, while a semi-olympic pool is suitable for lap swimming and has loungers. Nearby terraces offer more sunbathing space, plus outdoor dining. Direct diving cove access is a great feature, but note, waters here are deep. The rooftop gym has a handful of older equipment but no AC or free weights, however, floor-to-ceiling windows let in lots of light and let gym-goers take in sea vistas. Outside, a wraparound balcony has a few chairs and sensational views. Spa treatments and a sauna are available in this area, and down by the lap pool are tennis courts and a squash court. Most guests opt for the all-inclusive package, which includes unlimited food and drinks, but the quality is poor. A pool bar serves soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, and there's an indoor area with lots of windows overlooking gardens and the pool. Evening singers are reportedly mediocre, but the lack of daytime noise is well-received. There's no on-site parking, and street parking fills up fast in summer. Wi-Fi is only free in common areas.