OLA Apartamentos Es Ravells D'Or

Adhering to the architectural norm of the resort town, the Ola Apartamentos Es Ravells D'Or is composed of a collection of attractive Balearic-style buildings kept crisp with a regular whitewashing. A long, terra-cotta tile staircase leads down to the reception area, which has a small book exchange. The lobby is a simple space, short on character, though clean, bright, and functional. And this tends to sum up the complex as a whole, with little beyond the seven accommodation blocks that circle the tidy but uninteresting gardens. A stone arch provides a rather unusual water feature in the hotel's freeform pool. It's one of the area's quieter properties, with low-key animation during the day. The pool and poolside bar don't belong to the hotel and are open to non-residents. Guests are mostly British and Dutch, with a good mix of vacationing couples and families with kids.

The complex is located on a quiet road surrounded by other hotels on the edge of Cala D'or resort center. Situated on Majorca's southeast coast, the town is a popular resort destination characterized by low-rise, whitewashed hotel and vacation apartment buildings. Cala Gran Beach is the nearest beach, just over a five-minute walk away, while the smaller and prettier Playa Cala D'or is around 10 minutes; both beaches get busy during peak season. The hotel is also a 10-minute stroll from the village's pedestrianized commercial center which is full of eateries, bars, and retail outlets. Palma de Mallorca Airport is just under an hour's drive away. It's just a little longer to Palma's quaint Old Town.

The hotel has 71 Apartments, 50 One-Bedroom Apartments (sleeping up to four) and 21 Studios (sleeping up to two). Updated in 2014, the decor is bright, clean, and modern with simple contemporary furniture and abstract artwork that adorns crisp white walls. Gray is predominantly used as an accent color on the curtains and bedding. Twin beds are pushed together to make a double bed. All Apartments consist of living rooms with lounges (with two sofa beds), dining areas, and kitchenettes. The Studios lack separate bedrooms and can be small. Cooking facilities include microwaves, electric burners, refrigerators, toasters, and kettles. The lounge areas have 32-inch flat-screen TVs with a few English channels. Blocks six and seven overlook the pool and nightly entertainment -- fun for those who want to watch the evening shows from their balconies, and annoying for those who want to go to sleep on the early side. Bathrooms are simple and well-maintained. They feature shower/tub combos and simple toiletries; hairdryers aren't offered. Bathroom sizes vary from roomy to cramped. All rooms open to spacious balconies or terraces that are furnished with drying racks, plastic chairs, a table, and sun lounger. 

Beyond the freeform outdoor swimming pool, there's very little in the way of facilities on-site. Though there seemed to be enough loungers on the sun terrace during our visit, guests on TripAdvisor note that during peak season it can be a scramble to claim them in the morning. The fact that non-guests who are patrons of the poolside bar can also use the pool exacerbates the issue. There are also poolside activities (mostly aimed at younger guests) and there's also a separate section for kids. Although not run by the hotel, the poolside bar offers (fairly expensive) drinks, as well as hot snacks and a full English breakfast. Outside food and drink is not allowed. Nightly entertainment mainly takes the form of tribute acts and other live music, and noise usually goes on until around midnight and can filter into the rooms. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the property. There's a single coin-operated washing machine for guests to share. A dryer ins't available, though there are drying racks on guest room balconies.