Hotel Vistamar by Pierre & Vacances

This 148-room, adult-only hotel is where grownups go for a quiet, peaceful, beachfront vacation. The hotel is upscale and attractive enough, if a bit lacking in wow factor. The hotel's facade is dated -- as are the entranceway with geometric pools and colorful flowers, and lobby with brown and black marble floors and mismatched furniture. (Rooms, by comparison, are much more contemporary.) Guests are mainly Europeans looking for a quiet, sunny place to lounge by the pool, enjoy the nearby beach, and soak up a bit of culture and cuisine from the surrounding small fisherman's village of Porto Colom. The hotel grounds are green and nicely maintained, accentuated by many large and healthy-looking palm trees.

There isn't too much going on in the immediate vicinity of the Ola El Vistamar, and that's probably why most guests choose it. It's not a hotel for the thrill-seeker, the high-octane business traveler, or even for anyone who hopes to do much sightseeing. Its big draws are its pools and proximity to Cala Marcal (a white, sandy inlet with tranquil clear waters) and the small, still very classically Mallorcan village of Porto Colom that surrounds it. Here, foodies can enjoy delightful meals of freshly caught fish in a setting that has somehow withstood the touristy overhaul that the rest of the island has experienced over the past decades. The Palma de Mallorca Airport is about 50 minutes away by car or shuttle, and most other sights -- mainly the different towns scattered across the island -- require a car to access. Cala d'Or, a stunning inlet, is just a 15- to 20-minute drive away. Though the Cap de Formentor, arguably the island's most breathtaking sight, is a windy two-hour drive north.

Rooms at the Hotel Ola El Vistamar were made with the beach in mind. With white tile floors and contrasting dark-chocolate wooden furniture, they are crisp, minimalist, and decorated without much fanfare. Two unremarkable framed prints and a vase with silk flowers are among the only flourishes that decorate basic, modern rooms. Bathrooms are spacious, and come equipped with bathtubs and hotel-brand toiletries. There doesn't appear to be much of a difference between Double and Superior Double rooms, except that the latter offer slightly better views of the ocean. The fact that rooms all have balconies (furnished with plastic patio furniture) is a major plus in such a picturesque location. Higher rooms have postcard-worthy ocean views. Some courtyard-facing rooms can get a bit noisy.

Guests who are fussy about where they swim or sunbathe will find plenty of options at the Ola El Vistamar. In addition to being a short walk away from the beach, the hotel has three pools -- two located outdoors, and one indoors. The largest outdoor pool tends to be where most guests congregate, as it has a popular poolside bar. The second outdoor pool, known as the Elite Pool, is open only to guests who have reserved a certain category of room, or who decide to pay a supplement for it. Much smaller, what sets this pool apart are its more ornate showers, significantly higher-grade pool loungers (with cushioned head rests), and its Balinese beds that can also be used for sunbathing. Though tiny, the indoor pool has a tasteful Greek flair to it, and is a lifesaver on rainy days. The hotel also has a sauna and possibly the world's smallest hotel gym (with three machines), in addition to impressive tennis courts and mini-golf.