Roc Portonova Apartments

Roc Portonova Apartments was considered one of the more outstanding hotels of its kind when it opened back in 1974, but today every aspect of the property feels well past its prime. A long, marble-clad lobby is gloomy and tired, with minimal evidence of modernization and a cheerless collection of generic resort trappings, such as massage chairs, phone booths, and tourist pamphlet displays. It gets even more run down farther in, with worn maroon carpeting and stained hallway walls, rusty window frames, and four old-fashioned elevators that service the building's six floors. The property is open year-round, and some of the apartments are still privately owned. British families on a budget make up the bulk of the clientele, mixed with a rowdy crowd of guests here for bachelor and bachelorette parties. As of our 2017 visit, the property is earmarked for a total renovation at the end of 2018.

Although immediate surroundings are a little lackluster, the hotel has a decent location overlooking a small marina on the north end of the popular Majorcan resort of Palmanova. The first of its sweeping sandy beaches -- Playa Carregador -- is just a couple minutes away on foot, as is the buzzy beachfront promenade lined with bars, restaurants, and mini-markets. The resort area of Magaluf and its wild nightlife is a 10-minute cab ride away, while family-friendly attractions, such as Katmandu Park and Marineland are also a short drive. The charming capital of Palma is roughly 25 minutes by car, and its airport is slightly farther. 

The property offers 68 one- and two-bedrooms apartments, all of which are a tired-looking combination of old-fashioned varnished furniture, white-tile floors, and dated patterned fabrics. We found numerous signs of wear, scuffing, and poorly maintained furniture that included wobbly balcony doors and chipped paintwork, and some units smelled musty. All open to balconies, with most offering at least partial sea views. The majority of two-bedroom apartments feature impressive full-frontal vistas, while some overlook the scruffy rear of a restaurant or road. One-bedroom apartments include living rooms with lounge areas, dining furniture, and kitchenettes, and two-bedroom units offer separate kitchens. All have AC, microwaves, stovetops, fridges, toasters, and kettles, and TVs range from old tube-style to 32-inch flat-screens (with a good range of UK-based channels). In-room Wi-Fi costs extra unless guests book directly through the hotel, but the connection is usually pretty zippy. Bathrooms are a bit more modern than the rest, with shower/tub combos, dispenser soap and shampoo, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Past guests have complained about noise from other rooms, the air-conditioning system, and street traffic. 

While the Roc Portonova Apartments hardly shines in the way of facilities, the highlight is certainly the sunny terrace with a decent-size pool, plenty of loungers, and a separate kiddie pool. A small animation team also help keep children entertained for part of the day, and there's a very tired-looking playground poolside. Snacks such as sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and salads are served at the poolside bar, as are cocktails -- including alcohol-free ones for kids. A small, rather dingy dining room opens for a breakfast of hot and cold buffet items; it's not included as standard but prices are reasonable and food is decent enough. The hotel has no full-service restaurant, but the steak house next door offers guests a discount on meals. There are a few pool tables, ping-pong tables, and arcade games stationed around the property, and in cooler months, a small heated indoor pool opens to guests. The property lacks a gym, but there's coin-operated laundry and secure on-site parking for a fee (though free parking is usually available nearby). Wi-Fi is free for guests who book directly through the hotel.