Review: Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel

This is our review of the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel in Spain.

It is the second review in our ‘HfP in the Balearics’ series in partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, which kindly provided the stay. We paid for all other expenses, including flights. We also reviewed the Castillo Hotel Son Vida (Mallorca) as well as the W Ibiza (review here).

After a luxurious stay at St Regis Mardavall (review here) we moved on to the Sheraton Mallorca which is nestled in the valleys of Son Vida, just outside Palma. The hotel website is here.

The Sheraton was one of the first luxury hotels on the island and opened in 1992 – back when, I am told, Mallorca had more of a reputation for being cheap and cheerful than it did as a luxury travel destination. These days, the island also boasts a Belmond, Jumeirah and a soon-to-open Four Seasons.

(As a side note, all four of the Marriott Bonvoy hotels on the island are owned by the same German group that owns the Paulaner Brewery.)

Sheraton Mallorca was the first golf resort on the island and boasts access to three 18-hole courses, one of which is within putting distance of the hotel.

The hotel and golf courses are about 20 minutes from both Palma Airport and St Regis Mardavall, although they feel slightly off the beaten track and are a little further from the nearest town centre – nowhere is walkable from the hotel.

The hotel has just 93 rooms which makes it a fairly small by Sheraton standards. There is free parking outside as well as a very small underground car park.

Checking in

As a Sheraton, the hotel naturally makes a less grand impression than the St Regis, with the lobby connecting a small bar, terrace, main restaurant and reception:

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Check-in was quick and easy and my Marriott Bonvoy elite status was recognised.

I was given a Junior Suite on the top (3rd) floor, with views across the resort. The room opens onto the living space:

A sideboard is on your right, with tea and coffee making facilities and mini bar:

Whilst you get a Nespresso machine, the coffee pods are not Nespresso branded.

A swivelling TV means you can watch from bed or the living room:

There is no partition between the living area and the bedroom:

The Sheraton bed is a little firmer than other Marriott brands I have recently stayed in. USB sockets are only on the right hand side:

On the other side you have a wardrobe. There is another wardrobe on the living room side too, so you have plenty of storage space:

A balcony runs the entire length of the room and has lovely views over the resort and towards the next hillside. You can see Castillo Hotel Son Vida, the more luxurious sister hotel which I will cover in a day or so, from the Sheraton.

The bathroom was large with a copious amount of counter top, plus a bath tub:

To be honest, given the space, I’m not sure why they didn’t just put in a second sink. Interestingly, the toilet is in the main area of the bathroom rather than in a separate cubicle, although you can of course close the door to the room.

The shower is to the left of the toilet and features a rainfall head as well as standard head. I found the pressure to be a little lacklustre in the rainfall head but fine in the other one – potentially due to fewer nozzles.

Toiletries are by ‘le grand bain’. You get all the usual bits including robes as well, although I found one robe to be significantly more raggedy than the other and probably due for retirement!

Whilst many Sheraton properties have a reputation for being a little run down (Marriott unveiled a renovation program earlier this year) the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella feels like it has been refurbished in the last few years, and is in very good condition.

The hotel provides a turndown service which means you get some extra bottles of water, a little square of Lindt milk chocolate plus your slippers are laid out by the bed.

Pools, gyms and spa at the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel

There is just one main pool outdoors, surrounded by a decent number of sunbeds. Hotel occupancy was high whilst I was there and it never felt overcrowded, which was good. With a lot of guests making use of the golf courses I imagine it can be fairly quiet.

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There is also another small indoor pool in the spa:

The spa is small – I’m not sure if there are any treatment rooms or sauna or steam room. I believe what you see above is what you get.

In addition to the main pool there are also two pools for kids of varying ages, plus a small kids club:

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Plus two tennis courts:

…. and a beach volleyball court which has become a little overgrown during Covid:

The gym is brand new with a focus on cardio equipment and has a lovely view of the resort:

In terms of golfing, the Arabella Golf Club is a stone’s throw away from the hotel, as is the 18th hole of the Son Vida course. There is a complementary shuttle bus for golfers that runs between the three courses, the Sheraton and the Castillo Son Vida hotel.

Dining at Sheraton Mallorca Arabella

There are two options when it comes to restaurants at the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella. La Bodega is on the ground floor, next to the pool, and is currently serving lunch with a focus on tapas:

You can get all the usual tapas bits, including Padron peppers, croquettes, garlic prawns and possibly the best Jamon Iberico on Cristal bread – definitely the best I had during my trip:

For dinner, Es Carbo on the first floor has a terrace with great views across the Son Vida golf course. This is also where breakfast is served.

For dinner, a more conventional menu is in place with a variety of steak, fish and pasta options.

We shared the beef carpaccio and tuna salad:

For the main course I went for the Lobster cannelloni, which was super creamy:

Finally, for dessert, I had the cheese board with local Mallorcan cheeses:

Breakfast at the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella

The breakfast buffet is fairly small, although it manages to pack a lot of choice in. You have the usual breads and pastries:

As well as cold meats, smoked salmon, Iberian ham etc. A small selection of cooked items such as sausages, bacon and freshly made omelettes is also available.

There are also fruits, yoghurts, juices etc – everything you can reasonably expect from a decent hotel buffet.

Conclusion

The Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel (to give it its full name) is a good choice if your focus is on golfing and other activities. Whilst Son Vida is a little out of the way (you can’t just walk to local shops, for example) you’ll probably want a car to explore the island anyway.

Whilst the Sheraton brand has, in recent years, received a bit of stick for its very hit-and-miss portfolio, the Sheraton Mallorca Arabella is definitely a hit. The rooms are good and the property has lots of amenities, especially for families. If you are not travelling with children, the sister Castillo Hotel close by is adults only and also offers access to the golf courses.

The Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel is a Category 5 hotel, which means you will need between 30,000 and 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. Cash prices start at €280 for a night in September. You can book on the hotel website here.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

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Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

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The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)