Globales Apartamentos Nova

Sat behind a row of pine and palm trees and surrounded by particularly well-tended greenery is the Globales Nova Apartments. Given its setting in the middle of Palmanova's hotel developments, this property surprisingly manages to maintain a semi-secluded atmosphere. Guests enter down a set of stairs amid more tropical foliage, and enter a modern lobby area where large windows, polished marble floors, and large potted plants create a bright, calm space. However, like most indoor areas at the hotel, it's not the kind of place you'll likely spend much time. Two elevators and a stairwell lead up to one of six floors across the aparthotel's two wings. Between these, landscaped gardens are brimming with even more plant life and a secluded and serene lagoon pool (though it's too shady for some). Clientele is a mix of families with kids and older couples, and the hotel thankfully doesn't suffer from the rowdy groups that blight some of the area's hotels. 

The hotel is located on a hill that slopes down toward the beach of Son Matias in Majorca's popular Palmanova area. This stretch of sandy coastline is under five minutes away on foot and lined with plentiful bars, restaurants, mini-markets, and souvenir shops. Family-oriented fun can be found at the Katmandu Park, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel. The beginning of Magaluf's main strip of bars and clubs -- infamous for its wild partying and raucous nightlife -- is 10 minutes away on foot, with more to be found within a 15-minute walk. Nearby buses run into Palma, with its gothic Cathedral and lovely old town, taking about 30 minutes, and cabs to Palma de Majorca Airport take around the same time.

The 135 apartments are mostly one-bedroom units, with ten smaller studio apartments. All are similarly decorated in a slightly dated, though well-maintained, mix of tile floors, wood furniture, and stripped fabrics. A few generic still lives or landscapes hang on the walls, though nothing really suggests the beaches that are just outside the hotel's front doors. All open to balconies, and some of the one-bedroom apartments have sea views -- apartments on higher floors have better views, and those on lower floors can be dark, with restricted views due to the heavy foliage outside. Open-plan kitchen/lounge/dining rooms come with flat-screen TVs and kitchenettes with electric ranges, fridges, and microwaves, as well as basic cookware. After an initial half an hour, Wi-Fi is charged per device; old-style safes are also subject to fees, and can be pricey. Bathrooms are clean and modern (refurbished in 2010), with walk-in showers, sachet toiletries, and wall-mounted hairdryers. 

There are a good number of features at this hotel, which is a bit surprising given its self-catering ethos. The bar-restaurant offers an a la carte menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and opens to a covered alfresco poolside terrace. Food is decent quality and reasonably priced, though breakfast is not included. A good selection of drinks are also available in the lounge bar with entertainment in the form of quizzes, bingo, and live music. During the day there are two swimming pools available -- one indoor with separate whirlpool tub, the other an outdoor lagoon pool with sea views, a shallow area for kids, a slide, and loungers for relaxing around the shady terrace. There's also a playground, and kids' club activities, as well as crazy golf and darts. Wi-Fi is only free in the ground floor lobby area, and there are no fitness facilities.