Calle Lluc 2, S'illot, Spain
Set just steps from sandy beach in S'illot resort
Some rooms have balconies with partial sea views
Buffet restaurant with panoramic sea views
Swimming pool with tiny separate pool for kids
All-inclusive and half-board rates available
Two bars, one with poolside terrace
Pricey fee to rent safes
Dated room decor and amenities
Generally poor quality of food
Some rooms overlook interior shaft
The Mix Colombo (formerly Catalonia Colombo) is a lower-middle-range hotel set on the south end of a sandy beach in the quiet resort of S'illot. Its 148 guest rooms are of the last century, as are the amenities, though some open to pleasant balconies with partial sea views. While there are a sea-view restaurant and two bars on-site, the quality of food is mediocre at best. The pool is also on the small side with just a few sunbeds, though the nearby beach makes this less of a problem. Rated are undeniably low, though you'll also find good deals -- plus better dining and an indoor pool -- at the beachfront Universal Hotel Perla.
Scene
Simple, dated budget hotel popular with package tourists
Thanks to the hotel joining the family-run Mix Hotels group in 2015, the tatty-looking sign that used to mark the entrance to the former Catalonia Colombo has been replaced with a smarter black and orange frame, and its surrounds have received a much-needed fresh lick of paint. Stepping inside though, it's much the same, with plenty of brown marble and wood paneling that represents the hotel's '70s origins. Some contemporary furnishings and updated corridors, however, do bring a more modern feel. For a straightforward budget hotel it does also deliver on the simple things, offering a sea-view restaurant, a bar with terrace, and walled swimming pool area. It is, however, to the large part an undeniably dated and overwhelmingly average property, attracting mostly U.K. package tourists looking for some cheap sun.
Location
Beachside setting in quiet and relatively remote S'illot resort
The hotel is located in the southeastern coastal town of S'illot, and positioned just steps from the south end of its sandy beach. The resort is one of the smaller and more remote on the island, and certainly one of the quieter (and less attractive if you discount the pretty bay). As expected, there's plenty in the way of bars, restaurants, and cafes, though those looking for nightlife should get a cab to the nearby Cala Millor -- a 10-minute drive up the coast. The capital of Palma and its Palma de Mallorca Airport are about an hour drive away.
Rooms
Old-fashioned rooms and amenities, some with partial sea-view balconies
The hotel has 148 rooms, all of which are simply styled with wood paneling, parquet floors, and textured walls that evoke a dated, '70s feel. Amenities too are distinctly last-century, thanks to old-fashioned safes (for pricey fee) and tube-style TVs, though rooms do offer both air-conditioning and ceiling fans (which can work sporadically). Cheaper rooms have just windows overlooking an internal shaft, though better options open to balconies with side-on partial sea views -- there are no full-frontal views and many balconies just overlook adjacent buildings. Clean bathrooms have shower/tub combos with clingy curtains and simple toiletries, though no hairdryers. In-room Wi-Fi is available for a fee.
Features
Sea-view restaurant and small swimming pool with loungers
A highlight of the hotel is certainly the superb sea views that can be enjoyed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reports suggest, however, the food is repetitive and generally poor quality (though not surprising given the price). There are also a dining area and bar downstairs overlooking the sea, and a second to the rear that opens to a poolside terrace. The swimming pool is on the small side and has limited loungers, but with the beach so close this isn't much of a problem. There's a small splash pool for kids, though nothing else child-focused. The hotel also lacks a gym.