I visited the cool Spanish hotel chain with VERY late breakfasts
I’M not ashamed to admit that hotel breakfast rooms have seen me in some right states.
No make-up, unbrushed hair, sunglasses on to disguise a hangover, and shorts that, yes, could be my pyjama bottoms.
No matter how early I set my alarm to make that 7.30am-to- 10am breakfast slot, it’s always a last-minute rush to get there.
After all, who wants to get up at the crack of dawn on holiday?
But finally there’s a solution — a newly made-over hotel chain squarely aimed at people who love a lie-in — and possibly multiple morning meals.
At Tent Hotels — they have nine properties in Spain, seven across Majorca then one in Girona and one in Malaga — brunch runs from 7am until 1.30pm.
And the best part? You can go back to load up your plate as many times as you like.
So if you try to be healthy at 9am with a fruit plate and a smoothie, then regret it, you can return at 1pm for a sausage sandwich, a plate full of pastries and three cappuccinos.
When I stayed at the Tent Bahia de Palma, in the Majorcan resort of S’Arenal about eight miles from capital city Palma, the buffet was overwhelming. It had everything from pastries to a full fry-up, salads and open sandwiches.
At one point I even considered a slice of pizza to go with my chicken sausages — surprisingly nice — and Spanish tortilla.
It’s a good thing the gym at the hotel is open 24 hours a day — but then again, so is the bar.
And after a few hours spent digesting my trip — OK, two trips — to the brunch buffet on the hotel’s Instagrammable red-and- white checked sunbeds by the pool, it was time to explore S’Arenal’s beach.
Here, the water is unbelievably clear and the sand — which I watched being lovingly raked each morning — is white and gloriously litter-free.
The main beach is flanked by a strip of bars, as well as wooden umbrellas for shade, and children’s play areas.
The bars all offer fabulous views of the ocean — but be warned, they shut at 6pm, so sunsets are best watched from the sands.
If you’re looking to snorkel, the island’s famed rocky-inlet beaches, called calas, are on the island’s south coast.
The most easily accessible from Tent Bahia de Palma is Cala Mosques. It’s ten minutes from S’Arenal on the 504 bus, then a five-minute stroll through the posh Cala Blava area, to find the steps down to the cove.
As you walk down the hill, you’ll spot a small sandy beach surrounded by majestic rock formations and lapped by the bluest water you’ve ever seen.
Take a mask and snorkel and you’ll be able to spot saddled sea bream and parrot fish — but watch out for brave locals jumping off the cliffs into the sea.
If you want to swap beach bars for the island’s capital, Palma, it’s just a short trip from S’Arenal — the 504 bus takes 15 minutes and costs just over £2 one way.
But remember to tap on and off the bus with your bank card to pay the correct fare.
Get off at Le Seu, the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, which was built between 1229 and 1601. It’s one of the biggest cathedrals in Europe. Entry is 11 euros, or 30 euros for a guided tour.
Palma’s streets are lined with tapas restaurants and bars and the capital’s pedestrianised Passeig del Born has a lot of them, as well as a mix of high-end shops and historic buildings.
Stroll down the tree-lined road like Majorcans do after work, or step into the back streets to find Bar Espanya — a traditional tapas bar full of locals eating pintxos — small tapas snacks laid out on the bar — for £2 a plate.
I polished off a tuna paté on bread and Iberian ham croquette pintxos, but they also had prawns, deep-fried cheese and sobrasada, which is a cured pork sausage.
After dinner, don’t miss Palma’s most dramatic place to enjoy a cocktail, Bar Abaco — a no-reservations spot in an old house filled with flowers and very over-the-top decor.
With piles of fake fruit, massive bouquets and a fountain in the courtyard, it’s like stepping into an episode of TV hit The White Lotus.
I recommend getting there soon after it opens at 8pm — and it’s well worth a trip to the loos to fully explore the mansion and snap a few pictures away from the “no photography” signs downstairs.
Just a few minutes’ walk away — and on the way to the bus stop that will take you back to S’Arenal — Bar Rita is a beautiful, old locals’ bar that lies in the shadow of the Nostra Senyora dels Socors church.
With eight tables in a square, a cash-only rule and glasses of white wine for around £3, it’s the perfect place to end the night.
GO: MAJORCA
GETTING THERE: Fly to Palma with easyJet from most UK airports with fares from £19.99 in June. To book, go to easyjet.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at Tent Bahia de Palma start from £79 per night. See tenthotels.com/en.