Cala Sant Vincenc Hotel

Mallorca

To call this hotel tranquil doesn’t do it justice – it’s positively horizontal. Set in Sant Vicenç, one of Mallorca’s sleepiest towns, the pace of life is molasses- grade slow here, making it a fine choice for a relaxing retreat. The pool is shrouded by tall palms and the noise of the ebb and flow of the water is broken only by the pool attendant as he comes to either take your order (we can wholeheartedly recommend the mojitos), or to deliver the day’s complimentary sorbet as the afternoon sun reaches its zenith.

The rooms are simple and fitted out with handmade, honey-coloured pine in traditional Mallorcan style. While they’re far from flash, their simplicity is in tune with the atmosphere and have everything you need. One of the 38 rooms has its own huge terrace – be sure to request it on booking.

Service is provided by British general manager, Lynda Walsh Furlong, who’s been at the hotel for 30 years. It’s she who sets the tempo from the top down: nothing is too much trouble and tasks are completed with effortless grace. Restaurant Lavanda offers unfussy food from a short menu. Think steak, grilled fish and salads, best served with good-value local wine.

A small sandy cove is about five minutes’ walk away, which also plays host to a restaurant serving Mallorcan classics – sardines with aïoli, say – that’s obscenely well priced. For a break with R and R as its focus, you’ll find few better hotels. Doubles from £163.