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IHG has announced the opening of its latest property in Spain with the Kimpton Aysla Mallorca now accepting guests. We’re told that the property “emulates a sanctuary of luxury and wellness” and that it has “a strong and exclusive commitment to active leisure and local contemporary art” (no, I don’t know how a hotel can have an “exclusive commitment to active leisure either).
The Kimpton Aysla Mallorca
The new Kimpton is located on the western side of Mallorca and while that puts it a convenient (30-minute drive) from Palma Airport…
…it also puts it in the same area of the island as Magaluf (12 minutes by car).
That’s not so good. In Europe, Magaluf is mainly known for being a major party location for the younger generations and is more associated with low-cost packaged vacations than high-end resorts – that’s not an area that I associate with the sort of guests that would visit this Kimpton.
Still, this location also puts the property within reach of some highly acclaimed golf courses and a prestigious tennis club so it’s not all bad news. Guests will just have to be selective when it comes to the nearby areas they visit.
IHG tells us that the Kimpton Aysla Mallorca is a resort that is centered around “luxury wellness”, that it offers a “full range of activities” such as workouts, guided meditation, yoga classes, and road cycling, and that the onsite spa (Maison CODAGE Paris) has an indoor pool, mud baths, sauna, a salt cave, and seven treatment rooms.
The property is also home to two restaurants and two bars, located in what are being described as “warm and welcoming spaces”.
The SABA Restaurant combines locally sourced Spanish ingredients and dishes often found in Southeast Asia, from kimchi and bibimbap to shabu-shabu. The restaurant has an open kitchen with a 14-seat bar where guests can dine as they watch chefs create their take on sushi and teppanyaki.
The SABA Bar is located just inside the entrance to the restaurant and offers an “indoor meets outdoor” where guests can enjoy an aperitif as well as a selection of local and international tapas.
During the day, the bar offers coffee, tea, pastries, and desserts. In the evening, the bar offers cocktails, beers, and wines.
The Zayt Pool Restaurant & Bar is actually described as a “Deli and Bar” which allows guests to “recline and dine” by the edge of the pool and which serves “freshly grilled Mallorcan bites and classic cocktails”.
The press release makes no mention of the property’s rooms (I have no idea why) but a quick look at the new Kimpton’s website shows that they’re decorated in a Mediterranean style (which seems appropriate) and that they start at around 355sqft/33sqm in size.
As far as pricing goes…
In the quieter months (e.g February) it looks like we can expect to pay cash rates in the region of €250/$250 (conversion correct at the time of writing) or points rates around 47,000 points/night:
When the weather is warmer (e.g. May) it looks like cash rates go up to around €445/$450 (conversion correct at the time of writing) and that points rates go up to around 85,000 points/night.
And in peak summer season (e.g. July), we can expect cash rates in the region of €575/$575 and points rates at over 100,000 points per night.
From a points perspective, this doesn’t look like a property that’s going to offer exceptional value but there may be scope to save some cash and to build in some flexibility by purchasing points when IHG is selling them at 0.5 cents each.
On a more positive note, unlike most (all?) Kimpton properties in the US, this Kimpton doesn’t appear to be charging a resort fee…
…so at least that’s one rip-off that can be avoided by booking here.
Overall
It’s always great to be given more properties at which we can earn and burn points and it’s nice to see a Kimpton opening up in the Mediterranean but I’m struggling to get excited about this property.
In fact, I’m finding that I am noticeably less enthused about this property than I am about the new La Zambra in Southern Spain and that has nothing to do with the fact that I’m an unabashed Hyatt fan. Both properties could be said to be located near some of the less high-end areas of Spain but while the way the Hyatt is being promoted really makes me want to visit, I’m not seeing very much in what the Kimpton is offering that makes me think that Mallorca should be on my Mediterranean wish list.
Clearly, I can’t judge a property based on a press release and a few images, but when a press release doesn’t get me excited about a new luxury property, there’s usually something wrong with the PR team or the property. For now, I don’t know which it is but I’ll be keeping a close eye on the reviews as they come out to see if they give me an indication.
What do you think? Are there any IHG fans out there excited to try out this new Kimpton?
Good location astounding but the staffs are rude and they make me wait so long for the service. They charge me more than what is on the website and did not refund me the manager is not helping with the issue