I recently spent eight days in Mallorca and stayed the entire time at the Hotel La Vila. I could not have made a better choice. The location is perfect, the staff friendly, the rooms nicely appointed, and the food is outstanding.

The breakfasts are served either in the dining room or on the square and are generous. Be sure to have at least one dinner in the hotel, if not more as the chef is excellent and the food some of the best I've had anywhere.

The town is charming and the square is a buzz of activity. It's a good base for visiting other parts of the island.

The hotel has a lot of charm. It is a small perl and has the absolut best location in Sóller. The staff is very service minded and the restaurant in the coutryard is really god. Having breakfast on the town square just 10 meters from the hotel at the hotels own tables is a winner.

I choose Soller, after sourcing a late tourist season bargain from Ryanair, and a quick recce on the internet of Mallorcan destinations. I combined the stay in Soller with an overnight in Palma, journeying up to Soller by a restored wooden early 20th century train, through the terraced landscape of olive, lemon and orange trees. I didn't know previously about the Miro and Picasso connection, so it was a pleasant surprise to come across the Miro and Picasso galleries within the delightful railway station building. (The Picasso collection is the best selection I"ve seen of his ceramics. And the galleries are free!)

As for my stay in La Vila: first, it's a small hotel, 6 to 8 rooms in total, described elsewhere as "boutique" and "art nouveau." In other words, a lovely holiday destination. It is perfectly located, overlooking the little town"s main plaza, with a restaurant that extends out into the square. That said: while there is a cheery buzz of conversation audible in the front rooms of the hotel, street noise is not excessive and finishes early in the night; Soller is a quiet holiday resort which attracts mainly walkers and otherwise settled and relaxed visitors, as well as day trippers from other Mallorcan resorts.

Hotel staff are typical of small, local, hotels anywhere: chatty, friendly, providing good service and helpful information.With a reasonable cooked to order breakfast included in the price; 80 euro per night seemed about right, though bear in mind hotel prices invariably change seasonally. There is a good selection of tapas bars, fast food and differently priced restaurants in Soller, all within walking distance.


I stayed in La Vila for 3 nights only: enough time to get a sense of Soller and environs - the upper half of the town, set in the cloud covered peaks of the Trasmuntana Mountains and the laid back Porl of Soller at sea level, connected by a pretty retro-fitted tram. It wasn't a long enough stay to fully enjoy the place. But it was a great find, and worth the trip. I will be back. And when I do, I would like to stay in La Vila, if I can get a room.

Spent a week here and couldn't have asked for a friendlier welcome or more convenient location. Our room looked over the main square, which made for great views although I'll probably request a courtyard-facing room for my next visit for those all-important siestas. The breakfast selection was impressive and the food was always very good.

The spotlessly clean room was a reasonable size with a large bathroom and lots of storage - two of us on a walking holiday with lots of clothes and bags had no problems at all tidying everything away.

We only had one meal in the hotel's restaurant - there are so many places to eat within 2 minutes walk - but it was the best quality meal of the week. Not cheap, but a cut above everything else. Service throughout was excellent - friendly but professional... exactly what I like but so rarely get. The staff were also always very happy to help with our other random enquiries about bus times and other things.

Finally, a huge thanks to Toni - I contrived to leave my camera behind tucked away in a bedside cabinet... an e-mail later and it's winging its way back to me. I am very grateful indeed.

I really loved Soller and will definitely go back - I won't bother trailing through the booking sites again, I'll simply book this hotel.

Why 4 stars for some things: value - with the exchange rate right now, everywhere in Europe is relatively expensive; sleep quality - early morning noise of Soller waking up tended to wake me up, but bed very comfortable; rooms - poor picture quality on TV and limited channels (mostly German), and no room for a chair AND desk. Minor quibbles.