SLOleslie,
Yes, the drive to Deiá and on to Valdemossa is really a marriage challenging drive! In fact, I hesitated to allow my husband to do it. At least he didn't attempt the hair raising drive to Sa Calobra!

The town of Sóller is definitely not full of resorts at all. In fact it has several lovely manor house type options and a couple of full service hotels like L'Avenida, but no resorts. There are several lovely boutique Finca hotels just outside of town. We stayed at The Salvia, a former citrus merchant's mansion. The town reminded me a bit in look and feel to a Provençal town or a bit like Uzčs in the Gard.

Puerto de Sóller has the jumeirah, but that's as close as it comes to a resort.

The sun seeking hordes do descend on Mallorca in early June so April should be quite nice. I wish we had gone earlier and when we return, we'll do so in spring or October.

I think you´ll enjoy the Casa 1800.

We spent 8 nights in Granada and didn't get bored! I think it depends on how you like to/are able to travel. We are definitely slow! I could easily have spent longer there
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspo...anada.html?m=1

I am very surprised you have been to Seville several time and traveled extensively in Andalusia... but never Cordoba. That statement alone is worth plenty of exclamation points. I would use them, but I don't want to go over my quota.

Also, there is no shortage of full-service (I assume this is the same as table-service) restaurants in Granada, especially small places with character.

Restaurants of character in Granada downtown:
Cunini and Oliver, both excellent seafood restaurants and both on the Plaza de la Pescadería
Chikito, very traditonal
Damasqueros, 1 Repsol sun
Faralá, 1 Repsol sun and Michelin recommended, also with flamenco

In Granada's ancient Arab quarter, the Albaicín, near the Mirador de San Nicolás viewpoint, with spectacular Alhambra views
Carmen de Aben Humeya

From a Chowhound thread. I remember we really liked the tapas place. Alhambra was crowded. Definitely get tickets. We were there in May. “We also had two lovely days in Granada. There we really enjoyed Saint Germain for our first dinner. Pate on bread was the free tapas and then we ordered octopus, squid and a very comforting tomato with melted cheese dish. Our second night we walked over from our small but lovely hotel, Santa Isabel la Real, and had dinner with views of the Alhambra at Mirador de Morayma. Maribel, I saw your recommendation on a chow hound thread and it was perfect after a long day of walking and down hills and around the Alhambra.”

Yes, macdogman, I forgot St Germain, which I always recommend! And the Mirador de Morayma is another lovely option near the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín with those beautiful, full frontal Alhambra views.

We also felt like 3 days, 2 nights was just about right. That allowed for visiting the Alhambra, strolls around the Albaicin area, the Cathedral and the market areas near by with plenty of time to enjoy an ice cream in the main plaza, sitting to enjoy the views from the miradors , etc. We didn't attend any dance shows (or bull fighting, but no regrets there).

Churros and chocolate at Cafetería Alhambra on the Plaza Bib-Rambla.

Maribel - we stumbled upon Cafeteria Alhambra in Granada and had our first and only churros of our two week trip. Glad to hear it's one of your recommendations

Just a word to the wise - the portions are huge, so unless you're starving, best to share.

Yes, mel, we always share! And... I try to limit myself to one plate of churros per year (well, ok, maybe two....one during the San Fermín festival at La Mańueta and one at the Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid at Christmas time).

Hi Maribel, The hotel with the Roman Bath we have enjoyed was Hotel Hospes Palacio del Bailío, Cordoba. I have to admit the Roman bath area is not as big as the Aire one in Seville, but it was unique in couple of ways:

- It was mainly used by the hotel guests and they asked guests to book time slots. The two times we used it, it felt like a private Roman Bath as we were the only two in there. I don't know if we were lucky or that how they managed it.
- You see authentic Roman Ruins as you walk to the Roman bath. In fact you almost can view those from the Roman Bath pool itself. The atmosphere of this was just extraordinary and made you feel like a Roman Royalty.

Check out the Roman Bath part of the following video we have posted as we reviewed it: The Roman Bath part start at the 6:40 mark of the video, but feel free to enjoy the tour of the rest of the hotel as well. You will be up for a pleasant surprise for a hotel spa/Roman Bath. we have really enjoyed it and if in Cordoba again we will definitely stay in there again. Not the cheapest stay, but it was definitely worth it. I have as well definitely enjoyed the Aire Hamam in Seville on the same trip, but each of them were a completely different experience.

OK, we are down to this Itinerary: :

Granada: 4 nights
Mallorca:
Rent car, 4 nights Pollenca, 3 nights Soller, sightseeing drives to little towns and ports.
3 or 4 nights in Palma, not sure. If we do 4, we'll have 4 nights in Barcelona. If only 3 in Palma, we'll have 5 in BCN.
I've been to Barcelona maybe 3 times, but not in a while. It's throngs these days scare me away (I kinda hate then Rambla) but I want to see the Sagrada Familia and my husband has never been to Barcelona. (Stayed in Sitges once and loved it but no car in town this time.)
Now looking for good hotels in Palma de Mallorca. Priorites: Location, character, 25 meter+ rooms, bar, pool and decent restaurant great but not mandatory.
Looking at: Basilica, Cort, Sant Francesc, Can Alomar, Palacio Can Marques, Antigua Palma. Or?
Suggestions much appreciated.

In Granada, I spent 2 nights in El Zaguan, at Nueva del Santísimo, 4, (Granada City Center), 18001 Granada. 2 nights is enough for most tourists - one day for the Alhambra, even though it will take you 4 to 8 hours depending on how fast or slow you are, how much time you spent sitting, and so on. On the other day you can see the Albacin, Sacromonte-, various monuments listed in the guidebooks, and so on. Maybe if you are taking day trips from Granada, you need more nights there. I spent 4 nights in SSeville, 2 in Granada, 2 in Córdoba, and 5 in Madrid. I didn't make time for the islands in the Mediterranean. I only was able to take 10 business days off work.

A hotel is just a place to sleep. There are probably 2 and 3 star hotels that would do the job good enough. Also I didn't eat any restaurant t food in my 14-night trip to Spain. I thought about trying some restaurant food, but I didn't want to spend the money, and it is all made with oil or added fat, sugar, and/or salt. Yeah I know my eating behavior while traveling is probably super weird.

erickaqua7805,
Thanks for the video. I do know the Palacio del Bailiío in Córdoba, have been there, have dined there. It´s the most luxurious lodging in the city and not in the Jewish Quarter.

SLOleslie,
I think you´ll enjoy your 4 nights in Pollença and 3 in Sóller.
While the driving to Deiá is "challenging", it's also short, about 15 minutes, and there are fewer curves as you drive south to Valdemossa. In early June La Cartuja was teeming w/tourists but April should be less so. We took the easy route from Valdemossa back to Sóller to avoid retracing our steps. We also took the little train from Sóller down to Port de Sóller (25 min. ride) for lunch and dinner at El Sabor several times, and regretted not taking the boat ride to Sa Calobra (much more relaxing than driving!)

In Sóller we enjoyed meals at C'an Pintxo, C'an Boqueta and especially Luna 36 and visiting the Moderniste Museum Can Prunera and the church of Sant Bartolomeu. The façade is a work of a disciple of Gaudí.

In Pollença it's a short and easy drive to Port de Pollença and to the scenic walled town of Alcůdia. Market day in Pollença is Sunday and Tuesday in Alcůdia. The restaurants Respire (slightly outside of the medieval quarter) and Q11 on the atmospheric town square provided us with lovely meals and local wines from Can Vidalet and Can Axartell.

Our stay in Palma was a "working" vacation so we were able to see the hotels that you're considering. The most impressive: the more contemporary Es Princep, also the most expensive but has a great rooftop terrace with fantastic views and fine dining but not on your list, then Sant Francesc but with no sea views.
But we also liked the handier location of Can Alomar, which is closer to Palma's Passeig Born but with no sea views from the rooftop and the Palacio Can Marqués, which is gorgeous. It has no sea views but there is a shuttle to the Puro Beach Club for guests.
The Cort, facing the square with the ancient olive tree, has a very, very busy location and wouldn't be my choice.

Hope this helps.

As for dining in Palma, you´ll be spoiled for choice. The Es Princep has Zaranda, which is Michelin-starred.

You welcome Maribel! You should try their Roman Bath next time you are in the city. When you said you dined in there, was it the restaurant on the top of the Roman Ruins?

I was in the city this past March for 4 nights but only went to the hotel for a drink this time. The Arbequina restaurant has a lovely outdoor terrace for dining during the warm months.

For anyone following along with Marriot Bonvoy points, the Hospes properties in Spain, including Córdoba's Palacio del Bailío, are now Marriott branded.

I would suggest next time maybe drop by their indoor one for maybe a coffee or so on. Having a coffee right on top of the ruins was an interesting sight to be honest.

I've toured the hotel, part of my day job.

Maribel, you are always a font of terrific info. I looked at Es Princep but it looks like (and someone commented on) the bathrooms open to the bedroom. Not a fan, but maybe not a deal breaker. Both that and Sant Francesc are awfully pricey, so the questions is always value for money.
Still wondering whether 4 or 5 days in Barcelona. Hate to give Palma short shrift, but after the “country” meandering we’ll not need a bigger city, esp. with Barcelona to come.
Do you mind if I ask what your “day job” is? Something in the travel industry no doubt…..
Leslie