Atalaya Bosque Apartamentos

This family-run holiday apartment block is tucked away a few minutes walk up the hill from Peguera. It has an authentic, slightly old-fashioned feel, so that you can feel like a proper travelling guest rather than a generic tourist. No traffic noise. There are a couple of supermarkets just a few minutes walk away, Lidl for a budget option, and Mercadona for a slightly more upmarket experience, with a proper charcuterie and fresh fish counter. Eroski is another, smaller supermarket on the way into town, which has longer opening hours, so if you choose not to eat at one of the many restaurants and tapas bars in town, there are many options for self-catering. Beside Eroski is a Chinese "general store" which sells almost everything except food, so if you need something oddly specific, you can almost certainly find it there. The apartment block sits beside a small pool area with sun loungers and a simple little bar and shop. The proprietor, Jamie, or one of his family are invariably posted nearby, and ready to respond to requests or gentle conversation, but always polite and respectful of those that prefer to keep to themselves. I got the impression that some of the people we encountered in the bar were friends of the proprietor, or at least frequent visitors. Our apartment was clean and pleasant, with an adequate kitchen area, including microwave, a flat-bed toaster and a ceramic hob. Tea towels and dish detergent were provided, which was great, and the most essential utensils were available, although if you are especially keen to prepare food during your stay, you might consider bringing a proper sharp knife, because the small fruit knife in the drawer was only really suitable for a bit of rough chopping. Consider also bringing some dry herbs or seasoning, unless you are prepared to buy those when you are in Mallorca. Good selection of pots and pans. We cooked fresh fish almost every day and scarcely needed to eat out, so I can make no comments on the local restaurants. We did not use the TV because Wi-FI is provided, and we had our own devices. USB power sockets beside the beds in the main bedroom is always good to see. The bathroom was very nice, clean and modern, and the beds were comfortable. The kids slept on sofabeds, although these might be a little short for some full grown adults. Even though a number of other families were hosted during our stay, our poolside balcony still felt very private. No thumping loud music (indeed there were several signs posted, reminding guests about keeping the noise level down) which might not be to everybody's taste. Personally, I appreciated the calm atmosphere, and the gentle splashing and joyful exclamations of kids in the pool needs no additional soundtrack. There is no air-conditioning in the apartments, so I would recommend paying a little extra for renting a fan if the weather is warm. Definitely not suitable for "party animals" who want to run riot, but if you are looking for a quiet base for you Mallorcan holiday, Apartamentos Atalaya Bosque is an excellent choice. Would be happy to stay there again.