'I went on an 18

Oct 05, 2023

New hotel group Cook’s Club collection aims its resorts at young 18-30s holidaymakers but it's all about stylish relaxation, meals cooked in front of you and high tech rooms

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Billed as "hotels for a new generation", the cooksclub.com is all about friends spending sundrenched summers together in stylish surroundings. With contemporary designs, chilled-out vibes and fabulous food and drink, its resorts offer a sanctuary to escape the mundane and de-stress from everyday life.

And when you’re suitably rested and refreshed, they are all geared up for making holiday memories with your mates, be it dipping into the cultural scene, discovering a new destination or spending nights partying under the stars. With hotels in the holiday hotspots of Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Cook’s Club collection, Egypt and Bulgaria, Cook’s Club Calvia Beach is the brand’s 11th launch and its second resort to open in Majorca.

Situated on an elevated setting – Palma Nova to its left and Magaluf to its right – this 211-room hotel has far-reaching views towards the beaches and is within a two-minute walk of the liveliest nightlife on the island. The hotel’s chic pool area and sundeck, dotted with cushioned loungers, soft seating, sail-like shades, parasols and palm trees, is the place to mingle with pals and make new ones.

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Make no mistake though – this is not a party hotel. There are no drinking games, bar crawls or forced fun around the pool. The wild days of sunburn and sangria on Club 18-30 holidays fizzled out back in 2018 – and this is not a restyled version.

While Cook’s Club resorts will appeal to the same age group, it’s your choice if you want to tune in to the poolside DJs, zone-out completely or socialise with a drink at the bar as the day drifts into night. In the evenings, Captain Cook’s bar serves up wondrous cocktails from mixologist menus which are made with fresh juices, premium spirits and garnished with herbs from the garden.

Summers have seriously moved on from Jägerbombs. The hotel is completely cashless but allows guests to purchase food and drink either by debit or credit card or via a handy smart wristband that can be topped up with credit at the hotel’s main reception.

I opted for the latter during my stay and it worked extremely efficiently. I loved not having to carry any cash or cards around and it also stopped me overspending, which would be easy to do with all those cocktails on offer.

To give guests that glam, beach club feeling, the hotel has created a section where you can relax with the sand between your toes and gather for afternoon parties with mood-boosting beats, which are open to non-residents too. Earlier this month, guests immersed themselves in an exclusive Cook’s Club Session – a party experience with renowned DJs, skilled mixologists for a drinks masterclass and food experts at a Spanish street food market.

All this action and enjoyment requires plenty of fuel and it is at the hotel’s Cantina restaurant where Cook’s Club Calvia Beach really sets itself apart. A long, open-plan kitchen sits behind a shiny worktop, where chefs prepare fresh food in front of hotel guests and there is certainly no shortage of culinary options to suit all tastes and requirements.

The extensive, market-style offerings include everything from fancy salads, red Thai curry and tapas to Buffalo chicken wings, salmon bagels and prawn fusilli. You can go for clean-eating, veggie and vegan options, Spanish and Majorcan specialities, plus there are hangover fry-ups, burgers and barista-style coffees, should you need them after an enjoyable night in the clubs.

Cook’s Club Calvia Beach has been fully refurbished and there are doubles, twins and bedrooms sleeping up to three for groups of friends. They have been kitted out in calming greys, accessories made with natural materials, soft lighting and minimalist bathrooms. All have air-con, wi-fi and a balcony. Entry to your room is gained via your hotel credit wristband, ensuring that lost room keys are a thing of the past.

A trip to Majorca is wasted if you don’t get out to do some sightseeing and a visit to the island’s capital, Palma, is a must. I took a walking tour of the city on a Saturday morning, where the Danish guide gave our group an interesting timeline of Majorca’s past while showing off the city’s magnificent buildings as well as the work of Antoni Gaudí himself.

The tour ended at a typical Spanish market which was buzzing with tourists and locals buying fresh produce. Enjoying a cerveza at one of the in-market tapas bars felt like a fine way to spend some time. That evening I enjoyed a beautiful meal out on the patio overlooking Palma Nova’s golden sands at Siso Beach restaurant. Take your pick from matured meats, Mediterranean fish, mouthwatering paella, poke bowls and steaks. The food and wine is exceptional here, as is the customer service and views. It’s well worth a visit.

When you’re in the Balearics, a boat trip along the coast is a great way to while away an afternoon with friends. I’m not talking about the heaving party boats with fishbowl cocktails of decades past. These excursions are on modest-sized vessels that glide down the coast, stopping off at caves and bays for wild swimming and paddleboarding.

You’ll be pleased to hear that an ice-cold tinny at sea can still be very much enjoyed. Cook’s Club also has a sister hotel – Palma Beach – which is just a stone’s throw from Playa de Palma, in the heart of S’Arenal, with its lively beachfront promenade. It has that same chilled atmosphere as the Calvia residence, DJs, gym and dining, plus there are plenty of watersports such as jet-skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing and diving down at the beach.

But if views and being within easy reach of the best bars and clubs are important, then I’d recommend staying at the base in Palma Nova. Cook’s Clubs resorts are arranged into "beach", "adults-only", "nightlife" and "city", with some ­straddling the different categories, so you can tailor your trip to suit yourself.

But a laid-back atmosphere, paired-back styling and epic music nights come as standard wherever you choose so your summers are sorted. Flights to Palma, Majorca, are available from 30 airports across the UK. You can find them for as little as £32 for a return on Skyscanner.

Rooms at Cook’s Club Calvia Beach hotel near Magaluf, Majorca, start at £82 a night B&B. spain.info; spain.info