Questions People Ask
The village of Galilea perches in the foothills of the Tramuntana mountain range at 570 metres, nestled at the top of a valley in utterly tranquil countryside, but still only 20 minutes from the island's main attractions: Palma, beaches, marinas and sophisticated restaurants. Although we admit to bias, we know of no other place on the island so utterly unspoilt and peaceful. How many houses and studios do you have? There are three duplex houses, two of them with one bedroom, plus bath, sitting room, kitchen, and its own terrace, and one with two bedrooms and two baths, with two terraces, kitchen and sitting room. There are also seven studio suites, each with sitting room/bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a south-facing sun terrace looking down the valley to the sea. Are you a hotel? To tell the truth, we’re slightly allergic to the label “hotel” simply because it implies so many things we don’t offer – a lobby and reception area, room service, shops, a bar with a bartender; things we don’t consider to be essentials and which are in any event impossible to provide in a place that has only nine accommodations. So what do you offer instead?
In euros - 105 euros for a studio suite used as a single, up to 265 euros for the two- bedroom, two bathroom, two-terrace house for four people. The smaller one bedroom, one bathroom house is 200 euros, and the larger, double-terraced one bedroom, one bathroom house is 215 euros. The studio suites are either 140 or 165 euros per night for two people, depending on size. Bathroom and bedroom maid service, as noted, is included. Anything extra? Yes, local taxes at 7%. Conditions? Restrictions? A three-night minimum stay applies from the middle of February to the middle of October. We're only small, so we tend to get overbooked at times. For insurance purposes, we have to limit children to those over twelve. What's the weather like? Your chances of sunshine are excellent; this is an island that gets 335 days of sunshine a year. And in summertime, Galilea is usually about five degrees cooler than the sweltering resorts along the coasts. Do you have a swimming pool? Of course. And we don't use chlorine in our pool. Are you open all year? No. We're officially open only from the middle of February until the end of October, but if you're interested in an off-season stay, just ask us and we'll see what we can do to accommodate you. The place is perfect for writing, finishing work projects, or getting together in a small group to brainstorm. Or in off season it's just a perfect place to recharge, rejuvenate, relax and regroup. Pets? No, sorry. Children? As we said, over the age of twelve or in a bassinet. In between, we can't get the requisite insurance coverage because we're too small a hotel to have a lifeguard by the pool.
We ask people not to smoke inside the accommodation, but since every studio and house has an individual south-facing sun terrace, smokers aren't inconvenienced. What about food? Every accommodation has a kitchen or kitchenette, so you can put something together for yourself. Within walking distance, there's also the little tapas bar by the church, or the good restaurant on the main road. Neither is far away - less than ten minutes on foot or two minutes in your hire car. Two and a half miles up the road (4 kilometres) in Puigpunyent, there is an even broader choice - a Mallorquin restaurant, two sophisticated Mediterranean restaurants, or the excellent restaurant in the five star Gran Hotel Son Net. We’ve heard about your beds. Tell us more. Just the best beds money can buy. All handmade, Vi-Spring, mostly oversized, deep coil pocket spring and sumptuously comfortable. We offer a mix of 6’6” by 6’ (203 cm by 183 cm) kings or 6’6” by 5’ (203 cm by 153 cm) queen sizes, or oversized singles, 6’6” by 3’6” (203 cm by 107 cm). Our bedmakers take a mile of tempered steel wire, twist it into 6 inch springs, cover with 40 square yards of cotton calico, add armfuls of lambswool and 30 pounds of cotton, 9 square yards of Belgian damask, then spend eight to ten hours hand-sewing it. That's the basic bed. We then add best quality long staple cotton sheets, silkysoft German goosedown pillows and cosy wool blankets. The result is a night's sleep you'll dream about. Your houses and suites have names. What do they mean? They’re named for birds. The top of this valley where we are is a favourite gathering site for birds passing across the island and so the artists who built the complex named the accommodations for birds they saw from the terraces – hawks, doves, robins, sparrows, owls, swallows, and a variety of songbirds. Is there parking? We have our own private parking lot at the top of the property.
Yes, it's an absolute practical necessity. Can you arrange car hire? Yes. We use an excellent firm that will meet your plane and sign you up on the spot so that you can be on your way within ten minutes. They are competitive in price and their cars are well maintained. They speak good English. Where's the airport? About a half hour away, on the other side of Palma. Do you have TV sets? Yes, but the only satellite we get with good reception speaks mostly German. That’s the reason – apart from our own preferences in that direction – we put in DVD players and bought a good selection of classic films and TV dramas. Handicapped access? This is a source of discomfort for us. Really, no, from a practical point of view, because the buildings are built on four levels going down the hill and the height changes are too steep for ramps and the terrain doesn't lend itself to a lift. Regrets. Will we need reservations? An absolute must for most of the year. Use the secure Rates & Reservations page on this website, or send an email to reserve@scottgalilea.com or ring (+34) 971 870 100 or fax (+34) 971 870 267. We also have a UK telephone: 0871 717 4227. Credit cards? Yes, of course, principally Visa, MasterCard or Eurocard. Is your on-line reservations system secure? Yes, you are safe to send your credit card details. What's more, we use a high-grade security certificate using a 128-bit encryption instead of the standard 40-bit.
No. What is your accommodation like? The general theme is sophisticated rustic, in keeping with the buildings. Apart from that, we value comfort and cleanliness. The photos don't really do justice to the accommodations. Couldn't we hire a villa cheaper? Possibly. Our prices are below those of the majority of the hotels in our category, but you might find a self-catering villa cheaper, because, of course, they usually offer no services at all - you have to do everything for yourself. You are also at the mercy of the taste of the owners, and their ideas as to what constitutes comfort and taste. If we may brag, nobody does comfort like us. Can you accommodate groups? Seminars? Yes. If each person in a group wants an individual bed, we can accommodate up to twenty people, and up to twenty-five if some people share a bed. You have two hotels. Which should we book? Both, to enjoy the contrasts between them, and the differences in location. But in the end it depends on what you want. If you want utter tranquility, total relaxation, and a rejuvenating break, book Galilea. If you want to combine relaxation with some gentle exploration of the island, with easier access to all the charms of Mallorca, from caves to coves to marinas, a selection of golf courses and Palma itself, it's safe to say that Scott's Townhouse in Binissalem is better situated for mild activity.
Yes. A discount. Simple as that. Book a week at each hotel and we'll offer you a ten percent discount on both hotels, even in high season. Book four days at Galilea and follow it with three days in Binissalem (or vice versa) and we'll give you five percent off the prices. You win both ways. Are your prices reasonable and fair? In the end, you'll decide that. What price do you put on your memories, on tranquility, on breathtaking views? And as with a sumptuous meal in a fine restaurant, years later you remember the meal but not the price. So is it with your holiday; the price is often the least important element. But we can guarantee you one thing -- we may steal your heart, but never your wallet. If you have any further enquiries then please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@scottsgalilea.com or see our "Contacting Scott's" page for other ways of getting in touch. |
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