Please help salvage our holiday - Mallorca…

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I know IABU. I didn’t research properly (I thought I had, but clearly didn’t…)

We’re staying in Alcudia. I have name changed because outing. I have two children who are 7 and 11.

Our hotel is fine but I hadn’t realised how big it was, so it’s loud and although there are 846 pools (slight exaggeration) there are only two that are fun to play in

We walked to the beach today (5 min walk) and it was a bit grim. Lots of shops selling fake sunglasses etc, not very clean beach, just a bit… hmm…

I need to make a plan for the next 4 days. PLEASE HELP AND TELL ME WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO?!

1. I thought we could go into the old town of Alcudia - would love any recommendations
2. Is the Hidropark worth it?
3. Where can we find a beach that is clean and calm??
4. Anything else?

Before anyone tells me I’m a snob, yes probably I am a bit. We normally stay in much smaller and calmer hotels or rent a villa/house. We rarely come abroad so this is meant to be a real treat.

I will be so grateful for any good ideas so I can make a plan. Please don’t tell me to embrace the hotel aqua aerobics/disco/etc. It’s really, really not my thing (although v happy for my children to take part in anything they’d like to, but the childrens club seems aimed at younger ones really).

THANK YOU! And yes, I’m grateful to be on holiday but want to make it really great for my children and at the moment we’re all a bit underwhelmed.

Port de Soller is lovely, for future reference.

Old town is lovely.

I went to Soller earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Town and beach area both lovely. (My flight was delayed and I ended up getting a taxi from the airport which was about €45, not sure how much it would be from Alcudia, or if there's a bus). Deia, not far away, looked like heaven on earth and some of the beaches and coves in the mountains are gorgeous.

Book some trips … Soller train trip is great. Go to Palma book a free walking tour. Visit Pollenca beach and old town.

We were in playa de muro last month and the beach is beautiful there. There was actually a zafiro hotel next door to ours and I was wondering what it would be like but forgot to check reviews. I need to look for next year and they were on my list, might take them back off!

We didn’t love alcudia either.. We had the same issue with noisy hotel etc.. If you’re able to get a bus or cab to the old town it is much nicer. If you can get into Palma for the day, the aquarium there is amazing! Also, does your beach run boat trips? We did a glass bottom boat thing, which was fun in itself, but some of them take you to other places / other parts of the island too.

We personally love the beach at alcudianand definitely think it’s worth trying port alcudia.
hydro park was a good day out but personally I think it’s a huge rip off.

Not answering your question but feel compelled to congratulate you on your user name - one would have thought that would have been snapped up ages ago. 😂

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles thank you. It took me so long to think of!! 😂

Ok @CeeceeBloomingdale , we’re getting the bus to hotel condesa today! Hoping for some good beach swimming/playing 👍🏻

Haven’t read the thread (apologies) but have just come back from a week in Alcudia with a 8 and 10 year old, so hope this is relevant. We were in an all inclusive too :)

Alcudia beach was a bit overwhelming - but the walk near the marina was lovely later at night with lots going on.

We also walked to Old Alcudia and walked the Roman walls, went for a morning to Old Pollensa (about 17 euros in a cab) where we did the 365 steps to the Calvary chapel for an astonishing view, and a morning to Puerto Pollensa which was fabulous with lovely little sandy coves.

From previous Mallorca visits would also recommend Cap Formentor.

Good luck!

Ha, have now read the OP’s posts and we were in the Zafiro Tropic which is slightly less fancy than the Zafiro Palace which she is in. Agree re the mad sun lounger situation and cheesey entertainment but we quite liked the hotel food and pools!

@Trickleg thank you so much for your posts. Sounds like I now have a similar plan of action to what you did!

What is done is done so try to make the best of it. The kids will enjoy themselves, even if you don’t, & that us what counts on family holidays.
Take a deep breath, don’t sweat the small stuff & enjoy the adventure of a new place.

Hola amigos! We made it to the beach by hotel condesa. It’s lovely. I don’t really understand the sun lounger rules and am assuming we have to pay for them. Also, I forgot to tap my card when we left the bus so hoping that’s not a big mistake!

my children are in the sea happily and I’m sitting on pine needles and planning our trip to Pollença!

Great to hear!

going to take a punt… first holiday as a single parent? I’m 5 years down the line and I promise you that you will find what works perfectly for your family and I reckon end up doing what I do…. Thinking that a holiday having to factor in a husband is thoroughly unappealing!

@Midpmcoffee umpteenth holiday solo with children! We always have brilliant holidays in the UK and sometimes abroad. The problem this time was me misremembering where I had been before (thought it was Alcudia - it wasn’t!) and not realising what a large Butlins type hotel would be like.

The children are having fun so that’s all that matters! But they have told me they prefer Cornwall 😂

€0.50 fine for each person you forgot to tap off the bus apparently.

Glad you've found a good bit of beach.

Omg we had the same experience 15 years ago.

Right, I’m going to read through the posts but we are heading to Port de Pollença tomorrow so if anyone would like to recommend a great spot for lunch/ice cream/beach/shopping/ where to get off the bus from Alcudia etc then I’m all ears!

There are some caves to visit not far out of Puerto Pollensa at Campanet, smaller than Drach, but in a beautiful countryside setting, with a gorgeous cafe terrace. We went every time.

Hire a car, so you can lock up your stuff and explore. I learnt to snorkel in Majorca, and loved it. Spent hours poking around bays looking at underwater like around rocks and cliff bases. With a mask and tube, it is so easy to spend prolonged periods floating about in the water, despite not being a good swimmer. The Western Med has much more sealife than the Eastern part near Greece, as it is less polluted.

Glad you had a good day at the beach. For sunbeds you find an unoccupied one without a reserved sign and use it, men in orange tops collect the money. Sometimes. They've been booking online recently, minimum booking of 4 days hence the reserved signs, so don't think they have been around as much.

Hope your holiday turned out okay. We'r going to Mallorca for the first time ever. Thanking my lucky stars we booked a smallish hotel in Puerto Pollensa! Anyone who is there at the moment, is it crazy hot?

I am here right now. It’s abouT 31/32 but very manageable