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.

@Arenanewbie ah thanks for the reassurance, will have to buy some high grade mozzy repellant though since the little bastards love me.

There is a lovely nature reserve near alluding - you can hire bikes to cycle round. There are also some lovely walks up on the peninsula - they are well signposted and you can access it by bus.

"You must must must MUST go to Deia. One of the best places of our life. MUST."

Because?

@JubileeTissues to be fair, I love Deia and went a lot as a child. It’s not for us this trip because of distance but definitely in a few years!

alcudia old town is lovely and there are some lovely quiet beaches. Cala San Vincent has prett little vives but you need water shoes as pebbly.
I didn’t feel that puerto pollensa was anything to write home about - a bit touristy and not dissimilar to alcudia.
the natural parc is really lovely for walks, sweet little beaches nearby with beach bars.

Well everyone, we’re up and ready to go to the Caves of Drach with No Frills. Thank you to the first person who mentioned No Frills and my children are really excited about the trip! I’ll report back later.

If anyone can pinpoint a spot on a beach to the south of Alcudia that would be so helpful. Easy to get a taxi there but I realise it might not be so easy to get a taxi back, so somewhere on a bus route we can hop on and off would be epic.

Obvs we will also be going to Pollença!!

I'm really glad you're going to the Caves of Drach - they're good fun.

Can't help with a beach I'm afraid - I have sensory issues with sand so try to avoid where possible, but just wanted to say I hope you end up having a good holiday.

What hotel are you staying at op and would you recommend?

@shinynewapple22 you will love PP! I’ve been taking my kids since they were small.. very shallow water, amazing restaurants, beautiful square. We just got back two weeks ago. Mine are 13 and 17 now and they still love it. Try Bar Coral for food one evening.. so reasonable and the food is gorgeous. People come off the yachts to go there. X

@Midpmcoffee Zafiro Palace in Alcudia and no!

Why not?

ot doesn’t sound like an AI resort was really your cup of tea!

what sort of holiday do you usually go on?

@Midpmcoffee Have you RTFT?

@Midpmcoffee the thread will explain… but in a nutshell, I didn’t know it was AI and I have never stayed AI so didn’t realise what that might mean in terms of variety and quality of food (also adding a serious allergy into the mix).

This hotel has evening “entertainment”, a really lacklustre childrens club, two pools that are fun for children but massively crowded and a particularly niche clientele who put towel on sun loungers before 7am. I had no idea that sort of thing really happened.

We normally stay in hotels or rent houses in the UK or Europe. Sometimes we stay in large hotels with kids clubs etc. but waaaaaay nicer (and cheaper actually!!) Favourite so far are the Martinhal hotels in Portugal. Much quieter, more friendly, less frenetic.
I’m sure lots of people love it here. I’m not sold. And the immediate area isn’t great.

I’m aware I might sound like a total snob/ignoramus. But it’s just not my thing and I really dislike holidaying alongside so many other people. So lesson learned! But we stay in other large hotels and it’s normally fine, so… Dunno.

But the cost just have given you some indication! My friend just got back and it was £4.9k for the week for 4!

From that hotel!

You don’t sound like a snob.

you sound like someone who doesn’t enjoy this kind of holiday.

camping? I would pay not to go. It’s not snobbish to say a particular type of holiday doesn’t suit you with that’s £££££ and £

Doesn’t stop a hefty chunk of mumsnet crying “snob” though!

@Midpmcoffee we paid nothing like that much!! Way, way less including flights and transfers. Booked almost 9 months ago.

we actually love camping and go often 😁

I'm currently in Puerto pollenca and it's gorgeous, very chilled. You can hire pedalos with a slide on from the north end of the beach which are great fun and you can see some fish if you go snorkeling. PM me if you want any more information

Oh wow. I've just read the Zafiro Palace reviews on TA. Sounds horrific

@JubileeTissues and none of them are mine!! Honestly, it’s not an awful hotel but it’s so busy and loud and so many guests don’t seem to stick to the basic rules and are so inconsiderate.

And this is the sort of thing that is in almost every shop nearby. 😬

We had fun at this place: www.seemallorca.com/sights/museums/yannick-and-ben-jakober-foundation-alcudia-gallery-and-sculpture-park. The two indoor galleries are in air-conditioned basements (the relief!). The sculpture park in the grounds is nicely done and there are shaded picnic areas. There is a cafe by the ticket office which does coffee, cake and light meals - not cheap, but not robbery either. My teens loved the whacky stuff in the contemporary gallery. It’s out in the sticks - if you don’t have a car, I’d book your return taxi at the same time as your outbound one.

9 months to bring up the hotel on your computer to see what it’s like and that AI!