I have fallen in love with Mallorca

[PacificDogwod]

Just back from holiday there, first time on any Balearic Island for all of us.

I just loved it.
I am now looking at holiday lets for the October school week

How did I not know about this magical island??

I also found a wonderful property available to buy for a mere 5.8 million Euros . V nice it is too. I may start playing the lottery….

Checks in as another Mallorca lover although we go "out of season" for long weekends between October and April - if we can get cheap flights we go 3-4 times a year on 4-day breaks rather than one proper holiday. We've been going for nearly 10 years now.

Who was asking about Can Pastilla? As that's where we stay!

It's a fab little place. Lots of places to eat and drink, choice between the little beach at Cala Estancia or the massive Playa De Palma, not too touristy (as long as you don't go too far down the beach towards Arenal as a lot of young Germans go there). Some nice hotels - several have been upgraded in the last couple of years so prices are starting to go up but there's still bargains to be had if you look hard enough.

Best of all getting to Palma is either a 5km-ish walk if you're feeling energetic (with lots of lovely stops at beach bars for sangria and ice-cream on the way!), 20 minutes and 1.5 euro on the bus or about 5-6 euro in a taxi. Once in Palma you can get pretty much anywhere on the island by bus or boat for just a couple more euro.

We often hire a car for a day or two when over there and have explored most of the island. Royal Rentals are good, cheap and do full insurance!

Sitting on the harbour at Cala Estancia with a mojito is one of my happy places too......

I'm going to Ibiza next summer, staying on an agroturismo, inland in the north east of the Island near Santa Gertrudis. I've never been before but it sounds like what I'm looking for, far away from busy resorts and clubbing but easy enough with a car to explore or quiet enough just to say by the pool.

In Puerto pollenca at the moment, it's hot and beautiful and I don't want to leave! Our hotel is (as always) wonderful, amazing staff, lovely room, food is superb. Beach is fantastic p!

I'm in PP too - was sitting in the Lemon Bar last night wondering how many other MNers were there too!

We're off next Friday for our 5th holiday there! First went to Deia when DD1 was about 15 months (and I'd just found out DTs were on the way ). We went down to Soller for dinner a couple of times, sat round the square and vowed we'd come back with the children when they were old enough to play while we drank sangria and ate tapas!! Which we did a few years later...

Loved Soller, but then the next time we went we stayed just outside Pollensa, and decided we liked that side of the island even more... Not that keen on Puerto Pollensa itself, but love the old town, particularly the Sunday market and Alcudia old town too, where we found some amazing restaurants (not the tourist traps on the main square).

Another reason we love it is because all three DDs have coeliac disease and eating gluten free there is easy.

Can't wait to go now .

In case it interests anyone, the violinist Daniel Hope (protégé of Yehudi Menuhin) is playing at the Festival of Pollenca). I wish I could go!

Tonight!

m.arabalears.cat/balears/millors-musics-dels-festivals-Pollenca_0_1628237260.html

Enjoy your holidays! I joined the FB group for Pollensa (even though I'm not going there) Lots of love for the place and especially the Lemon Bar

Maybe I'll try that next time.

I love Mallorca. I went alone in 2003 on a lucky dip bargain break. Didn't know where I was going.
Hired a car, asked the hotel reception where am I? Palma Bay.
Drove all over, it was amazing. Back then, there wasn't the option of driving along the tunnel through the mountains. I drove the whole range in a storm. Fab.
Also, the drive down to Sa Calobra is full of hairpin bends.
The central plains with their olive groves are stunning. Drive inland from Porto column and up to sanctuary San salvadore or lluc monastery for amazing views over the flat plains and on to the sea.
Coves de campanet are stunning inland caves.

I'm thinking of going to Mallorca next year.

Would people recommend PP as a resort then? Looking for beach and shops/restaurants. Would you recommend hiring a car for the week? Is there enough stuff worth visiting round the island to make a car worth while?

Would like to go to Palma to see the cathedral, shops, any art type stuff, etc. Maybe drive to small beaches/coves.

If we didn't get a car can you use public transport from PP to Palma easily enough?

PP is at the opposite end of Mallorca to Palma. Silver probably easier to do both together but I prefer PP. We stay in the pinewalk area and walk into the centre in the evening for restaurants and shops. Easy to get public transport to Pollenca and walk the steps to the church, Alcudia old town is lovely too. This was our view last week.

Soller not silver.

There are coaches to Palma I think but we have always driven.

How long does it take to drive from PP to Palma?

Can anyone recommend any specific hotels/villas (small ones)/apartments in PP?

Pikachu, I'd recommend a car - I loved doing all sorts of outings and exploring the island. It's not vital, a car, but a nice addition - for me anyway as I like to roam a bit. If you are more likely to stay in the resort then public transport to/from the airport in Palma is available and taxis are not at all unreasonable.

What a stunning view, Donthate, wow!
Now I really want to go right now in October

Have just googled the drive between the two and looks like it's about an hour and that there's an hourly bus as well!

Think I'm going to order a guidebook!

Am going next spring for a wedding, wasn't looking forward to it (not the wedding bit!) but it sounds lovely

Adds thread to watch list
This is relevant to my interests ...

I've not been to PP, but the main roads are very good, often dual carriage ways/motorway-like and I would have guessed at an hour from Palma. The airport is just East of Palma, so actually a little bit closer to PP, I think?

The small roads are very, very windy and in the mountains steep and scary and often demand very slow speeds, so distances can seem deceptive and it takes much longer to get somewhere than '10 miles' would suggest.

Oh, I'd love a good guide book recommendation!

We always drive up to PP from the airport and (traffic permitting) it takes around 45 minutes (years ago, before the main road was built, it took twice that, at least).

Gorgeous pic, donthate

We got a taxi from airport to PP, took 50 mins and for a minibus for 5 including car seats was €100.

Pp recommendations!!

We are just back from a gorgeous hotel called "hotel uyal". It's wonderful, directly over the road from a beach, literally metres away. Nice pool, food is good (buffet style but massive choice), staff are kind and so welcoming. It was my 6th visit in 5 years.

It's about a 15 minute walk from the main town, shops restaurants, bars etc. We hire a car (although it pretty much stays parked apart from a couple of outings as the beach is so nice and weather so good!

Xx

Am thinking of going here next summer - we'd like a holiday that is warmer than this country and am taking notes here :)

I have loved this thread, I am going in two weeks for the first time! To Alcudia. I really wasn't sure, but DH raves about it so we went for it. And now I'm so excited! And very glad we hired a car so we can explore properly