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….

Sitting in Port de Soller right now! DD 16 relaxing in room after long scuba dive (had to be there 8.30am).

Bus from airport to main bus/train station 5 euros each. Bus to Port de Soller was under 5€ each, I think. Took about 40mins.

Hotel right in seafront. Lovely bay. Apart from 1st night restaurant which was overpriced imo (Randemar), have had lovely meals. Best recommendations were from young Aussie lady at the diving school who I asked for advice. Fantastic paella at Sol y Sombra (and pudding) for under €30 for two. Another was at Bar Blue, simple place with one girl cooking. Great curry for me and lovely chorizo pasta for DD for €25 inc glass of sangria! Both a bit away from main tourist promenade but only a few mins walk. Also amazing tapas at El Sabor.

Will take tram and train back to Palma. Glad there was scuba diving for DD on two out of 6 days, she would have been a bit bored otherwise but perfect for families with younger children. Lots of Germans but also French, British and Spanish.

Would like to come back with DH, perhaps off season, and hire a car so we can see other bits of the island.

Sorry for long post btw!

Jackie there's an FB group "I love Porto Pollensa" which has great info for anyone in that area including where you're going. Have a lovely time

Sitting on the beach in sa coma
Beautiful weather light breeze not hideously busy and very content!

Jealous of Bagel and Granny - we're packing in preparation for leaving tonight

Am reporting this thread and asking if it can be moved to Shorthaul or Travel so it doesn't disappear after 90days. So many great tips.

Pikachu, the thread was to be moved when it's gone a bit quite (and before the 90 days are up of course). Upthread that suggestion was made and it was felt there would be more activity on it as long as it was in Chat. I have had contact from MNHQ to let them know when to move it once it has bone less active

quiet

Oh fab, missed that post. Sorry.

Just give us the nod when you want it moved chaps

Inspired by this thread I have been looking at Soller for a holiday next summer.

Could anyone tell me what Easyjet or Ryanair flights from Scotland cost this year or when next summer's flights will be released? Ryanair has cheap flights from Newcastle released already for next July and am trying to decide whether to book them or risk waiting for the Scottish flights to come out

Just come back from Cala Ferrera, was lovely, been reading this thread to get ideas for next year !

Thanks Bagel we're off to College next weekend for a week - thanks for the tips!

Very excited - first hol abroad for 4 years. Will be looking for the spot where Olivia Coleman and Tom Hiddleston had their covert chat over ice-cream in the Night Manager.

Soller not College! Gah!

Could anyone tell me what Easyjet or Ryanair flights from Scotland cost this year

We paid £800 from Edinburgh, for 2 adults and 2 kids, inc seat reservations and 2 bags. I booked it about 6 weeks beforehand. Ryanair were great.

Could anyone tell me what Easyjet or Ryanair flights from Scotland cost this year

We paid £800 from Edinburgh, for 2 adults and 2 kids, inc seat reservations and 2 bags. I booked it about 6 weeks beforehand. Ryanair were great.

Currently sitting in our villa in Inca waiting for DH to get out of the shower so we can go and buy some ant traps. It's not all glamour!

PrimalLass thank you. Think I will hold on and wait til the Scottish flights are released.

Can recommend Calan n Bosch in Menorca, on my last day here now....lovely weather, lovely food, lovely people.

Enjoy your hols heidipi

I enjoyed not needing a car in Port de Soller, very relaxing just being able to walk everywhere. Last restaurant recommendations are Sa Barca and La Pirata.

Sa Barca is on the main promenade, about in the middle. El Pirata is at the marina end. Both had lovely fish dishes. Didn't book El Pirata for Thurs night, lovely spot right near all the boats in the marina. Great grilled sardines and whole sea bass that night for us. Good puds too!

At Sa Barca, DD had the tuna steak (covered with sesame) with pak choi/mushrooms, wasabi mash. It was incredible! So tasty. I had whole grilled sea bass, also delicious. Sangria there wasn't as tasty as the (much cheaper) one I'd had at Bar Blue. We were lucky to get a reservation as it was Friday night, we'd wandered in there at lunchtime to make a booking but you should probably book a couple of days in advance to make sure. Didn't have pud but had lovely ice cream from place on our way back to the hotel.

If you want to go Scuba diving, I recommend Octopus Dive Centre. They were very nice there and DD enjoyed it.

PS. Took the tram and train back to Palma last night (had done the outward journey by bus).

To be completely honest, the tram & train is very quaint and cute, but quite expensive! I would take the tram from Port de Soller to Soller for the experience (6 euros one way adult) but probably not bother with the train back to Palma (which is another 16 euros one way, adult.) The bus cost under 5 euros each all the way from Palma to P de S, so much, much cheaper and air-conditioned! Not such a scenic route but not bad.

The scenery is lovely from P de S to Bunyola, but from then it becomes more barren and industrialised the nearer you get to Palma, understandably.

Leaving bags at Palma bus/train station cost 9.80 euros for 2 carry-on bags all day (slightly more for large cases but not much). Was a lifesaver as we had all afternoon to "waste" before late flight.

I have never been so glad to step into the shower at home at 3 something in the morning (flight delayed)!

i wouldn't trust the weather in October, Mallorca has a short fair weather season. Ive been in June and needed a jacket on all week.

Still in sa coma and sweltering! We had a lovely walk along the rocks this morning. Really quiet and away from the madding crowds- very busy on the beach

It's our last day in Palma today...first visit to Mallorca & I too am smitten. Looking at a house in Pollensa for next summer but can anyone advise would that work as a base without a car - are there regular local buses on that side of the Island?

We have booked somewhere!!

It's in Banyalbalfur at the west coast near the mountains so DH can go and cycle his little heart out while I laze in the garden
We will only be going with 2 DSs (older boys are going to their grandparents abroad), so it will be lovely and relaxing, less chaos than when all of us travel. Think travelling circus...

We have decided on no private pool. In October there is no guarantee for the weather, DS3 is not allowed to get his head under water and we though he'll feel less left out is there simply is no pool. I'm sure we'll find plenty to do.

I cannot wait now. October hurry up and come!

Sounds lovely Pacific. Make sure you tell us all about it when you come back. Who did you book it with?