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Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Good Rocky coves for jumping into sea for swimming - Majorca?
WaxOnFeckOff · 08/01/2020 13:14
Looking for the holy grail, we usually go to Menorca, have a couple of beaches we go to that have great bits for jumping into the sea/swimming back to beach or just getting out back onto the rocks.
DH and older teen DSs love that.
We like the quiet, like being able to walk into the town for nice food and also eat locally. To be honest it suits us down to the ground. However.... we've basically been to the same place (different villas/hotel) for about 4 years (but about 6 different holidays to menorca) and would like just a few different things to see and do. It's a small island, we know it well, we've done all the trips and activities.
We've done different holidays, Camping in various countries in europe, AI etc in Turkey.
We are not particularly sociable, happy with our own company, DS2 wont swim in the pool of a hotel or apartment etc as he has bad scarring on his body from acne and doesn't want anyone to see it - he prefers the sea where people aren't so close. We like to walk and aren't really too bothered about it being hot when we do.
So I guess I'm looking for similar but different? Thought maybe Majorca but open to suggestions.
Not interested in a cruise or places with lots of disco type entertainment or an activity holiday.
Campervan69 · 11/01/2020 18:10
We love Cala Blanca and Santandria that's where we always stay as well as you can easily get into Cuitadella in the evenings.
We stayed in an amazing Villa there in October right on the Bay of Santandria would very much recommend.
Campervan69 · 11/01/2020 18:13
I love the Algarve but I think the sea is completely different. It's much colder and more wavy so you don't get the clear waters that you do in Majorca or Menorca. There are very few jumping off places as well other than jetties.
WaxOnFeckOff · 11/01/2020 18:22
Thanks again, going to spend some time this evening browsing :)
Santandria is our favourite of the two and we try to get closer to that beach but they are both great. Love being able to stroll into Cuitadella, DS2 and I did it twice in a day, we strolled in and back for the market and then went in again with us all for dinner :)
Costacoffeeplease · 11/01/2020 23:36
Well I have friends whose sons jump off the cliffs regularly - I’ll let them know it’s not appropriate @Campervan69
NumbersStation · 11/01/2020 23:45
I did it in Cyprus - a few moons ago.
Cape Greco. It wasn’t terribly huge but immensely satisfying!
Sadly haven’t been to Majorca so can’t help with that one - have fun though!
Thislittlekitten · 11/01/2020 23:50
I was going to say the same as Daffodil101. Cala Esmarelda in Cala dor sounds exactly what your looking for.
The cove is stunning. It’s a nice quiet area but enough places to eat and drink around. Plus only a 15 minute walk to try centre.
Campervan69 · 12/01/2020 00:22
@Costacoffeeplease don't take the hump I was just explaining that the water is completely different in the Algarve. Despite the fact that your friends sons jump off the cliffs you have to admit that the water is freezing in Portugal and is much rougher so you don't get the lovely warm flat clear seas of the Med there. OPs son doesn't like not being able to see to the bottom. So it wouldn't be suitable for them.
Campervan69 · 12/01/2020 00:26
This is near Cala D'Or it was perfect for jumping off the rocks.
Costacoffeeplease · 12/01/2020 08:33
I haven’t got the hump, just disagree, but I’ve only lived here for 17 years, what would I know?
FlashingFedora · 12/01/2020 08:41
Cala d'Or is perfect for this. It has 5 'calas' with crystal clear water and loads of fish. There are platforms for jumping off all along them and stairs to get back up. My DS loves it there, we've been the last 3 years.
Catapillarsruletheworld · 12/01/2020 12:30
This is a great thread. We have 10 days in Majorca in August. Staying in land at sineu, but have a car and are planning to travel around the island to find the best beaches and coves.
Cala llamp and Cala d’or look like just what we’re looking for, for jumping off rocks and snorkelling.
Rankellior · 12/01/2020 12:33
@catapillarsruletheworld
I would highly recommend Cala Anguilla and Porto Cristo for a day trip. The beach at Cala Anguilla is stunning and has rocks for jumping plus lovely sea for snorkeling. Porto Cristo is good for a wander round the boats and shops
AnyFucker · 12/01/2020 12:36
Can't help you with Majorca, op, but am looking for a new area in Menorca to stay in.
Can you give any further details of your accomodation that is strolling distance to Cuitadella please. We have loved Binibeca and Cala Galdana.
Yesyesitsme · 12/01/2020 14:17
This is definitely making me want to go to Menorca! I've looked up the places you recommended and they look great. I like the idea of being walking distance from Ciutadella too.
I've seen Cala d'Alcaufar recommended recently too - is that somewhere you know?
I'm not sure I'm much help with recommendations although yo do agree Croatia would be a contender - crystal clear water and lots of swimming from rocks instead of beaches.
WaxOnFeckOff · 12/01/2020 14:31
@AnyFucker. I suppose it depends on your budget and what type of accommodation you are looking for. I think they call it Son carrio area or Sa Caleta. The sweet spot for us is probably around Villas Amarillas and Villas Maribel. They are close enough for the guys just to wear their swim things and flip flops to the beach/sea, there is a decent corner shop, you can walk into Cuitadella (about 30 minutes) but there is also a bus stop there and you can walk up to Es Caliu for a steak as that's a bit of a favourite of ours. Sa Quadra down by the beach is also fab. It's about 10 mins to walk into Cala Blanca for more restaurants and bars and about a further 5 mins to the beach. In Cala Blanca, Maribel apartments look decent but we've only used the pool etc. The hotel down there called the Spa Sagitario playa is really nice but very quiet and "middle aged" :o Staff are lovely. Staying in Cala Blanca adds about 10/15 mins to the walk into Cuitadella but again it's on a bus route. Don;t dismiss the Irish Bar as a brits abroad type place, it's actually quite nice, food is pretty good and you get a great view of the sunset. I generally avoid these places like the plague as it's not my thing but this one is genuinely pretty decent.
I've heard the Prinsotel Sa Caleta is nice.
I suppse it depends on what you are looking for, but I also like Fornells but if I remember correctly it was a bit more expensive for eating out but then Es Caliu and Sa Quadra can also be expensive. We balance out going out for decent meals with eating in a few times.
I have done an on-line shop and had it delivered in the past, but if you have a car or don't mind carrying weight, there is a hypermarket on the way between Santandria and Cuitadella.
WaxOnFeckOff · 12/01/2020 14:47
@Yesyesitsme, Cala d'Alcaufa isn't somewhere I know but it does look like my kind of place. We've tended to stay either on the North or West of the Island so I know those areas better. However. it is only an hour or so drive end to end, so if you are happy to drive abroad, having a car your first visit is not a bad thing as you can get around very easily and see what suits you. One year when DC were small, we stopped at a beach somewhere between Arenal den castel and Mahon and had the entire thing to ourselves, it was literally just beside the road but below it and we took video there but we've never been able to work out which one it was and we never hire a car anymore to go looking :) It was before DC were in school so I guess it might have been in May/early June and avoiding peak holiday season which might explain the emptiness.
AnyFucker · 12/01/2020 14:52
Thanks.
We use villas and like it quiet but with a few bars and restaurants around. Also hate the Brits Abroad thing.
Campervan69 · 12/01/2020 14:55
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