Mallorca Palma area hotel or villa with 6yo?

[ferrisbeullersjacket]

We have been invited to a wedding in Mallorca (Palma) this summer. I can’t go as children aren’t invited so DH will go alone. We are thinking of all going there for a few days. Looking for a small villa or a hotel with pool where DC and I can hang out whilst DH is at the wedding events - day itself and day after party. Really looking for a place that’s not too hectic or busy with Brits abroad- if that’s achievable! The wedding is in Palma so around there or nearby would be helpful for DH getting to and from wedding conveniently.

Palma is lovely, but if you just want to hang around a pool or beach, I’d recommend Port de Soller. Palma can be expensive for accommodation and the beach is only so-so. If you’re not planning on any sightseeing, Port de Soller has a safe beach in a cove shape, lots of places to eat, a marina, and many of the hotels have pools. I wouldn’t fancy the hassle of self catering by for only a couple of days (we did it in Palma for a few days and thought it was overpriced and all the clean up etc wasn’t worth it).

We really enjoyed Palma, but it’s definitely a ‘go and see things’ rather than chill by the beach and pool. There is a lovely train that runs from Palma to Soller that your child will love (ours did), and the cab back to the airport was quick and not too expensive (your husband can easily book a cab for after the wedding).

Sorry, just seen that your husband will be there over two days. He could hire a car or get the train there and a cab back (or share a room near the wedding for the first night)?

Palma and Soller aren’t really ‘brits abroad sort of places’, Palma is big and cosmopolitan and Soller is picturesque.

I know Mallorca and we would prefer Palma as DH wants to be able to pop back and forth to wedding events quickly. We aren’t going to do much sightseeing as we’ve been there a number of times before. More like just stay by the pool, pop to local beach or out for meals. So definitely looking for somewhere in Palma. Possibly an apartment or small villa, but definitely needs a swimming pool to keep DC busy.

Bumping for you @ferrisbeullersjacket as I’m also looking for recommendations of an apartment.

You could stay somewhere nearby like Port de Soller rather than Palma itself, it's utterly beautiful and really easy to get to and from Palma from there. Palma is wonderful, but not great for younger kids. Port de Soller and Soller really are wonderful places, beautiful beach at the Port, and a lovely wooden train that goes from the Port to the town.

This looks nice. from VRBO ( I prefer them to Airbnb)

We stayed here 10yrs ago. It had a pool and some rooms the option of a kitchenette. We didn't know till we arrived that it was apparently more of a Spanish, business hotel, so saw very few children and not many brits. It meant the pool was empty most days which was lovely. Its not in the heart of Palma, but towards the port. We did walk to/from Palma though but there were lots of busses too. I also recommend the little train to Soler if you haven't been before.

The hotel is on a hill with steps going down to the port and Porto Pi shopping centre. They had the biggest Carrefour I've seen in my life near the port. Some staff were wearing roller skates! They had a large, souvenir section much cheaper than I'd seen elsewhere, along with the largest pork section I've ever seen. The steps back up might be a bit much for a 6yr old, but lots of taxis around. There was a corner type shop about 2mins from the hotel too. We had an amazing meal at Casa Jacinta which was a 5min taxi away. Back then, the hotel gave us vouchers for free drinks there.

https://www.bqhoteles.com/en/hotels/majorca/bq-augusta-hotel/
casajacinto.es/en/

Villas are hard to come by in the immediate Palma area. And Soller is a lovely place, but it's a fair trek out of town if the rest of the activities are in Palma.

I would suggest a hotel close to the seafront road, such as the Melia Palma Bay (which is right across the road from a beach) or the Costa Azul opposite the yacht harbour. The INNside Bosque and the Isla Mallorca, a bit further back, are good too.

If you like slightly "quirky" places then look at Hotel Feliz (very small pool though) or the Hotel Artmadams.

My daughter stayed at the Nakar. They liked it but don’t have dc so check out if it’s suitable. They thought the location was good.

Can Pastilla is a a small resort about a 10 min taxi ride from Palma, and super close to the airport. It has a huge lovely beach and there are hotels with large swimming pools all along so you would have the choice of beach or pool. There are plenty of restaurants etc. We have been a few times and even in August it is not rammed and doesnt have Brits Abroad vibe.

I came to recommend Can Pastilla too. Really quiet and friendly. Beaches are family friendly. It's got the aquarium too so you and DC could go there while DH is at the wedding. And so close to the airport so no expensive transfers.

I haven’t stayed in the Barcelo hotel near Palma but have thought it looked good. I have stayed with that chain elsewhere in Spain and found it good quality and excellent for children.

Also I don’t understand the Soller love. Nice to visit but massively overcrowded ( which is occasioning understandable hostility from the native residents) in the summer months. Pollensa, Puerto Pollensa and old town Alcudia in the north are IMO far prettier. But neither Soller nor these northern resorts are handy for Palma.

I stayed in a big hotel in Palma. I thought I would hate it BUT it was fairly quiet at breakfast and there was the option of eating outside, the food was lovely. After breakfast it was very quiet. The ground floor pool tended to have a few people around it but the large pool on a higher level it seemed to be just me swimming and a few ladies with children who mostly were on the side. We all chatted together, and I somehow ended up helping mind some Italian children. It was all very lovely and relaxed so much better than I expected. I cannot remember the name but posted just to say that small is not always easier or more peaceful. I think you will have a lovely time, tbh I prefer your option to being a guest at the wedding!

What about Ca'n Pastilla? 10 minute drive to Palma or there is a bus.

Quite a chilled beach resort.

I love Pollensa too. Have spent many a chilled, happy day there.

We stayed in the Melia Palma Bay. It’s got a rooftop pool, nice rooms, lovely breakfast etc.

I looked into staying near Palma with our children, who I suspect are older than yours, and my best options seemed to be Melia Palma Bay or hotel Portofino Mallorca, which is nearer the airport. We ended up Port de Soller, which I loved, but it won't suit your needs. Neither of those are villas though unfortunately.