Palma/Palmanova Advise

pinkstarsx

Morning All

Travelling to Majorca on Thursday for 5 nights with my mum.

Im staying at the TRYP Bellver in Palma b&b on Thursday night for 1 night,
http://www.solmelia.com/hotels/spain/majorca/tryp-bellver/home.htm

Then we are staying at the Tropico Hotel (also known as the Tropico Playa) in Palmanova, half board Friday for 4 nights.
http://www.granisla.com/tropico/tropico.html (not the most informative website!) http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/spain/majorca/palma-nova/hotels/hotel-tropico-playa.html

Just wondered if anyone recommended things to do in either areas?

I understand the Marina is about 1km or so from the Cathedral in Palma, is it best to get a taxi? (Mum has walking difficulties).
What else is a must see? Anyone recommend any restaurants or bars there?

I would be interested in doing day trips to other resorts or a boat trip from Palmanova is this possible?
May be going to Pirates one night, been before & loved it!

Any help is appreciated :j

xxx

Doshwaster

Palma itself is a great city if you like walking - the promenade itself is very long, there's not much to see of the sea as it's mostly industrial port but there are loads of bars and restaurants along the whole stretch to the Cathedral and the old town.

I seem to remember that taxis are reasonably priced and there's also a regular bus service.

As for Palmanova is almost indistinguishable from Malaluf, they just merge into each other on each side of the bay. It's your typcial Brit-abroad place with more bars than you can shake a stick at. Fortunately for those with walking difficulties, it's very flat. Food options were very disappointing though and I usually ended up in Palma for something to eat.

Not sure about boat trips. When I was there I hardly left the bars. :beer:

poe.tuesday

http://www.calaconills.com/ - this is a wonderful restaurant and pool, it's on the west of the island, go for the day and just eat and swim, it's free to swim there and you can spend the whole day there if you want to, take some beach shoes with you so you can get to the sea from the rocks - you will need a car to get to this place

palma itself is a wonderful city with lots of art nouveau buildings, the pavements are generally ok but there are smaller streets that are cobbled and some where there are steps leading to other streets so walking it is going to be easy in some parts and not others

http://www.bar-abaco.com/ - this is the most amazing cocktail bar in Palma - it is down near the port on a side lane - the cocktails are expensive so get the largest you can - call them up too and find out what time and on what day they drop the flower petals from the ceiling and if you can go to see that it is wonderful - get a seat as near to the fireplace as possible - you will have to go there early to get in though

as for palmanova - it really has moved up a notch but it does merge with magaluf, so just stay down the portals end for the more chic bit,

For another great little beach with some lovely restaurants not far from palmanova - you will need to go down some residential streets, get to Son Cali! Cordoba, 3, 07181 Palmanova, - go to Google maps and put in this co-ordinate 39.525933, 2.545848 and you will see an arrow of where you need to go to get to the beach There is a catering place called mel d'abella - search for that and then you will see some buildings in front of it and then a small beach with some trees, to the left of it you will see a diagonal cut through that is the path you take to get to the beach

pinkstarsx

Thank you both for your advise!

@ Doshwaster -That's why i picked palmanova as it's flat which will be ideal for my mum, i took her to Albufeira 2 years ago & i thought she was going to pass out walking down & up the hill to the beach :rotfl:
I've been to Magaluf about 5 years ago so i know what the areas like but that was purely a party trip so i didn't get to see much .. this hotel seems abit further up from the manic party side, and i wanted a resort that's close to the airport & cheap as i'm on a tight budget, it was a v. good price

I've heard about a train to Soller, does anyone know more about this?

Alan_Bowen

Yes, do take the train to Soller, its just under an hour through the mountains, departures from Palma are at 1010 and 1050. Soller itself is a beautiful town but many people just transfer to the tram which waits at Soller station to take you to Puerto Soller, about 10 minutes away. Its a small attractive bay with lots of restaurants and bars and if you like boat trips there are plenty of those as well.

colmil

We were in Soller last week by the train 34 euros return for two, no cards). 4 euros each to the port single, I think.

A cheaper way to get there is by the bus which leaves from platform 7 & 8 from the underground bus station, next to the Soller railway.

We went on the Soller bus to Valdermossa, a wonderful relaxed small town, there are some cobbled streets, best to see if their website offers any advice, fortunately I do not have problems walking but I don't remember it being too bad.

You can also go the Arenal, get the 25 bus,express, very flat.