What's Majorca like?

SW17

You've had some pretty good advice here. From your 1st post, sounds like Palma itself might be a good choice for you, if you aren't fixated on the beach (and it's never more than a short drive away). Would note that parking is a bit of a nightmare in Palma, so if you are getting a car and staying in Palma, find somewhere with parking. Palma is also full of great restaurants.

In addition to the mentions above of Alcudia, Pollença, Soller and Bunyola, there are places like Esporles/La Granja, Banyalbufar and various caves on the east coast.

Santa Ponsa is a nice place for a beach resort, and Palma Nova is also ok out of the very high season, you can avoid the really British places (though there are a lot of Brits there). You're probably better off avoiding Magaluf, though even that has its more upmarket areas if you know where to go.

duchy

I found Palma Nova a bit too all British for my tastes and liked Santa Ponsa better for the mix of nationalities. I didn't want a long transfer up to the North of the Island so the short transfer suited me better too- We just grabbed a cab travelling out but coming home took a bus into Palma and then onto the airport bus which was easy and cheap.

arthurdick

I went to Cala Millor last year, that was a pretty nice place, but 5 mins walk along the coastline, takes you to Cala Bona, I thought it was a lovely little place, both places have a more than 50% German holidaymaker there though but they were not too bad really, only thing was quite a few of them did not recognize queues, but i think that can be said of a few nations. I do tend to think that we are more polite...

have a quick look at this guide.. it may help.http://www.mallorca-spotlight.com/guide/resorts

AlexMac

I agree that Mallorca is a brilliant place; only about 50 miles long (so don't hire a car with a full-empty fuelling policy lol!) its like a microcosm of the whole of Spain, with everything from tacky 'cheap beer n tea like muvver makes' style resorts on the South west coast (or 'kaffee und kuchen' resorts for German chavs), through rolling inland farmland, to rugged mountains, coves, cliffs and less accessible beaches. Coastal paths and hill walks for the enthusiasts; see the pocketbook 'Landscapes of Mallorca' in the excellent Sunflower books series http://www.sunflowerbooks.co.uk/product/walking-in-mallorca/

You don't really even need a car, as there is that wonderful little railway which uses old 'wild-west-style' former San Francisco tramcars to chug an hour over and through the mountains to Soller with a tram then on down to the port.

So unless you want a package or an all-inclusive in the beach resorts of the east coast, you could just get a cheap flight, rent a car or more easily, take a taxi or bus a few miles to Palma old town;

maybe stay one or two nights in Palma itself, which is still a charming city centre, then train it from the station near the old centre over to the rugged north coast... http://www.trendesoller.com/en/cms.php

Whatever, you'll have a great time

nearlyrich

We like Mallorca as it's not too far to fly for a quick warm break, we were last there in September 2014 for the Ironman competition so stayed for the first bit in Allcudia which is overdeveloped in my opinion. We then had a few days in Soller which is as other's have said pretty but expensive and there are not loads of restaurants unless you go down to the Port. We did hire a car and we have done in the past and for us it was worthwhile as the transfers would have cost more and we like to drive out to various places so we have seen pretty much all the island has to offer over a few visits.

sandsy

Port d'Andratx is a more upmarket, quiet resort. Plenty of restaurants and you can see how the other half live on their yachts berthed in the harbour. There's supposed to be good beaches nearby if you have a car but we didn't.


Porto Petro is small but pleasant. Again, a large harbour for the yachts. Not much in the way of beaches but a variety of restaurants. An easy taxi ride to the upmarket (more expensive) restaurants at the marina at Cala d'Or.

Doshwaster

The island has a really good bus service which links the airport, Palma city and the major resorts so it's easy to explore without a car

Lots of information (in English) http://www.tib.org/portal/en/web/ctm/inici
http://www.seemallorca.com/buses

Chia

Wow, hadn't realised there were so many replies! Thanks to everyone who posted. So much great information. I feel a lot more confident about going now. I'm going to follow up on some of the areas in these posts and make it happen.