Mallorca with kids! Everything you need to know.
This year I turned 32! And as tradition goes, in our family we do birthday holidays. A couple weeks before my birthday, N comes home all pumped and excited. (I know how desperately he wanted to keep it a secret but he couldn’t for long.) Anyway, I can see him grinning and he calls me in, you’re getting an early birthday present!! We’re going to Mallorca!! Ahhhhh!! Best birthday gift ever?? No, I take that back, the best was when he proposed to me on my birthday. It tops the list!! 2 weeks to go! Flights booked, hotels booked all I had to do was pack up and leave. We’ve been waiting for an island holiday and finally did it.
If Mallorca/Majorca is on your list of places to visit this summer, here are a few things you should know before you visit.
For those new here, we have 6-year-old twins and have had our share of travel with the kids. So, parents who have fumbled on our page, we got you covered.
1. Best time to travel- We traveled just after easter break. Here in Spain kids have two weeks off from school from Easter. And prices are usually soaring during that time. We did the week after Easter break even though the kids had to take an extra week off from school. We surely have our priorities set right? April/May or Sep/Oct would be the ideal season to avoid the crowds and still enjoy the warm weather. Expect slight showers and a windy weather if you travel during April and May.
2. Things to pack- Depending on where you are traveling from, the weather for us in early April was perfect. The days were warm and a bit chilly early morning and late night. The water was colder than usual but we dived in every chance we got. A lot of families sat by the beach soaking in the sun. We did have light showers on one of the days but we had checked the weather app in advance and planned to do small towns instead of the beach on that day. Carry sneakers or comfy walking shoes for all, there are quite a few coves and beaches that need a short hike to get to. Sunscreen is a must. A light sweater, jacket for the chilly evenings and mornings. A raincover not an umbrella since it gets too windy. Any medications you may need.
3. Public transport- Direct flights from Madrid and major cities across Europe fly to Palma Airport. We took an early morning flight in and a late evening flight out. Public transport is easily available from the airport to major parts. We decided to stay at Santa Ponca and not Palma. Check the frequency of the buses, the one that took us to Santa Ponca was every hour and the journey lasted 45 minutes. You can pay directly with cash or a card. You get a certain discount if you pay by card. This gets me to the fourth tip.
4.Car Rentals- Rent a car! Car rental for a family of four is quite cheap compared to traveling by public transport, convenient with young kids and time-saving. There are quite a few car rental companies it's a plus if you know Spanish, otherwise be ready to pay a tourist price like most of the other cities. A lot of companies allow pick up and drop off of your vehicle at the airport which is quite convenient. It's a relatively small island and you can get from one end to the other in an hour. Lesson learned…Hire a car from the airport next time.
5. Where to Stay- Book an all-inclusive family resort. (Mention the one you were staying at) There are plenty. They usually have a bunch of activities to keep the young ones busy and free some time for the parents to enjoy that pitcher of sangria. We loved where we stayed. Plus they have a small kitchen in every apartment and parents know that though on a holiday, we need a kitchen for the 100th time a day when your kid screams I’m hungry!!
6. Groceries- We realized that several convenience stores around the island look like your usual supermarket but are twice or thrice as expensive compared to Madrid. Look for Euroski or local Spanish supermarkets and head there instead for all the nicknacks, snacks, and emergency food, diapers and a bottle of wine or two that you’d need. Most stores close quite early but restaurants are open beyond midnight.
7. Stroller- Depending on how many days you spend there and the places you visit you can opt to carry a stroller or avoid it. Most of the towns are older and have cobblestone which makes moving the stroller around quite inconvenient. Most public transport is stroller-friendly.
8.Lastly be aware of pickpockets- Quite a few around the more crowded/tourist places. N’s glasses were flicked from his t-shirt and we realised it only when it was too late. So keep a close eye on your belongings.
Let me know if you’re planning a trip to Mallorca this summer and if you need to know anything else. You can follow our travel journey and adventures on IG and save posts for later on Pt.
I’ll be posting an 8 day Itinerary and must do’s in Mallorca soon so, keep an eye out.
