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Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza - 1 week. Seeking lodging, itinerary suggestions.

Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza - 1 week. Seeking lodging, itinerary suggestions.

Old Mar 3rd, 2013, 03:01 PM
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Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza - 1 week. Seeking lodging, itinerary suggestions.

We have about a week to spend in the Balearics before joining a tour of northern Spain in Barcelona on Sept 6. Planning to arrive Palma Aug 30. Would like a beach oriented resort type hotel on Mallorca. Intend to rent a car for daytime incursions into the countryside to view the sites highlighted in the Fodor's Spain guide, as well as a beach or two, but like the idea of a beach at our lodging. Are there any suggestions for such a beach oriented hotel? Does not have to be in Palma itself, but hopefully adjacent to a good beach.
I know we are coming at high season, but it just works out that way, so it is what it is. Unavoidable.
Can we do a daytrip to Menorca, using the ferry from Alcudia, or are we better off staying there a night or two.
We also want to see Ibiza. Day trip from Palma, or spend a night there?

According to Vueling schedules, we can fly from either Ibiza or Palma to Barcelona, but I feel a need to book that flight quickly.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Old Mar 5th, 2013, 08:12 AM
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I'd like to top this once just to see if there are any responses. It sunk pretty fast on the forum. The more I research beaches and hotels on Mallorca, the more confused I am. The easy thing would be Playa Major, I suppose. thanks.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2014, 07:12 AM
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I am also researching this area. We will spend a week sailing Ibiza, and deciding how to divide the following week between Mallorca, Menorca, and Barcelona. We are flying out of Barcelona at the end of the second week.

I'll watch your post….
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Old Feb 23rd, 2014, 08:07 AM
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TheSauls

Start a thread in your own right, I know the area very well.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2014, 07:19 PM
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I was also thinking about 5 nights in Majorca but not sure which area would be nice. Very confused from all the reading I have done.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2014, 07:27 PM
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Ferry trips tend to take all day. With only a week, I would try to enjoy Mallorca. As far as a hotel goes, what is your budget? I'd point you toward the Cap Rocat, but it may be a bit out of your budget range.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 02:41 AM
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There are plenty of hotels in Palma but Palma Nova (next to Palma) is a better choice for beach. I am not sure that I would include Menorca in your stay. There are better resorts than Palma but Palma Nova is the easiest to access for you.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 05:43 AM
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The thread is over a year old. I'd guess that the OP has had his/her trip by now.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 09:28 AM
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Well spotted Rubicund - poster did make it to Majorca as he reported back on Soller so he may be able to give myraoncomputer and TheSauls some advice, and of course my comment may also help.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 09:52 AM
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I'm curious about what Mallorca is like nowadays. I was there a couple of times in the 60's and liked it, but I would assume it's much more crowded and commercialized now.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 10:43 AM
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It's a mixture Peg. There are areas, though not geographically large, where nightlife is the order of the day.(i.e. it can last 24 hours). People drink too much and fall over. However, there are large areas where this is not the case, particularly in the north of the island, up the west coast and on the east coast.

The contrasts are like chalk and cheese and a visit to Palma Nova, Magaluf or Arenal would give you totally the wrong impression of 90% of a beautiful island.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 10:47 AM
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No it isn't Pen.

Clearly it is more commercialised and my parents also started going n the 60s, my first trip was as a baby in 1968!

It is pretty large and so can soak up a lot of development, some areas of coastline like around Can Picafort and between Palma/Port Andratx have been swamped with wall to wall hotels. Most of them are middle market, some are pretty exclusive.

However, much of the island hasn't charged much in 300 years. Huge tracts are still retained as farm land and there are many inland villages were tourism doesn't really have much of effect directly. Indirectly, tourism has had a huge effect on the whole island by bringing in vast a,punts of wealth since the 60s. We stayed on a farm a couple of years ago, the daughter didn't milk the cows but was a clinical psychologist specialising in addiction. She said the islands youth had problems with living with wealth and many turned to drugs as an outlet.

There are many arts and music festivals throughout the year but mainly in summer. To give you an idea, a few years back we passed a local small auditorium one afternoon and noticed a advert on the wall, we bought tickets and that evening sat listening to Michael Nyman is concert.

I have always found it star he that about 10% of Mallorca's land mass accounts for 90% of its clubbing, party image. Reality is a million miles from that.

There's now many up market farms and small country hotels which operate at a high standard, having been encouraged by the local government to push tourism into this century.

Put simply I love the place, only ever feel at home in Scotland or wandering round Palma airport on arrival.
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 10:48 AM
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Thanks Rubicund.

We posted at the same time and got the same % !!!!
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Old Mar 24th, 2014, 11:19 AM
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I had read on another forum that Port de Pollenca, Soller,Alcudia, and a (Cala d'Or) were all nice. If you are a couple in their early 50s active like biking and nature, not into parties but like to sit and have a drink at night and good restaurants which place would you recommend?
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Old Mar 25th, 2014, 03:59 AM
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Soller and its port are quite small and although there is a choice of eating etc. it's limited. Cala d'Or on the east coast has become much more popular with a choice of hotels and restaurants and is a family resort.

Puerto Pollenca is similar with a long flat beach that stretches across to Alcudia. The old town of Alcudia is pleasant but IMO the port isn't as nice as Puerto Pollenca.

I'd plump for Puerto Pollenca if you want the beach, but Pollenca itself for a great town with restaurants and a choice of hotels. My idea of heaven is to sit in the Placa Mayor in Pollenca with a drink in the evening, watching the world go by.
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Old Mar 26th, 2014, 04:32 PM
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I'm the original OP, and yes, we've already had our trip. We ended up staying in Soller for 4 nights in a little hotel l'Avenida, which to us was absolutely wonderful. About a block or two off the main square. Took the little train down to the port and ate dinner there 3 of the four nights. Our favorite was El Passeig. After the tour buses leave, Soller and the port calm down, and are quite peaceful.
Rented a car upon arrival, and drove around, going back to Palma for a day touring the sights there. Also drove to a little restaurant on the north coast perched precariously out on a wind swept rocky point.
Flew to Ibiza, rented another car and drove to Santa Eulalia del Rio, where we stayed 4 nights at the luxurious Insotel Fenicia Prestige. Walked to dinner every night down on the boardwalk. Drove around to several beaches. There are so many really nice beaches on Ibiza. It was terrific.
We were not interested in late night entertainment, but more about peace and quiet. That part we were successful.
Never got around to doing a trip report on this trip. Sorry bout that. Hope this helps some folks. I remember being very confused by the lodging and activity options on these islands. Think we were wise to drop Menorca for another time, and divide between Majorca and Ibiza. Would go back in a minute, and could live in Soller (many British ex-pats do)!
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 08:39 AM
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Thank you Bill, very helpful~
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Old Apr 13th, 2014, 10:26 AM
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Thanks for posting Bill, pleased you enjoyed Soller.

We have been interested in that hotel looks good.
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 01:54 AM
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Thanks BillJ.
I was doing a spring clean over the weekend and came accross some recommendations regarding Majorca - anyone know of them?

Beach bars in Playa de Canyamel serving fish and lobster and accompanied by live music at night.

Hotel Nord in Estellencs perfectly positioned for hiking and bird watching or wandering to the beach.

Great beaches S'Amarador and Mondrago and suggest to stay a short drive away at Hotel Cala d'Or.
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 08:51 AM
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Steve

Hotel Cala Dor is good but fairly touristy. We love the Finca hotels which are a bit further inland. Look at theothermallorca.com.

S'Armarador and Mondrago are two separate bay beaches, you can walk between them on a wide concreted path. They are really beautiful in May, June and September. July and August just far too busy.

We love Porto Petro, just for the fact that it is a little, unassuming laid back port which is more about local fishing boats than mega yachts. Good restaurants overlooking the port.
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