I have been venturing to the Balearic Islands on family holidays since I was small. Having visited three of the four main islands; Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, some of my fondest memories are nestled around the Mediterranean waters here. So it’s wonderful to be able to share this magical place with my children and watch them make their own memories around the sparkling waters of the Med.
Majorca has it all, sun kissed beaches, hidden coves, spectacular caves, traditional towns, laid back beach front eateries and lively nightlife for those who want it. This Spanish island has it all, so no wander it’s such a popular spot for family holidays.
We flew to Majorca with Jet2 from Bournemouth Airport. If you live on the south coast of the UK it’s a great regional airport to fly from. It’s so small and hassle free in comparison to London’s Heathrow and Gatwick. Jet2 flies up to four times a week from Bournemouth Airport to Majorca. Check out Flights to Palma with Jet2 for flights from other airports across the UK.
My trip was complimentary with Jet2 in exchange for this review. All words and opinions as always are my own.
Where to stay in Cala Bona:
We stayed in Cala Bona on the east coast of the island. Think low key beach vibes, shallow, sparkling waters, a bustling harbour front; perfect for an evening stroll or sundowner and an abundance of cute souvenir shops that family holidays are made of!
Globales Cala Bona:
Our hotel Globales Cala Bona was a 2 minute walk from the beach and resort centre and was the perfect holiday base. It has 80 rooms, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, hammam, jacuzzi, sauna and gym for adults. A kids club runs during high season and the hotel offers evening entertainment on certain nights of the week.
Checking in for our 4 night stay was a breeze with lovely attentive staff. This was the same throughout the hotel. We were booked on a bed and breakfast basis but opted to upgrade to all-inclusive on arrival. This was easy to do, the extra cost was £246 and included premium spirits, cocktails and a bottle of wine each night in the buffet restaurant. It also included 1 Gala meal, bath robes, slippers, a coffee machine and soft drinks in the room, plus WIFI. Oh and the kids were included free of charge.
The rooms:
We had a suite on the ground floor with terrace overlooking the pool. The was great, with a double bed in the main room plus an extra room with a sofa bed. As mentioned we upgraded to all inclusive on arrival which included a coffee machine with pods in the room, plus soft drinks, bath robes and slippers. The coffee pods and drinks are replenished daily. We all had individual key cards on a bracelet, this was perfect as it meant the kids had a bit more freedom and were able to access the room too. I should also mention that the room had air-con, very necessary in the middle of August!
The pool:
We loved the pool, the hotel had one main one and a small children’s pool. It was quite deep though, not a negative, both my kids are good swimmers but they couldn’t touch the bottom anywhere in the main pool and the kids pool was more for toddlers so not an option for them. But they were more than happy jumping in and swimming for their floating toys.
The pool is manned by a lifeguard from 10am-6pm which is a nice touch and there are some lovely Bali style beds as well as normal sunbeds, plus plenty of sun umbrellas for shade.
The only downside was the stampede for sun loungers at 9am every morning! There were signs around the hotel saying no reserving, but this seemed to be ignored. That said we still managed to get beds in the afternoons, we tended to head to the beach first thing. If you can’t beat them, I guess, join them!
Food and entertainment:
Evening entertainment was scheduled twice during our four night stay with the other two feeling super chilled while we played Uno with our cocktails by the pool. It’s a smallish hotel, so perfect it you are looking for a bit of quieter family time on your holiday. There weren’t actually that many families with younger children, but the atmosphere was very welcoming. Globales Cala Bona did have children’s entertainment but we did not attend any of the events.
The buffet restaurant was gorgeous, light, airy and modern and overlooked the pool. It never felt overly busy which was a great experience as we’ve stayed at all-inclusive hotels before where it felt a bit overwhelming in the restaurant. But this was not the case here. It was a really relaxed dining experience with different themes on each night. From a Spanish night, to Mexican and a Japanese night with Sushi.
For us as a family all inclusive works well as one of ours is a very picky eater. Finding simple food like fries and cucumber each night was just perfect for him! Whilst our adventurous eater could go all out and try everything. There was always seafood each night, as well as a salad bar and different meats. It also meant the kids could have the freedom to choose their own food and desserts.
The snack bar out by the pool had a good variety of fast food from burgers and fries, to nachos and some nice salads and poke bowls.
Drinks:
The bar was perhaps a little small and there was often a bit of a wait for drinks, but they were well worth it! The cocktail menu was brilliant. The frozen margaritas just kept flowing for me! Our other favourites were the frozen strawberry daiquiris and mojitos. They did some fab mocktails for the kids too. This was all included in the all-inclusive package as well as premium spirits, wine, beer and sangria.
What to do in Cala Bona and surrounding area:
There is so much to do in Cala Bona and the surrounding area, it’s the perfect spot for family holidays.
Go to the beach:
Cala Bona’s beaches are only a few minutes walk from the hotel. We snorkelled everyday in the crystal clear water and spotted all sorts of beautiful sea life. Cala Bona’s beaches are protected by rocky sea defences, perfect for a family holiday as the water is shallow and calm. There is also a lifeguard service. The beach is accessed via a ramp, there is a shower to wash off sandy feet and also toilets. There are sunbeds to rent which have small lockers attached to the umbrellas for valuables. Such a great idea. we didn’t rent one but I believe they were around €16. There are three small man made coves, slightly rocky on the shoreline in places so not as easily accessible but there is a walkway between the two main coves leading to a very safe staircase into the ocean. Pack beach shoes for the kids and snorkelling gear. I’d say Cala Bona is a more low key beach than its neighbour Cala Millor. If you don’t like crowds I would definitely avoid this beach during August. Cala Bona is a hidden gem and more low key with laid back chilled and quiet vibes in comparison to its neighbour Cala Millor.
Take the land train:
The land train runs every hour from Cala Bona. It’s €10 cash for an all day ticket, buy directly from the driver. Hop on and off and enjoy exploring Cala Millor, Sa Coma and S’Illot.
Visit a cave:
For a unique adventure head underground to the Drach Caves or Caves dels Hams. Both are around a 20 minute drive from Cala Bona and make for an exciting day trip. Cross an underground lake by boat at the Drach Caves or journey underground through 10 million years of history for a concert like no other at the Caves dels Hams.
Explore the ocean on a glass bottom boat:
There’s no better way to explore the ocean than on a boat, especially a glass bottom one! There are a few companies that operate from Cala Bona Harbour. Moonfish offer two different trips, one includes a swim stop and visits to sea caves and is 3.5 hours. The other is similar but slightly shorter in duration at just over 2 hours.
Stroll along the beach promenade:
Cala Bona has a gorgeous promenade along the beach. One direction goes to the harbour, a lovely spot for an evening meal and soaking up the laid back holiday vibes. The other direction goes to Cala Millor and is around 1 mile away. The promenade, lined with shops, hotels and restaurants is perfect for a bit of souvenir shopping. We loved taking a stroll in the evening and buying souvenirs, who doesn’t love a shell bracelet! The kids also loved the Smiling Feet fish spa. At €8 for a 10 minute fish pedicure they thought it was absolutely hilarious having fish nibble their toes! Definitely an experience they won’t forget.
For nightlife:
If you’ve got older kids who are looking for a livelier resort then head to Magaluf on the south west of the island. This is the spot for party goers, with all sorts of exciting nightlife. Fly to Magaluf with Jet2holidays and enjoy the golden sandy beaches and bustling strip. It is a slightly shorter journey of 30 minutes from Palma Airport too.
Cala Bona is the perfect spot for a Majorca family holiday. It ticks all the boxes if you are looking for a quiet corner of the island. Great for kids and adults a like with a gorgeous sea breeze and crystal clear, shallow, sparkling waters. Tons of family orientated trips in and around the area and the gorgeous beach promenade lined. Avoid the crowded beaches of Cala Millor in August and save this beach resort for your next Majorca holiday. If you are looking for a smaller style hotel that has chilled vibes for your family holiday then Globales Cala Bona is the one.
For more holiday inspiration check out flights from Bournemouth Airport with Jet2. Majorca we loved you and we will be back!
