Tag: Mallorca

August 28, 2026 Spain, Uncategorized Post a Comment

Majorca family holiday: what to do and where to stay…

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!

December 24, 2017 Baby Travel, Bali, Published Work, UK, USA 2 Comments

Bali, Cornwall & California, my 2017 travel roundup…

I’m writing this from a campervan in California overlooking the Pacific Ocean, I’m working with the lovely folks at Jucy campers and spending some time with Matt and Emily exploring a small part of the west coast of America.  2017 has been an exciting year for me in terms of blogging and travel.  I’ve collaborated with some awesome travel brands and taken on some new freelance clients.  I have also returned to my day job as a flight attendant after being on maternity leave.  Emily was born in 2016 and has become our mini travel buddy, she’s been away with Matt and I on a few trips and has already racked up quite a lot of airmiles in her 20 months of being on this planet.  From Cornwall to Bali she is lucky to have experienced some beautiful parts of the world so far.  Read on for my round-up of 2017 and travel plans for 2018….

 

January:  Cheddar, Somerset
Matt surprised me on Christmas day with a trip to Cheddar in Somerset for New Years Eve.  We stayed in a tiny chocolate box cottage with an open fire and lots of old worldy character.  Three days of exploring Cheddar including a trip to the famous gorge and caves, long scenic walks and a cosy evening in by fire the with a bottle of Champagne on New Years Eve made it the perfect way to see in 2017.  Read more on my Cheddar adventure here: A lovely long weekend in Cheddar, Somerset.

 

March: France
In March, Matt, Emily and I went to France with our lovely friends Sam and Graham and Emily’s bestest baby buddy Heidi.  We travelled by ferry from Portsmouth to Caen, I loved the ferry it made a nice change to flying.  Once in France we made our way to the gorgeous harbour town of Port en Bessin and stayed in a three-storey cottage right on the harbour front.  The 5 days saw us going on sunny strolls around the harbour and cliff tops and learning about the D-Day landings the beaches in this area are so famous for.  Eating fresh seafood from the local fish market, enjoying typical French breakfasts in traditional cafes and of course enjoying plenty of bread, wine and cheese; a must do when in this part of the world!  This trip was quite different as working around Emily and Heidi’s nap times often saw us spending time apart from Sam and Graham as the girls’ snoozing patterns didn’t always happen at the same time…but we would always come together in the evenings for a gin and tonic just outside on the harbour wall with the baby monitor by our side and dinner and wine while watching the tide come in from the lounge window.  I loved waking up in the morning to the sounds of the sea, you could view it from pretty much all the rooms in the house.

 

May: London and Menorca
A trip to London for two nights for the Traverse travel blogging conference was awesome.  I was a little nervous about attending by myself, although I needn’t have worried as I met some lovely people and had an amazing two days at the event.  I learnt so much and even got some work from it.  After pitching an idea to the Spanish tourist board I also got invited on a week-long press trip to Menorca, pretty exciting stuff!
A couple of weeks after Traverse, I attended a seven-day press trip in Menorca with a group of bloggers, vloggers and Instagrammers.  It was organised by Traverse Events, the Spanish tourist board and Jet2 Holidays, I had the best week.  There was a one day conference with some really interesting sessions and workshops focussing on a whole range of skills from SEO to using a drone.  There were activities and evening events running all week with the opportunity to explore the island.  One of my favourites was a kayaking trip, we paddled along picture perfect coastline and explored caves, which was pretty cool.  The evening events were wonderful too, from tapas at a vineyard to drinks in a cave at sunset overlooking the ocean.  I had such a blast and met so many interesting people, some of which I’m still in contact with, it’s so nice to have friends in the blogging world!

 

June: Beach time and returning to work
June involved lots of sunny beach time and my maternity leave coming to an end.  I really loved being on maternity leave, getting to spend so much time with Emily and Matt and being able to go on some fantastic trips.  I was petrified of returning to my day job as a flight attendant but knowing I was going back on a part-time basis made it feel a little bit easier to handle and by the end of the 8 day training course I was ready to return to the skies!

 

July: Jersey, New York and Cornwall
My first flying roster consisted of a New York and a Jersey nightstop along with some other shorthaul flights.  In New York I explored the West side of Manhattan, took a stroll along the High Line and visited Chelsea Market.  In Jersey there was just enough time for a walk along the seafront and dinner with the crew.
Matt, Emily and I also went on a mini road trip down to Cornwall for a few nights as Matt had some work in Newquay.  We enjoyed a couple of pub lunches, breakfast at Fistral Beach, a walk at Watergate Bay, a bit of shopping in the town and I got to surf at Fistral too.

 

August: New York and Midhurst, West Sussex
I went back to New York twice again in August, which was definitely not a hardship!  On one of the trips I went to see the views from Top of the Rock, the viewing platforms on top of the Rockefeller Center.  I went up years ago but couldn’t resist another visit.  I love the views of the Manhattan skyline and from the Rockefeller Center you can see Central Park, the Empire State Building and pretty much all of Manhattan including the One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.  It’s such a breathtaking view.  I also explored Central Park with a lovely crew and visited Times Square.  It’s been hard getting used to leaving Emily when I go away, some days I feel really emotional about it.  It’s so nice to be able to see her on FaceTime, it makes me feel not so far away.  Its been great working with other parents too, to know I’m not the only one who struggles with my emotions sometimes!
It was my birthday in August and to celebrate Matt surprised me with a night away while Emily spent the night with hr grandparents.  We stayed at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Midhurst, it has the most gorgeous spa and pool area which we loved relaxing in.  We also enjoyed a G & T or two in the cosy bar area and dinner was just divine.  We finished off our very relaxing 24 hours with a crab salad and a glass of rose at Seven Fish, just so tasty.

 

August & September: Bali
At the end of September we flew out to Bali, via Kuala Lumpur, Matt and I were pretty apprehensive about flying with Emily.  Although we had already done a fair few flights with her, this was the first one with her as a toddler who loves nothing more than running around and exploring!  The flights were full of ups and downs but in general she was such a good girl, after a traumatic beginning to our flight home we did decide we wouldn’t be flying again with her until she was about ten!  Having reflected on it we made a pact that we would only do night flights in the hope that she would sleep for some of it!  Anyway, Bali was just beautiful, we stayed in a private villa with Matt’s parents In Sanur where we enjoyed leisurely mornings by the pool, afternoon strolls along the beach and cocktails while Emily snoozed or played in the sand.  We had a night glamping in Ubud at Sandat Glamping Resort and then a few nights in Canggu.  Seeing the rice terraces and temples was a great experience but I was surprised at just how touristy some of these sights were.  Bali is such a family friendly place so if you are thinking about an adventurous family trip away, I would definitely recommend Indonesia.  For more check out my blog post: Bali with a Baby.

 

October: MSC Cruises and Mallorca
I got an invite to attend #BlogCampOnBoard in October, a blogging event onboard a cruise ship, I of course accepted the invite and found myself climbing aboard the very impressive MSC Preziosa.  The day consisted of a tour of the ship, some interesting blogging sessions, lunch and a Q and A with the MD of MSC UK and Ireland and the marketing team.  I throughly enjoyed exploring the ship and made some lovely new blogging friends, everyone was so friendly and it was great to meet others from different blogging niches from cruising to food and parent bloggers onboard.

 

November: Mallorca and London
I jetted of to Mallorca for some winter sun in November as part of the Spanish and Balearic tourist boards #betterinwinter campaign.  The Balearic Islands are well-known to the British as summer holiday destinations but they are just as lovely in the winter.  There was sunshine everyday in Mallorca while I was there, it was definitely warm enough to sit on the beach.  I spent four days exploring this gorgeous island with four lovely Instagrammers.  We enjoyed tapas in some delightful locations, visited some stunning hotels, strolled around Mallorca’s capital Palma and took in glorious views of the city from the top of Palma Cathedral.  One of my favourite things was a trip to Flor de Sal where salt is produced.  It was such a different thing to do and standing next to 10ft salt mountains was a unique experience.  I loved strolling around the market in Santanyi, it was hard to believe it was November with all the sunshine we had.
I landed from Mallorca and headed straight to London for a few days of sightseeing and shopping with my Mum.  We checked in to the Premier Inn Hub Hotel on Brick Lane in East London.  Our cosy and compact room was perfect for our two night stay and I loved exploring this very cool part of London.  We had breakfast at Spitalfields market, shopped on Oxford Street and took in the views of the city from the Shard.  Earlier on in the year I won tickets at Traverse to visit the Shard, so Mum and I made the most of it by going up at sunset and enjoying the views with a few glasses of champagne.  We also had the best curry back on Brick Lane, if you find yourself in that part of London head to The Monsoon for Thali, so, so good.

 

December: California
As I mentioned in the first few lines, Matt, Emily and I are currently in America.  We are here to spend Christmas with family, it’s so strange to celebrate Christmas in the sunshine compared to the cold, frosty December days in the UK.  I’m not complaining though it’s a very nice change and I also love seeing how Americans embrace Christmas, people definitely decorate the outside of their houses in a much more exciting way than in the UK!  We have also spent ten days roadtripping along the west coast of California within a very cool Jucy campervan.  Its been slightly different to normal as it’s the first road trip we’ve done with Emily.  Picking up our van in San Francisco we travelled up to Point Reyes National Sea Shore, followed by a few nights in Monterey, Morro Bay, Carpinteria and now Carlsbad near San Diego.  More blog posts to come on our adventures soon…It’s safe to say 2017 has been an awesome year and finishing up with Christmas in California is a wonderful way to round it all up.
Travel plans for 2018 so far include a break away with friends to The forest of Dean in February and a family holiday with my parents in Menorca in June.  Matt and I are hoping to explore somewhere far-flung at some point in the year while Emily holidays with her Grandparents…thanks in advance Nana, Grandad, Nanny and Pops!

 

November 13, 2017 Spain 5 Comments

Finding Winter Sunshine in Mallorca…

*Thanks to the Balearics Tourist Board and Visit Spain for inviting me to Mallorca. I visited the island as part of the #betterinwinter campaign along with some lovely Instagrammers from Igers London….

 

I love the Balearic Islands, found in the Mediterranean off of the eastern coast of Spain, Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are perfect for a sunny break away.  I enjoyed many summer family holidays in the Balearics when I was younger and have always thought of it as a summer holiday destination.  That is until I visited Mallorca in October, I was really surprised at how gorgeous the temperature was.  Highs of 24 degrees during the day and lows of 12 to 15 degrees in the evening.  Not only is it warm enough to spend time on the beach, being out of season there are less crowds to contend with, especially if you avoid the UK October half-term break.  Mallorca is often known to us Brits as Majorca and is the largest of the Balearics, it’s the perfect destination for some winter sun and what’s more not only are there plenty of beaches for relaxing on, there are also a lot of things to see and do.  Read on for my favourite Mallorca adventures best enjoyed in the winter sun…

 

Santanyí Market
Santanyí is a picture perfect Mallorcan town, rustic buildings, cobbled streets and a market held twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays amongst the winding streets and alleyways.  This bustling market is a must visit and operates until the end of October.  Stroll the streets, people watch and browse stalls full of leather bags, scarves, handmade jewellery, clothes, local produce including fruits, veg, meats and cheeses and some tasty looking cakes.  Try haggling too, stall owners are quite happy to bend their prices a little.

 

Lunch at Laudat
Combine a trip to the market in Santanyí with lunch at Laudat, a lovely restaurant in the heart of the town perfect fo catching your breath away from the hustle and bustle of the market.  Sit and enjoy sangria with your lunch amongst lemon trees and white washed walls in a gorgeous shaded court-yard garden.  The food here is some of the best I tasted while in Mallorca, starters I tried included beef tartar (my first time trying it, big thumbs up) and prawn salad with mango.  For the main I had steak with mashed potato, it was delicious and cooked to perfection.  Dessert was out of this world, a kind of chocolate cake drizzled with ice cream and fruity goodness.

 

Sunset cocktail at Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa
I don’t think I have ever seen a sunset quite like the one from the Sunset Sushi Lounge at this hotel.  This is definitely a really special thing to do.  What’s more the bars and restaurants at the Jumeirah are open to non-residents so you can spend an evening sipping on cocktails and watching the sunset over the ocean.  There are so many cocktails on the menu here it’s hard to know what to choose!  I went for the Kuler made with a local gin, it was the perfect accompaniment for admiring the ever-changing colours of the sky as the sun sunk below the horizon.

 

Cocktail at Puerto Portals
If you love cocktails with a view head to Baiben found right on the waterfront at Puerto Portals.  Sip away on a refreshing  beverage overlooking fancy yachts and the sparkling waters in the port.  Baiben have an extensive cocktail menu and will even rustle you up something on request if it’s not listed.  Being a lover of gin I chose the Mediterranean Julep, Gin Mare, Mediterranean herbs, bitter and elderflower.  Such a gorgeous cocktail in a lovely location.  Afterwards you can stroll along the waterfront shops and admire the yachts moored up.

 

Flor de Sal d’es Trenc
For a unique day trip visit Flor de Sal and find out how salt is harvested on a tour of the salt flats.  From evaporation to crystallization and drying techniques it is so interesting to see how salt is produced.  Plenty of sunshine, a gentle breeze and low air moisture are all required for the production of this completely natural product.  The salt is harvested by hand and deposited into huge salt mountains which can tower up to 10 metres high.  You could be mistaken for thinking you are in the Swiss Alps rather than next to a salt mountain in Mallorca! It certainly is an extraordinary place to visit.  This is sustainable tourism at its finest, an eco system generated from the salt production is home to over 200 hundred species of birds who live amongst the salt marshes, including flamencos and avocets.  Spot these pretty creatures in the distance amongst the marshes of this protected area.  Try some of the salt, purchase from the on-sight shop and enjoy a coffee right next to the salt flats.  Go on a tour of the salt production from April to October.

 

Es Trenc Beach
Crystal clear turquoise waters, backed by pine forests and sand dunes this beach is a beauty.  Located right by Flor de Sal d’es Trenc, combine a visit to the salt farm with some beach time, you won’t be disappointed.  Perfect for families the water is shallow and calm and busy areas of the beach have lifeguards on duty.  The shoreline stretches for 2km along Mallorca’s south coast.  Apart from paddle boarding there are no watersports on this beach so you can enjoy a tranquil, unspoilt day on the beach.  Snorkel, explore the sand dunes and swim in the turquoise waters.

 

Explore Palma on foot
The beautiful capital city of Mallorca is best discovered on foot.  Stroll the cobbled alleyways taking in the gorgeous architecture, stop for a traditional Mallorcan pastry (Ensaimada) at one of the many bakeries or coffee shops and be sure to visit the cathedral.  Gothic in style this beautiful building can be visited throughout the year.  Admire the beautiful stain glass windows and go on a rooftop tour to gain a completely different perspective on this magnificent building.  The view of the city from the rooftops is wonderful and to see the architecture of the cathedral from the roof is amazing.  The huge stained glass windows are just as beautiful from the outside as they are on the inside, the rose window on the east side of the building is one of the largest in the world.

 

Cala Figuera
This quaint fishing village is a lovely place to visit out of season.  Tranquil and full of rustic Mallorcan charm I loved wandering along the narrow waterfront past boat sheds, white washed buildings with coloured doors touching the water, cats perch on doorsteps and fishermen bringing in their catch.  Pretty boats line the tiny port and the crystal clear waters look beautiful under the Mediterranean sunshine.  A very picturesque spot.

 

Bellver Castle
I’m not normally one for castles but there’s something about Bellver Castle that makes it stand out.  Built in the 14th century it is Gothic in style with imposing towers and circular in shape, the open interior is very impressive.  Climb the castle steps to the rooftops for magnificent views of Palma and look back down towards the centre of the castle, it’s fascinating.

 

Tapas at Belmond La Residencia
Originally owned by Richard Branson La Residencia is stunning.  Perched amongst towering hillsides and looking down onto quaint villages, the views are breathtaking.  Stay a night or two and visit the resident donkeys who live amongst the hotels olive groves or grab a paint brush and paint the surroundings with the resident artist.  Even if you don’t stay here book in for lunch, the tapas is to die for with traditional dishes and cured meats, this is a place to enjoy Mallorca at its finest.

 

Stay in a rural retreat
I spent two night at Hilton Sa Torre, once a stately home, dating back to the 14th century it is unlike an other Hilton I have stayed in before.  The buildings original features have all been lovingly restored and each of the rooms retain old charm and character.  Within the grounds there are two swimming pools, an indoor pool and spa, a running track, a chapel and even a beautiful windmill.  Although only 20 minutes from Palma airport Sa Torre is located in a rural area, making it a very tranquil retreat.  Breakfast included a huge variety from continental to cooked and local pastries.  Evening meals here are divine, if it’s on the menu try the Sa Torre’s Pigeon with marmalade, I loved it.

 

 

This island is definitely better in winter…