Mallorca
The Spanish are lovers of children, making Mallorca an ideal place to visit for a luxury family holiday. There aren’t many restaurants or hotels that don’t bear children in mind, and the Spanish themselves take their little ones everywhere with them. So whether you head out for an early breakfast or a late, post-Flamenco supper, you’ll see people travelling en famille, no matter what the time of day or night. Bobbing happily off the eastern coast of Spain, Mallorca is a jewel. Unravaged by the timeshare housing and English pubs so prevalent in some Southern Spanish towns on the mainland, it is rich in beauty and has everything one could want without being too developed.
Hotel Cort Mallorca
A stunning boutique hotel in Palma's old town just a ten minute jaunt from the beach, The Hotel Cort Mallorca is a fabulous central city bolt hole with the all-essential splash pool on its roof terrace.
Hotel Cort Mallorca is a fabulous luxury family hotel located just ten minutes from the beach of Palma, offering the cultural ambience of this stunning seaside city with all the ease of a beach holiday in one hit. With its trendy Ikat prints, sensational tiled flooring, Mediterranean blues and linen / wood mixed...
Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / Toddler-friendly / See this Hotel & Book »
Sastre Blanquer
Located owards the north side of Mallorca, Sastre Blanquer may be a drive from the sea but its quiet inland location offers tranquility and gorgeous mountain views from the villas balcony.
A family-friendly and very cosy villa, "Sastre Blanquer" is inland (approximately 21 kilometres from the sea in the countryside) but it's quiet and very pretty. The large private grounds are home to a swimming pool, an outside shower, a pergola and a barbecue. Fun extras inside the house include a table-tennis...
Baby-friendly / Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / See this Villa & Book »
Casa Bonaire
Casa Bonaire is moments from the hustle and bustle of Alcudia, but located in a quiet setting just a brief jaunt from the beach.
Casa Bonaire is just 2 kilometres from the centre of hubbub of Alcúdia so you've lots of useful local amenities but the villa itself is in a quiet position just 1 kilometre from the sea. The garden has a swimming pool, an outside shower, and a terrace with a barbecue. Alcúdia is home to a shop, grocers,...
Baby-friendly / Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / See this Villa & Book »
Montebello Villa
Montebello is located on a sunny hillside slope just 600 metres from the sea and it's perfect if tranquility, seclusion and private family time is what you're after. This means you're short on local shops but you're big on peace and quiet.
Set within vast open countryside, Montebello villa is located on a sunny hillside slope just 600 metres from the sea. With a private garden and swimming pool, outside shower and pergola, there is plenty of space for all the family to roam. The nearby beach is pebbly but considered a bathing bay because it's relatively...
Baby-friendly / Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / See this Villa & Book »
Palmeras
Palmeras is divided into two separate properties with three double bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen in each so ideal if travelling with a large family or friends.
Palmeras is the perfect villa for large families, located just 10 kilometres from the sea. With an angular salt water swimming pool there is no need to hit the beach for a swim (unless you want to, of course) and the house has everything you could need for a luxury, family-friendly villas stay in the Balearics. Near...
Baby-friendly / Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / See this Villa & Book »
S’hort de la Vall
S'hort de la Vall is a large, rustic, and historical manor house that was recently renovated, offers great nearby extras (golf, tennis, riding) and will even let you bring your dog.
S'hort de la Vall is a large, rustic, and historical 1808 manor house, recently renovated and surrounded by an orchard. The gardens have a large lawn and an angular swimming pool with built-in steps, making it perfect for young swimmers. Fun extras include a pergola and a terrace with a barbecue. This vill offers...
Baby-friendly / Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / See this Villa & Book »
Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa
Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa is a magnificent, mountainside family-friendly space with views over Soller’s port.
With rooms that overlook either the Med or the delightful fishing port of Soller, the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa has a wealth of facilities for families. With a little notice, babysitters can be arranged by the hotel and the swimming pool is fully supervised, making reading a much more likely prospect for...
Baby-friendly / Family-friendly Spa / Pre-Teen friendly / See this Hotel & Book »
The St Regis Mardavall
The St. Regis Mardavall is a luxury family-friendly hotel on the edge of two port towns, Palma Nova and Portals Nous.
Should you wish to step out of the beautiful St Regis Mardavall on the Andratx road from Palma, the waterside restaurants, bars and shops of Portals Nous offer a plethora of choice. Should you wish to stay where you are, however, you won’t want for a...
Baby-friendly / Family-friendly Spa / Pre-Teen friendly / See this Hotel & Book »
Gran Hotel Son Net
Gran Hotel Son Net is a rural idyll away from the hubbub of Palma and the Mallorca crowds.
Located under the gaze on one of the island’s most beautiful mountains, the Gran Hotel Son Net is tucked away near the interior town of Puigpunyent. Better suited for families travelling with toddlers and young children than babies, (though they do welcome babies with open arms,) the hotel offers babysitting and...
Baby-friendly / Pre-Teen friendly / Summer Sun / See this Hotel & Book »
Castillo Hotel Son Vida
Castillo Hotel Son Vida is a sprawling and magnificent family-friendly hotel in Palma’s surrounding hills.
Perfect if you want the buzz of Palma without being kept up at night, the Castillo Hotel Son Vida looms beautifully over Palma just a brief drive outside of the city. Stunning views down into the port and out onto the Med swoop around this castle-like property. If you are a member of the Starwood Hotels SPG programme...
Baby-friendly / Family-friendly Spa / Pre-Teen friendly / See this Hotel & Book »
The Portixol Hotel
Calle Sirena, 07006 Palma de Mallorca
Part of the Portixol hotel in Palma, this restaurant is open to non-guests and, again, it’s neighbouring swimming pool makes it perfect for entertaining children even if you don’t choose to stay there. The views across the old fishing port of Portixol are memorable and the bright, light ambience of the restaurant (much of which is outside) is welcoming and relaxed, yet luxurious in feel.
Vent de Tramuntana
Carrer de Can Perot, 9 07157 Port d’Andratx
A family-run restaurant adored by locals, Vent de Tramuntana is run in what looks like the owner’s home and spills out into the surrounding garden. With tables shaded by citrus trees, the outside seats are especially good with children as there is plenty of room for them to tear around. The food is outstanding (the homemade Aoli musn’t be missed) but call and book as it often shuts during the winter and isn’t open on Mondays.
Cala Conills
Calle Cala Conills, s/n 07159 Sant Elm
Just outside the southwestern port town of Andratx and tucked along a cliff edge sits the wonderful Cala Conills. Succulent local seafood characterises this family-run, outdoor restaurant on the sea. Shut during the winter, this is a summer hotspot so be sure to book ahead. The adjacent pool will keep children occupied either side of lunch and many are known to end up staying all day, so delectable is the local food, wine and wonderful hospitality.
Mallorca's beaches
The endless beaches along the coastline are some of the most gorgeous in the Med and well worth day trips and further exploration in themselves. Noteworthy are the beaches of Pollenca on the north side of the island, Deia beach which is small but set within the most stunning teeny tiny bay, and the beaches around Magaluf. Though the latter isn’t the nicest side of the island, the large hotels and resorts were clearly built there for their close proximity to the airport and their very beautiful, sandy beaches with clear turquoise water.
The Caves of Drach
The Caves of Drach on the east coast in Porto Cristo extend over 2400 meters and house the hidden Lake Martel, considered one of the largest subterranean lakes in the world.
Palma Aquarium, Marineland and the Soller train
Palma Aquarium is always popular, as is Marineland in Costa d’En Blanes. The train ride from Palma to Soller and back is a must. Head off in the morning for the most spectacular mountain views and jump off in Soller where you’ll find no shortage of lovely lunch spots.
About
Dial 112 for emergencies. The hospital son Espases in Palma is outstanding and the main one in all the Balearic islands, though there are plenty of medical facilities across the island so don’t feel you must stick close to the capital if you’re travelling with small children or babies.
When to go
The summer months are busy, but lovely. The spring and early Autumn months are perfect temperature-wise, though if you’re not particularly bothered about getting a tan, January is the time of year when the almond trees blossom across the island and it looks its most breathtaking.
Currency
Euro
Language
Spanish