Mallorca 2022

I have been trying to visit Mallorca for years, various factors kept me from this Balearic beauty namely covid. But in June 2022, I finally made it and it meant I got to celebrate my birthday out there, winning! I have spent numerous hours researching this popular island and the below is a recap of my five dreamy days and nights if you would like to read more...

I booked an Airbnb in the popular town of Soller and initially decided against hiring a car. Once we landed at Palma airport, we took the wooden train to Soller which was a scenic journey through the lemon trees and fincas.

A word on our Airbnb, whilst I thought the location was good and the apartment was gorgeously designed, also we were grateful to have a rooftop area and plunge pool, it was up a few flights of stairs and we had some issues with the owner. This might have been just a one off so I won't go into it, but when I return to Mallorca, I would rather book a villa on the beach rather than stay in Soller.

I chose Soller as it had lots of lovely restaurants, it is within walking distance of Spain's prettiest village, Fortnaluxt and you can get the tram down to the bustling port. Once we got there, we soon decided that hiring a car was a good idea as getting taxi's to places such as Deia and Valldemossa, it would be more cost effective to have our own wheels.

One of the things that I liked the most about Mallorca and it was also a surprise considering how many people I have seen on social media visiting this part of Spain, was how easy it was to photograph.

 

I am used to waiting for crowds to pass, jostling for the perfect images but it was not an issue at all. Don't' get me wrong, it was busy where we went but not like I had seen in Italy or Tulum.

The round trip to walk Fortnaluxt and back to Soller took around 2 hours, which also included a few pit stops for orange juice, fanta and a plate of anchovies. And obviously some photography. Its a relatively easy route to walk, well signposted and  you dont need to be super fit. My advice would be to leave early to beat the crowds and the midday heat and take water with you.

As you approach the village, it becomes a myriad of plant lined street and shutters, every corner lead to another beautiful street. 

Seriously such a photogenic place!

The views are brilliant, make sure you pause to take it all in.

There is also a small cemetery there which is worth a look in. I loved how green it was with all of the plants everywhere.

Further away, there is a village called Valledemossa which you will need a car to get to, it is very similar to Fornaluxt but in my opinion more built up and touristy. There were some good shops and places to eat but if you only have time to visit one, I would suggest choosing Fornaluxt.  

On my birthday, we hopped in our little Fiat 500 which we called 'Susi - boo' (not sure why, it made sense at the time) and we headed for the beach! 

You have probably seen Cala Llombards all over instagram and Pinterest and it really is dreamy. There is a small car park, a few sunbeds with shade (they come with a handy lockbox so you can store your valuables) I cant remember how much these were to rent but in my opinion worth it as I dont like fighting for sand space, and here it gets so busy and space is at a premium! 

There is a small beach shack selling drinks and food, as it was my birthday I treated myself to a few aperols and some rose! Thankfully my friend who I was travelling with was pregnant at the time so I had a designated driver.

This beach was SO gorgeous, the water was clear and it felt so good to be laying on the beach with such stunning surroundings. On the drive home, we passed through Deia which I wish we had spent some time in, it looked really pretty.

Our apartment had a rooftop plunge pool which was great to sit in with a glass of wine and relax before heading out for dinner.

We ate really well this week, most of the places we ate at we had planned but there were some that we just decided to visit and we were never left disappointed. Me and my friend both love our food and Mallorca really knows how to please your tummy!

Now, the only thing that I need to discuss with you all is, we got cat fished ... BY A BEACH.

 

Im sure if you have researched Mallorca, you will have seen it. Gorgeous crystal clear waters with the famous restaurant that was featured in 'The Night Manager'. Its all over social media and I have wanted to visit for years. There is a waitlist to get a table and despite having reminders in my diary to make a reservation, I still couldnt get in. We drove down there regardless to see if we were lucky enough to get a table in case of a no show (no such luck) so we ate at a crappy beach shack opposite.

But honestly, the sea was gross, it was rocky and it didnt help that we ate really basic food. The whole experience was so disappointing but I guess thats insta vs reality for you! Im sure perhaps it cant always look like that, but it just wasnt happening for us.

Thankfully, the rest of the trip was a blast. I loved it and would go back.

A perfect week of eating, resting and photographing some beautiful places.

Im so grateful that I can tick this off my bucket list.

Sadly I can't remember the names of the places that we ate at, but they all came highly recommended from Trip advisor and Conde nast and blogs.

The sunsets down at Soller port were lovely, the perfect place for a cocktail.

If you have been to Mallorca please comment with other beaches and restaurants that you think are worth visiting as I would love to go back.

Thanks for reading!