Mallorca (September 18-20, 2021):
History of Mallorca in a few lines:
Origins:
Mallorca has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with Talayotic remains dating back to the Bronze Age. Later, it was occupied by Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean.
Middle Ages:
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the island passed through Byzantine and Muslim hands. In 1229 it was conquered by James I of Aragon, beginning its integration into the Crown of Aragon.
19th Century:
During the 19th century, Mallorca underwent an economic transformation with the rise of maritime trade and agriculture. It began to attract travelers and artists, laying the foundations for tourism.
Present:
Today, Mallorca is one of Europe's most important tourist destinations, famous for its beaches, historical heritage, and Mediterranean culture. It combines tradition, nature, and modernity, playing a key role in the Balearic economy.
The beaches/coves are amazing, with crystal clear, very warm water, and there aren't many people because there are many swimming areas.
On this trip we were unable to see the Caves of Drach because they were closed due to Covid. I saw them about 20 years ago and I really loved them.
The tasting at the Vins Nadal Winery NO It was completely worthless. It was expensive, poorly managed, they didn't show us anything, they seemed annoyed that we were there, and it was generally very shabby. They had several wines on offer, but they only gave us one. We complained, and they reluctantly gave us another. We told Aladina, and they gave us a discount voucher, but the bad experience and the bad memory will stay with us.
An excessively expensive island, they rely on importing everything.
We didn't come away with fond memories of the city, as the people, in general, were quite unfriendly, at least towards us. It was as if they saw people from the mainland as foreigners, not welcoming us, even though they depend on tourism. In fact, in some places, they tried to charge us more for not being from there. However, we're planning to return with some friends from the city who want to change our minds.
OK Mobility: the guy who helped us was completely unpleasant. He pressured us aggressively to buy the full coverage insurance, which we refused because of his awful way of demanding it, and then he told us, "You're not on the mainland." People like that shouldn't be working with the public. I wish I'd asked for his name so I could report him directly to the company; we just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
Hotel: Eix Lagotel Holiday Resort: A fantastic hotel, very spacious rooms with a large terrace overlooking the pool.
Here we had another very unpleasant "welcome" from local tourists: there were three or four check-in counters, but the one we were assigned had suitcases blocking the space, so we couldn't get near it, hand over our documents, or even speak properly to the receptionist. We noticed that the people right next to us, who had clearly made themselves comfortable, were aware of the situation and were just staring at us without doing anything. I politely asked if they could please move the suitcases, and a man came over and roughly removed them—they practically spat on us—and started complaining to the receptionist in Catalan. Just another disappointment to our already enchanted Mallorca.
Where to eat: If you want to eat at a restaurant, there's also the app. TheFork which has many discounts. If you book with the code 7C1B79A3 When you are finishing the booking, you will get 1000 Yums = €10 discount at your next meal. In addition to other special offers they often have, or simply to accumulate points and use them for discounts on your next payments.
It operates in several countries, including Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia.
This trip was a package deal we booked on a website that no longer works because it went bankrupt ("Ubeo", formerly "Subastas de Ocio") and it cost us: flight (AirEuropa) + Hotel + car rental (Pepecar with the final company OK Mobility) from the airport + wine tasting (Aladinia): Total €135.86 for both. Hotel €117.86 for 2, and the car €18.81, a steal.
Practical tips for traveling to Mallorca
If you're traveling to Mallorca from Ibiza, one of the most common options is to fly, a journey of less than an hour, something often overlooked compared to the ferry. Furthermore, exploring Mallorca by car is highly recommended for discovering hidden coves and less accessible areas. Mallorca is one of Spain's most well-rounded destinations, ideal for combining beaches, mountains, and charming villages in just a few days.
