Mallorca (Port de Pollensa area)
Discussion
Wife and I are travelling there for a week in October. We like quiet-ish towns (so no discos 'til 4am) with some bars and restaurants and this seems a good spot, with access to the sea for fishing/swimming if we feel brave. We would normally consider a Villa, but with just two of us it could be a bit pricy and most of them are out of town a bit. Also the pools that most come with are pointless as they're unheated so will be about 15 degrees at that point! Any with heated pools cost a fortune, unsurprisingly.
We like to do our own thing mostly and find restaurants ourselves rather than have to use the same hotel one all the time. But breakfast buffets every morning does sound appealing if we're honest! Having the option to cook in (I do occasionally catch edible fish!) is a bonus. I found some aparthotels near the seafront and some of them do ridiculously good prices for half board, such that skipping a few nights and going out to eat wouldn't be too much heartache.
Anyone got any experience with Villa Concha or Marsenses Puerto Pollensa venues? Or any others that have pros/cons? All google reviews seem to be similar - mainly excellent with the odd complete disaster complaint or other gripe thrown in.
We did wonder about staying up in Pollensa itself and then driving down to the beach if we felt like it. I haven't checked the town for accommodation but I suspect it'll be a similar situation. B&B is probably the best approach, but if the half board is just €100 for two then it kind of seems daft not to take it, particularly when (allegedly) several nights a week there is an a la carte option.
We like to do our own thing mostly and find restaurants ourselves rather than have to use the same hotel one all the time. But breakfast buffets every morning does sound appealing if we're honest! Having the option to cook in (I do occasionally catch edible fish!) is a bonus. I found some aparthotels near the seafront and some of them do ridiculously good prices for half board, such that skipping a few nights and going out to eat wouldn't be too much heartache.
Anyone got any experience with Villa Concha or Marsenses Puerto Pollensa venues? Or any others that have pros/cons? All google reviews seem to be similar - mainly excellent with the odd complete disaster complaint or other gripe thrown in.
We did wonder about staying up in Pollensa itself and then driving down to the beach if we felt like it. I haven't checked the town for accommodation but I suspect it'll be a similar situation. B&B is probably the best approach, but if the half board is just €100 for two then it kind of seems daft not to take it, particularly when (allegedly) several nights a week there is an a la carte option.
Puerto Pollensa is excellent. I must have been at least 15 times by now. The Mar Senses hotel is well placed, but I've never stayed there. I've stayed in the Mar Playa (as it's now called) which is up behind the Illa D'Or which was fine, but honestly a bit too far out. I wouldn't generally choose to stay much further NE than the Voramar.
Id pick the Mar Senses over Villaconcha.
Id pick the Mar Senses over Villaconcha.
Hi
Know the area very well.
Reading through your original post I think if you are going in October then you may be lucky with the last days of summer.
Have stayed in Pollenca, Port de Pollenca and Calle St Vincent albeit all during the height of summer.
I think if I was going in October then Pollenca is where I would stay.
During my time their I got to speak with loads of Brit expats. In fact one guy bought a flat behind the Illa D'or 40 years ago.
All of the expats said that Port de Pollenca shuts down off season while the town has more things to do during that period.
Know the area very well.
Reading through your original post I think if you are going in October then you may be lucky with the last days of summer.
Have stayed in Pollenca, Port de Pollenca and Calle St Vincent albeit all during the height of summer.
I think if I was going in October then Pollenca is where I would stay.
During my time their I got to speak with loads of Brit expats. In fact one guy bought a flat behind the Illa D'or 40 years ago.
All of the expats said that Port de Pollenca shuts down off season while the town has more things to do during that period.
RayPike said:
Having looked around online a bit, it does look like the port town is fully open right through until the beginning of November. Right after British half term ends basically.
Great then go for it.Look at staying Bellresguard area (behind the pine walk) or my favourite Pinaret area (Villaconcha).
Spent some time in Fornalutx last May. Lovely village up near the mountains. Stayed here which is a small apart/hotel which I'd recommend. https://sa-tanqueta.com/en/
I've been to Majorca 4 times in Feb/March and going again next week (cyclist, so perfect time of year), temp is pleasant and generally dry, with most stuff starting to open. Hearing from friends who have been in half term they've said October is very similar in terms of weather with most stuff still open but without all the traffic you get at the best spots on the island from may to september.
We usually stay in Alcudia which is just down the road and has plenty of options for hotels and airbnbs.
We usually stay in Alcudia which is just down the road and has plenty of options for hotels and airbnbs.
I've seen Alcudia as being described as having a nice old town, but outside of that it's a bit Blackpool. Fair assessment or standard grapevine nonsense? We intend to have a couple of days around Soller/Fornatlutx but not too much longer as it seems to get all the Palma day trippers there!
We've been to Puerto Pollensa quite a few times now, we go self catering though as there are plenty of nice places to eat and we like to choose on a whim. The last couple of times we stayed at the Maricel Apartments, they're nothing fancy but are superbly situated just behind the Miramar Hotel.
https://www.miramarcollection.com/en/alojamiento/a...
https://www.miramarcollection.com/en/alojamiento/a...
RayPike said:
I've seen Alcudia as being described as having a nice old town, but outside of that it's a bit Blackpool. Fair assessment or standard grapevine nonsense? We intend to have a couple of days around Soller/Fornatlutx but not too much longer as it seems to get all the Palma day trippers there!
Fair assessment.HBelder said:
RayPike said:
I've seen Alcudia as being described as having a nice old town, but outside of that it's a bit Blackpool. Fair assessment or standard grapevine nonsense? We intend to have a couple of days around Soller/Fornatlutx but not too much longer as it seems to get all the Palma day trippers there!
Fair assessment.Been twice.
Villaconcha with my son first time, pre-Covid - advertised as self-catering apartments, but the (standard) rooms are small and you get a poxy little kitchenette just inside the door with no space to do anything. Treat it as a fridge and a kettle, basically. Receiption service was OK but not great - usual Med slow and disinterested, while breakfast was decent but nothing special.
It's popular with cyclists outside of school holidays, in case that affects your decision either way, but there's a decent # of loungers and there's a sculpted pool area as well as a proper swimming pool around the side. Location though IS good - it's a 15 minute walk to the centre of town, and a <5 minute walk to the (nice) beach.
...and then a couple of years ago we stayed nearby in the Apartments La Nau - nice little complex of 10-12 2-3 bed apartments with a couple of shared pools. Our apartment was modern, well equipped and spacious/airy, and even in school hols there was always parking on the road behind.
As for PP itself - very nice place which has become very popular with the middle-class set and sadly has prices to match - it's definitely at the 'premium' end of Majorcan resorts. Lovely beach though, and good choice of restaurants. You can probably save yourself money (if not convenience) by getting a place in Pollensa old town and then driving down to the beach.
Villaconcha with my son first time, pre-Covid - advertised as self-catering apartments, but the (standard) rooms are small and you get a poxy little kitchenette just inside the door with no space to do anything. Treat it as a fridge and a kettle, basically. Receiption service was OK but not great - usual Med slow and disinterested, while breakfast was decent but nothing special.
It's popular with cyclists outside of school holidays, in case that affects your decision either way, but there's a decent # of loungers and there's a sculpted pool area as well as a proper swimming pool around the side. Location though IS good - it's a 15 minute walk to the centre of town, and a <5 minute walk to the (nice) beach.
...and then a couple of years ago we stayed nearby in the Apartments La Nau - nice little complex of 10-12 2-3 bed apartments with a couple of shared pools. Our apartment was modern, well equipped and spacious/airy, and even in school hols there was always parking on the road behind.
As for PP itself - very nice place which has become very popular with the middle-class set and sadly has prices to match - it's definitely at the 'premium' end of Majorcan resorts. Lovely beach though, and good choice of restaurants. You can probably save yourself money (if not convenience) by getting a place in Pollensa old town and then driving down to the beach.
Stayed here for a week in early April a couple of years ago - https://www.hoposa.es/hotels/daina - and paid £500 for six nights. Very pleasant spot.
IroningMan said:
Stayed here for a week in early April a couple of years ago - https://www.hoposa.es/hotels/daina - and paid £500 for six nights. Very pleasant spot.
Cheapest room for October for 7 nights is €1500-ish!Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff