Best resort in Mallorca

Stems

Hi
I have just booked flights to go to Mallorca in late September and was wondering if some one recommend a good resort as i have never been to the island. Are in our early 30's and will be travelling with a 1 year old. Would like somewhere with nice restaurants and bars. Thanks

chalkitdown

We had a good time in Cala d'Or. A small resort with four or five small beaches, seemed to be mostly families around. There are plenty of restaurants offering good value.
I haven't stayed in any other resort though, just visited during the day. I wasn't impressed with Magalluf or Santa Ponsa. The Northern resorts of Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa looked ok, but after visiting them we were happy we had chosen Cala d'Or.
I would recommend a day trip on the train from Palma to Soller and after a change onto the port of Soller, an interesting railway journey on very old trains, don't think I'd recommend staying there though, I got the impression it would be a bit quiet at night.

Edit; Forgot to mention the fantastic marina area in Cala d'Or, there are some really good restaurants there. Had my favourite dish, salt baked Sea Bass while watching the huge boats going to and fro, very nice.

eternal

well please whatever you do avoid Santa Ponsa.Its rough ,awful ,terrible .
I wouldnt go back there if you paid me.Its full of Irish drunk guys in GAA jerseys horsing back jugs of Fat Frog .Its awful and not suitable for kids.
Never again.I enjoyed Magaluf though ,buts it strip of bars and clubs with drink promos ,which was great for us single gals but not for you so advice from poster above sounds good.i have actually heard that the island is beautiful if you go to the right places.

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

Ive been to santa ponsa 3 times I love it twice with my family when I was 14 and 15 and with a lot of younger cousins who enjoyed it and once on a lads holiday last year when I was 19, if your staying in santa ponsa the jutlandia and the rosamar are very nice family hotels there a small bit of a walk away but you should get no young people making noise at all hours there plus I love the beach in santa ponsa, I was in magaluf once our twice during those trips didnt like it at all we didnt receive a very warm reception because we were irish and there was union jacks all over the place im sure its different for everyone but that was just my experience. my sister also stayed in alcudia with her husband and young daughter( it hink she was around 2 or 3 at the time) and they loved it they thought the beaches were nice and it was nice quiet family resort but the only thing was that it was very far away from the waterparks and stuff and she heard stories of taxis not brining people to and from the water parks because of distance, I also stayed in palma nova when I was young I cant remember much about it just that it was nice and quiet for walks and stuff and was close to most things and that there was loads of kids at my hotel. enjoy your holiday!

antodeco

Have a look at Palma Nova. Close enough to most things (10 minute walk to Magaluff) but very quiet at night. I've stayed there 4 times with the daughter at various ages. Also have a look at Cala Bona. Very quiet, far away, but a fantastic area.

eternal

Really about Santa Ponsa? must have been me .We stayed in a resort that was full of very loud drunk guys.One guy urinated off the balcony above us ,shouting his head off.he sang ring of fire continuosly ,by the end of the week he was doing it in a hoarse voice.
I still wake up sweating to the sound of that voice .
I loved Magalluf ,everyone was really friendly.I suppose they were men flirting but some were just actually friendly.I remember the girls in the bars being very nice too.
Plus the beaches there are cleaner and more upmarket.yes its English orientated but that means cheaper drinks .gorgoeus guys and good music.And why the bad reception cos of being Irish .English people like Irish people .Specially English guys love irish girls accents.And I would take it the English girls like Irish guys accents.
Any time I go aboard I find English people way more friendly than Irish ,This has been in many places.Irish are cliquey .

allstargaa

Just back from holiday in Majorca, and stayed in Guadaloupe Hotel in Magaluf. Had two kids with us. 2 and 4 years old. Hotel is very family and kid friendly. We travelled with an 85 year old too so it really did cover the broad spectrum of ages. Evening and morning buffet had a superb choice. Couldn't recommend it high enough.

Just round the corner is the Britannia bar. Excellent buzz and good music.

Palma Nova is nice too. Stayed there before. Really I'd be happy going to either resort, the only distinction would be the British vibe in Magaluf which you don't really have in Palma Nova. Didn't affect us. Everyone was really nice.

Would defo do the same holiday again.... when the 2 year old is about 5!!