Mallorca

The Island That Had Been Waiting on Our List

Mallorca was not a last-minute addition.

We had been watching the island since 2023, when we first started imagining what family travel in Europe might look like. Every time it appeared in our research, it seemed to hold several things we wanted at once: beautiful beaches, food worth planning around, warm weather, small towns and enough variety to make a full week feel natural.

It finally entered the itinerary in 2025, after San Sebastian and an unexpected overnight in Barcelona. We arrived with Preston at three and a half and Avery at 15 months, collected a Sixt rental car and began a seven-night stay divided between two very different parts of the island.

For four nights, we lived in Sant Elm, a small coastal village where the sea filled the view from our patio and the beach was across the street. For the final three, we moved inland to Zoëtry Mallorca, a historic estate with an enormous suite, excellent food, pools, quiet grounds and the kind of hotel stay that became an experience of its own.

Mallorca checked the boxes we had expected. What surprised us was how easy the island made it to change pace. We could begin at a busy market and end on an almost-empty neighborhood beach. We could see a famous cove at sunrise, then spend the afternoon doing almost nothing at the hotel. We could drive into the mountains one day and return to the coast before dinner.

Mallorca did not give us one defining experience. It gave us several different ways to be together.

Two Bases Made the Island Feel Bigger

We began on Mallorca's southwest edge in Sant Elm, then moved to Zoëtry Mallorca near Llucmajor for the final three nights. The relocation was intentional. We wanted the first half of the trip to feel like everyday beach-village life and the second to open a different side of the island while giving us a more restorative finish.

Mallorca was easy enough to cross by car that one base could have worked. Still, the two stays changed more than our drive times. Sant Elm invited us outside and down to the water. Zoëtry invited us to stay on the property, eat slowly and let the hotel become part of the itinerary.

From the Barcelona Detour to Sant Elm

A Short Flight and the Start of Our Sixt Routine

We flew Ryanair from Barcelona to Palma after the unplanned luggage-recovery detour that had ended our San Sebastian stay. The flight was slightly delayed, but it was short and otherwise easy. At Palma Airport, we picked up our Sixt rental and two rental car seats.

The seats were clean, available and looked appropriate for the boys. Rental car seats can be inconsistent, but the ones we received during our Spain rentals were some of the best we had encountered. Mallorca also helped establish Sixt as our go-to rental company in Europe after using it from San Sebastian to Barcelona.

A Car Was Essential for This Version of Mallorca

Sant Elm was deliberately away from the island's busiest centers, we planned day trips in several directions and we would change accommodations midway through the week. For the trip we had designed, a car was essential. It gave us the freedom to leave when the boys were ready, change plans quickly and return to our own beach when we wanted.

Cala Conills for the First Dinner

After settling in, we ate at Cala Conills near the apartment. It was expensive, but the food was very good and the waterfront setting gave us the kind of first Mallorca dinner we had imagined. We did not need to build a large evening around it. The village and sea were already right outside.

Four Nights in a Car-Free Beach Village

The Airbnb Was Built Around the View

Our Airbnb was listed as “San Telmo Beach Property.” We entered from an upper patio that looked directly over the sea. A multilevel terrace ran along the side of the home with loungers, and an outdoor laundry area sat behind it. The outdoor space was not an extra feature. It was the reason the property worked so well.

Inside, the entrance opened into the kitchen, with the living room to the left and two bedrooms set behind the main space. There were two bathrooms, including one en suite, and the host had prepared a pack-and-play in one bedroom. We bought groceries and used the kitchen for snacks and light food, but the patio and proximity to the beach carried the stay.

Parking Above the Village Required a Simple System

Our host sent parking instructions, and we found space on a residential street above the apartment. Reaching the property required walking down stairs with our luggage. It was not the easiest arrival, but it was manageable in shifts: we brought the first load and the boys inside, then one adult stayed with them while the other returned for the remaining bags.

The Village Made Family Life Feel Easy

Sant Elm was largely car-free near the apartment. The beach, bakery and several restaurants were all within an easy walk. One restaurant became familiar enough with our family that the staff allowed us to carry their dishware back to the patio. We could put the boys down, plate a proper dinner and eat outside overlooking the water instead of opening takeout containers.

A Busy Palma Morning and the Beach That Reset the Day

Mercat de l’Olivar and the Waterfront

On our first full day, we drove into Palma and visited Mercat de l’Olivar. We walked through the market, continued through the city and made our way toward the waterfront. We ate while we were there, but we do not remember the restaurant well enough to include it by name.

Palma was energetic and crowded that day. It was more stimulation than we were really looking for at the beginning of the trip, especially after the complicated end to San Sebastian and the Barcelona overnight. By mid-to-late afternoon, we were ready to return to Sant Elm.

The Trip Found Its Rhythm Outside the Apartment

By the time we reached the beach in front of the rental, much of the crowd had cleared. We had space to settle into the sand, let the boys move between the shore and water and spend the afternoon without another plan.

The water at Sant Elm was calm and remained shallow far enough out to make it especially comfortable with young kids. That afternoon changed the tone of the day. Palma had been interesting, but the nearly empty beach outside our door was what our family needed.

The Famous Beach Was Not Our Beach

Alcúdia and Playa de Muro

We drove north to Alcúdia and Playa de Muro. The beach is one of the places that appears often in Mallorca planning, and we wanted to see it for ourselves. It was busier than Sant Elm, and the water was choppier on the day we visited.

There was nothing wrong with Playa de Muro. We simply realized quickly that the beach outside our apartment worked better for our family. Social media visibility and island reputation did not matter as much as calm water, fewer people and the ability to walk home.

Returning Was the Best Decision of the Day

By afternoon, we were back in Sant Elm for another slow beach day. The return did not feel like giving up on exploration. It felt like understanding what the boys enjoyed and choosing more of it. Proximity made the beach easier, and ease gave all four of us more room to relax.

One More Beach Day and a Pirate Ship at the Port

By the third full day, we were comfortable letting Mallorca be a beach trip. We spent more time outside the apartment, moved slowly and did not force a sightseeing list into the day. We became a little bit of a beach-bum family here, and the island rewarded that rhythm.

Port d’Andratx Gave the Boys Their Evening

That evening, we drove to Port d’Andratx. The boys found a playground built like a pirate ship and had a blast. It was a simple stop, but it helped balance the trip. The beaches were beautiful for all of us; the playground was clearly theirs.

We returned to Sant Elm knowing that the first chapter of the stay had done exactly what we wanted. We had explored, but the strongest memories were the ones nearest home: the patio, the bakery, the calm water and an evening built around play.

Three Nights at Zoëtry Mallorca

The Elegant Suite Felt Like a Noble Residence

We moved to Zoëtry Mallorca on June 3 and checked into an Elegant Suite. The hotel occupies a historic estate, and our room carried that sense of place. It was enormous, striking and unlike anything we had stayed in before. The closest comparison was the bedroom of a king, queen or noble family, but with the comfort and function we needed for an actual family stay.

One Ginormous Bed and a Corner for Avery

The suite had one very large bed, so Preston slept with us. A pack-and-play was also available for him, and he used it for one nap, but he had outgrown sleeping comfortably in it. Avery slept in a second pack-and-play tucked into a corner, which created a distinct sleep space for him. Both boys slept well.

The Hotel Became the Favorite Experience

Zoëtry was more than a place to sleep between outings. The architecture, grounds, family pool, food and slower pace gave us a completely different Mallorca experience. Our reservation included dining and 24-hour food and beverages, so most meals during this part of the trip were on the property. We did not have a bad one.

During one of the slower hotel days, I booked a spa treatment. The facilities were excellent, the massage was worthwhile and the time added to the restorative quality of the stay. The hotel felt indulgent without making family travel feel out of place.

A New Base and the Meal We Should Have Tried Sooner

Santanyí on a Quiet Afternoon

Before checking in to the Zoëtry, we went to Santanyí. We visited on a non-market day, so Plaça Major and the surrounding streets were quiet. We window-shopped, wandered through the center and found fewer businesses open than we might have seen on a market day. The slower atmosphere worked for us, and Santanyí still became one of our favorite towns on the island.

Vegetable Paella at Alchemy

Alchemy Restaurante sits on the main square. We ordered vegetable paella there and immediately wondered why we had waited so long to try it. It was fantastic — likely our favorite meal from the entire Spain portion of the trip.

The memory is attached to more than the food. We had just changed bases, the town was calm and the meal marked the beginning of a chapter that felt especially easy. Mallorca had already given us the beach life we wanted. Santanyí and Zoëtry showed us another side.

The Famous Coves Before the Island Woke Up

Cala Llombards at Sunrise

We woke early to visit the Mallorca beaches that appear again and again in photographs. At Cala Llombards, we arrived for sunrise. Aside from a dog walker and one other couple, we had the cove almost entirely to ourselves.

The timing changed the experience. We knew how crowded the small beach could become later in the day, but in the morning it felt untouched. Seeing the water, cliffs and beach without the usual summer activity was one of the most beautiful moments of the trip.

Cala Santanyí and a Return to Town

We also stopped at Cala Santanyí. It was slightly busier, but still quiet at that hour. After the beaches, we returned to Santanyí because we had enjoyed the town so much the day before. We stopped at Sa Font for a snack, then returned to the hotel.

The Afternoon Belonged to the Property

We spent the rest of the day by the pool, walking the grounds and settling more fully into Zoëtry. Dinner was on the property, as most of our meals were during this stay. Waking early made the coves possible; leaving the afternoon open kept the day from becoming exhausting.

From a Mountain Village to Port de Sóller

Breakfast at Zoëtry, Then Fornalutx

We began with breakfast at Zoëtry, then drove toward the Tramuntana Mountains and Fornalutx. The village was tiny, beautifully preserved and especially charming. We did not need a long activity list there. Walking the narrow streets and taking in the stone buildings was the point.

Ending Along the Port

We continued to Port de Sóller and ended the outing along the waterfront promenade. We ate at one of the restaurants facing the port, but we do not remember the name well enough to include it. The meal and setting gave the day an easy finish before we returned to the hotel.

This day completed the island’s range for us. Mallorca was not only beaches and resort time. Within the same trip, we had moved from a small southwest village to a historic estate, from southeastern coves to a mountain town and back to a waterfront port.

A Slow Morning Before Provence

We kept our final morning at Zoëtry slow. After breakfast and a last stretch of time on the property, we checked out and drove to Palma Airport. We returned the Sixt car and flew Ryanair to Marseille.

In France, we picked up another Sixt rental and continued to Aix-en-Provence. The travel day went moderately well, and Mallorca ended the way the second half had felt: unhurried until it was time to move.

The Beach We Loved Was the One Outside Our Door

Sant Elm Worked Because It Was Easy

Sant Elm Beach was our favorite not because it was the island’s most famous or dramatic beach, but because it met our family exactly where we were. The water was calm, the shallows gave the boys room to play and the apartment was close enough to make every return simple.

Playa de Muro Clarified Our Priorities

The drive to Playa de Muro helped us understand the difference between a beach that looks right on an itinerary and one that feels right once the kids are standing in the water. On our visit, Playa de Muro was choppier and busier. Sant Elm gave us the conditions we wanted.

Cala Llombards Was About Timing

Cala Llombards delivered the iconic Mallorca view, but sunrise was the reason it felt so special. We did not try to make it a long beach day. We saw it in a quiet state, continued to Cala Santanyí and preserved the afternoon for the resort.

What We Ate

Sant Elm Made the Everyday Meals Memorable

Forn Sa Palomera became our favorite bakery and was only a short walk from the apartment. We ate breakfast twice at the Aqua Beach Club. We also ate at Sant Elm Beach Restaurant and Sa Calma, and remember the meals at both being very good. The strongest food memory from the village may be the simple generosity of being allowed to take restaurant dishware back to our patio to enjoy a proper meal while our kids slept.

The Favorite Meal Arrived in Santanyí

The vegetable paella at Alchemy was the food highlight. It was our first paella of the trip and the meal that made us wonder why we had waited.

Zoëtry Made Staying In Feel Like the Better Plan

Our reservation included dining and 24-hour food and beverages, and we ate nearly all of our meals on the property during the final three nights. The food was consistently very good. We never felt that leaving the hotel was necessary just to find a better meal.

Traveling with a Preschooler and a 15-Month-Old

The Rental Car Held the Trip Together

A car gave us control over the transitions that matter most with young kids. We could leave Palma when the crowd became too much, return from Playa de Muro when another beach felt better and build early-morning cove visits around the boys rather than a fixed tour.

The Best Family Amenities Were Often Simple

The most useful features were not complicated: shallow water, a beach across the street, a kitchen for snacks, laundry, a pack-and-play, a pirate-ship playground and enough hotel space to create a separate sleep corner for Avery. Playgrounds throughout the island made family time easy to add without turning every outing into a child-only activity.

Both Stays Supported Different Kinds of Rest

Sant Elm reduced the distance between the boys and the beach. Zoëtry reduced the number of decisions we needed to make. The first gave us easy outdoor movement; the second gave us meals, pool time, sleep space and a spa on one beautiful property.

When a Split Stay Makes Sense

Seven Nights Gave the Move Enough Room

We would consider splitting Mallorca again for a seven-to-ten-day trip. The move allowed us to experience two distinct settings and still left enough time to settle into each one. We did not feel that packing on June 3 erased the first half of the stay.

A Shorter Trip Needs One Base

For a shorter visit, we would not recommend changing accommodations. Checking out, moving the bags, waiting for the next room and resetting sleep arrangements can consume too much of a three-to-five-night trip. Mallorca is drivable enough that one thoughtfully chosen base can still support day trips.

Choose the Base Around the Trip You Actually Want

Sant Elm made sense because we wanted quiet beach access and were willing to drive for other experiences. Zoëtry made sense because we wanted the property itself to be part of the final days. The best location is not the one closest to the longest list of sights. It is the one that protects the rhythm your family values most.

The Famous Stops Were Not Always the Best Ones

Palma Was Too Much for the First Morning

Mercat de l’Olivar and Palma were worth seeing, but the crowd and energy were more than we needed on the first full day. Returning to the apartment and spending the afternoon on the beach was the better use of our capacity.

Playa de Muro Lost to Convenience and Calm

We had driven across the island to visit a beach that appeared often in our research, then chose to leave and return to Sant Elm. That decision was useful. It reminded us that a place does not have to disappoint in order to be the wrong fit for a particular day.

The Non-Market Day Changed Santanyí

Santanyí was quiet, some businesses appeared closed and the town did not have the market-day energy many travelers plan to see. We liked it anyway. The slower square made it easier to wander with the boys, and the paella became the meal we remembered most.

Seven Nights Were Enough

A week allowed us to see everything we truly prioritized and still spend repeated days near home. With less time, we would not try to reproduce this itinerary. We would choose one base, select a smaller number of beaches or towns and leave room for the island to feel easy.

What We Would Repeat and Change

What We Would Do Again

• Stay a full seven nights when possible.
• Rent a car for a multi-area itinerary and inspect the child seats before leaving the lot.
• Book the Sant Elm Airbnb again for the patios, beach access and village rhythm.
• Return to Zoëtry Mallorca and choose a stay long enough to enjoy the property.
• Visit Cala Llombards at sunrise instead of trying to build a long midday beach visit.
• Let Sant Elm Beach carry multiple days rather than chasing a different famous beach each morning.
• Return to Santanyí for the town and another vegetable paella at Alchemy.
• Keep one mountain-and-port outing through Fornalutx and Port de Sóller.
• Use playgrounds and hotel afternoons to balance sightseeing with the boys' needs.

What We Would Adjust

• Schedule Palma for a day when the family has more capacity for crowds and city energy.
• Limit cross-island beach comparisons if the beach at our base is already working well.
• Check current market days before choosing the atmosphere we want in Palma or Santanyí.
• Use one base for any trip shorter than roughly a week.
• Build in generous parking and walking time for popular mountain and coastal towns.

Who Is This Trip For?

Mallorca fit our family because we wanted both ease and range. It is especially compelling for travelers who value beaches but do not want every day to be identical, who enjoy small towns and good food, and who are comfortable using a rental car to create their own pace.

What Mallorca Left With Us

Mallorca confirmed that a family beach trip does not have to choose between staying put and seeing more. We spent repeated afternoons at the same small beach and still came away feeling that we had experienced the island’s variety.

The memories are distinct: the sea directly beyond the Airbnb patio, the boys moving through Sant Elm’s shallow water, a pirate ship at Port d’Andratx, vegetable paella on a quiet square, Cala Llombards before sunrise, an enormous room at Zoëtry and a mountain road leading toward Fornalutx.

None of those moments needed to become the single reason the trip mattered. Mallorca’s gift was the combination. Beach days, town days and hotel days belonged naturally in the same week; none felt like time taken from another.

We had waited two years to place Mallorca on an itinerary. Seven nights showed us why it had stayed on the list.