So, by now, from reading my previous posts, you can probably tell that I love two things (a lot), the sunshine and the sea. Our next adventure will take us to the Balearic Islands in Spain. Palma de Mallorca is the capital and the largest city of the islands.

My trip to Mallorca began by flying from the US to Madrid, Spain and then taking a local carrier to Palma de Mallorca. There are several choices of local carriers, and the prices range from 37 euros to 117 euros one way (I bought a round trip ticket because it was cheaper).

Upon arrival in Mallorca, I took a taxi to my hotel, and the fare was approximately $30 (US) for a twenty minute ride. The other transportation options are bus, rail or private car. The bus is the least expensive mode of transportation.

I stayed at Castillo Hotel Son Vida, and it was amazing! This hotel was originally built as a castle in the 13th century. It sits on a hillside in the affluent neighborhood of Son Vida. My hotel room was very elegant with a flat-screen TV, WiFi, bath robe/slippers and a panoramic views over the beautiful bay of Palma. The hotel also offers a free spa, treatment rooms and three swimming pools. After unpacking, I decided to have an early lunch at Es Castell restaurant at the hotel. The outdoor seating offered unparalleled views of the bay of Palma. I visited Palma in October, so the days were still warm and the nights were balmy.

I would recommend taking a electrical converter for blow dryers, razors, etc. I also recommend packing the following items:

These are my recommendations for dress if you want to fit in with the locals.

After eating lunch, I took the bus into the city centre to sight see and shop. The bus stand was right outside of the hotel and the fare was approximately $2.00 (US). Also, I must mention that I used my debit card to withdraw money, and I actually received a better rate. My bank refunds all foreign and ATM fees, so I just used my card. If you don't want to use your card, I was told that the airport is also a good place to exchange currency.

After reaching the city centre, I must say that I was in shopping heaven! From independent stores to well known designers and local artisans, there was something for everyone. I started at the Paseo del Borne and the connecting Avenue Jaime III which is known as the Golden Mile of Palma. Here you found, Louis Vuitton, Escada, Bvlgari, Carolina Herrera, zara.com, massimodutti.com, and many other stores. I must say, I've never spent so much money at Zara or Massimo Dutti, until my trip to Mallorca. There was a Zara Home Store, that had blankets, candles, dressing gowns, housewares, etc. Whatever you wanted for your home, you could find in this store, I probably spent two or three hours in these three stores. The thing that I loved the most about shopping here, was I found so many items that weren't being sold in the United States. Personally, I love owning hard to find pieces. It makes me feel unique. Even though my hands were full with bags, I still stopped for an early dinner (and I do mean early). Dinner is normally served quite late in Mallorca. I chose bonllocrestaurant.com for an early. Bon Lloc was the first vegetarian restaurant to open in Mallorca, and they also have a vegan menu. I chose the four course mid-day menu, and it was outstanding. The majority of the ingredients were fresh from the local market and organic. A few other restaurants that I'd recommend are Born 8, elcaminopalma.es, aromatarestaurant.com, and ferapalma.com. After eating, I stopped and had a coffee at El Camino before heading back to the hotel. I opted to take a taxi (cost approx. $5 US) back to the hotel because of all the shopping bags.

After unpacking my bags and showering, I literally fell into bed. And I must add, the shower, bath products, and the comfy bed attributed to the most relaxing experience that I've had in a long time. Needless to say, I had an amazing night's sleep.

I woke early the next morning, because I wanted to get an early start. I took the bus to the city centre and had breakfast at Born 8, which was fantastic. The coffee was amazing! It was the perfect blend of milk and coffee. My itinerary included stops at the catedraldemallorca.org/es, La Almudaina Royal Palace, esbaluard.org, and casalsolleric.palma.cat. I didn't purchase my entrance tickets in advance, and I had no problem getting into each venue. Yet, you can purchase tickets from the website or book on trip advisor. Each place that I visited was unique and if you are an art and/or history buff, you will definitely love it. The architecture and design of the Cathedral and Royal Palace is just mesmerizing. I took an entire day to enjoy these places, yet it could be spread out over several days.

I ate dinner at cafemurada.com, and it was the perfect ending to an amazing day. My dinner consisted off Hawaiian Pizza, Coulan Dessert (similar to a chocolate lava cake) and a cafe con leche. Afterwards, I headed back to the hotel and to a great night's sleep.

The next day, I'd planned a trip to Cala d' Or for a sailboat day excursion with vita-bel.com. I booked the tickets well in advance with the company (Sonia was my contact) and received confirmation before leaving for Mallorca. The price 135 Euros per person, and there has to be a minimum of six person for a shared trip. On the particular day that we went out, there were other parties booked that made six persons. Cala d' Or is on the southeastern coast of Mallorca, so it was roughly and hour ride to the marina from the hotel and the fare was approximately 65 Euros. The sailboat departs at 10:00 AM and the trip lasts for approximately 5 hours (depending on weather). The meal was professionally catered, there was an open bar, a welcome drink, paddle boards and snorkel equipment is included and you get a welcome photo. The only thing that I brought was a towel, sunscreen, a hat and a swim suit. Nigel was the captain and he was fantastic! He was knowledgeable about the surrounding islands, history and the great coves that we stopped in. The sailboat was a beautiful sailing yacht, that was in pristine condition. This day was one of the best days of my life. It was my first time on a sailboat, and just sitting there and being so close to the Mediterranean Sea was a dream come true. There was great food, conversation and impeccable service during the excursion and the experience was priceless.

Cooking King Prawns on the BBQ for dinner.jpg

I decided to have dinner at the hotel because I wanted to experience traditional Spanish Cuisine. I decided to have the Chef's Tasting Menu of five selected tapas, and it did not disappoint. The menu changes daily, so each dining experience is different.

The next day, I decided to relax on the terrace and enjoy a book that I had brought along. It was nice to just lounge around and the explore the hotel. There was an extensive library of books, a full body armor (from a medieval soldier) and historic paintings all over the hotel. So, I spent the day exploring the grounds, lunching on the terrace and enjoying the view of Palma below. Since, I had an early flight the next day, it was nice to take it slow.

Palma de Mallorca is a very welcoming city and I felt the warmth of the people. It is full of history, charm, and excitement, and I hope this is inspiration to add this wonderful city to your list of must see places on this earth.

Booking Info:

https://marriott.com/hotels/travel/pmilc-castillo-hotel-son-vida

(+34) 971 49 34 93

*Photo Credit Zandra Dockery/Hotel Castillo Son Vida