Family Holidays Overview
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Family Holidays: Mallorca family holidays and breaks
Take the Family holiday rating 
Why
Mallorca is the largest of the four Balearics, and particularly beautiful. It's less than two hours drive across the island and still manages to attract over ten million visitors a year. Most, fortunately, confine themselves to Magaluf and neighbouring resorts.
That leaves the rest of the island relatively tranquil, save for the summer months when most resorts are at capacity. We're particularly fond of Puerto Pollensa and Cala San Vicence, which are small and manageable for families. They each have a gently shelving sandy beach and lots of cafes and restaurants for eating out. There are many good quality villas in the area and accommodation is available right on the beach.
Served by frequent flights, and with dozens of beautiful and safe beaches plus amazing scenery, Mallorca can be a terrific destination for families with children of all ages. We'd also urge you to consider Menorca – which is a smaller, quieter and equally beautiful island 25 miles from Mallorca. Mallorca is definitely the better option for two week family holidays, since there's so much more to do.
- Top left: Palma La Almudaina
- Top middle: Cala Esmeralda beach
- Top right: Palma Vista Del Puerto y Catedral
- Bottom left: Field
- Bottom right: Palma Paseo Maritimo
When
Mallorca can be very busy in August. If you can travel just out of the high season everything will still be open, with half the crowds. The chances of decent weather between May and October are high and remember that the sea is warmer in September and October than it is in May and June.
How
There are several flights a day from most UK airports to Palma de Mallorca Airport, Mallorca, with options ranging from the budget airlines, to charters to direct scheduled flights. There are scheduled flights with British Airway, in addition to many low cost airlines such as Thomsonfly, Easyjet, Air Berlin and Thomas Cook. Our preferred airline is XL Airways, where you can save an exclusive £5 off flights and accommodation by quoting 'Takethefamily'. Arrive in two hours from London and within three hours from elsewhere in the UK. There is a children's play room at the airport to help keep the kids entertained.
From the airport: If you have booked a tour operator package your holiday may include transfers to and from your accommodation. Nevertheless, Take the Family recommends renting a car, (see our car hire page), so that you can explore other beaches, the beautiful mountains, visit Palma and more. Nowhere on the island is more than two hours from anywhere else and the airport is a ten minute motorway drive from Palma.
Stay
There are numerous family holiday accommodation options in Mallorca from hotels to apartments to villas. You can also choose between intimate and bustling, budget and luxury, on the beach or in the spectacular mountains. We've listed a few of our favourite options, from hotels such as the family favourites Pollentia Club Resort, and Viva Cala Mesquida Resort, to the five star Arabella Sheraton Golf Hotel or self catering aparthotels such as Viva Mallorca Aparthotel and Aparthotel Bonaire. Check family holiday deals to Mallorca with Thomson and Expedia. Villas can also can make for terrific family holdays, such as Ca'n Durai from Simply Travel. Browse and book villas with pools with partners Meon Villas and James Villas.
Do
Beaches: Life in these two resorts is centred around the beach. Cala San Vicence has a small number of sandy coves. They can be busy in high season, but you can always escape to the beaches in the nearby Formerntor peninsula, or the larger beach of Puerto Pollensa. You can get to the Formentor peninsula from either resort by car, bus or boat.
Other recommended beaches include a long thin strip at Es Trenc, which remains undeveloped and the lovely national park at Cala Mondrago with relatively secluded beaches and pine forests.
The inland town of Pollensa has an attractive weekly market if you want a change from the beach or you can organise family activities such as cycling, and horse riding from Puerto Pollensa.
Palma, Mallorca’s vibrant and beautiful capital, is easily accessible for a day trip. You can enjoy a fun family day out here come rain or shine and will be amazed by Palma’s rich history. Palma's La Seu Cathedral, with it’s huge flying buttresses is massive – well it did take half a millennium to build, following commencement in 1230. And, more recently, Gaudi put his stamp on parts of the cathedral directing a restoration. Even children who would normally protest about being dragged around churches and cathedrals will be impressed.
Palma’s old town is a maze of winding lanes and alleyways. Much of this area is pedestrianised (mopeds still in abundance though) and therefore relatively safe for wandering with young children. And wonder at the architecture you will. If you like mazes, then why not take a trip to one of Europe's largest at Amaze'n Laberintos, Playa de Muro.
Another worthwhile alternative to a day on the beach is taking the family on the The Sóller Train, a rickety old train from Palma to Sóller. It cuts through tunnels in the mountains to get to Sóller in just over an hour. From there you can jump on one of the trams that will take you to the Port of Sóller five km. away. Although the beach here is not Mallorca’s most beautiful the Port’s setting, nestled among mountains on all sides, does make up for it.
Hike in the mountains. Obviously more suitable for those older children who enjoy being outdoors and active. Mallorca attracts hundreds of thousands of avid hikers each year… and it’s easy to understand why. The combination of mountains, pine forests and numerous coves and beaches make for spectacular scenery, for example, the 90 kilometre-long Serra de Tramuntana area.
Visit Rancho Grande, in Son Serra, a working horse ranch also offering horse-riding treks for all levels. Children as young as four can accompany their parents on horseback. For those not keen or willing to get into the saddle there is a wagon which follows the trek behind at an easy pace, providing a great opportunity to laugh and point at those in front. Treks are followed by live music and fantastic barbecue. (Approx £42.)
Visit the Western Water Park, or Aqualand (where there's even a jacuzzi for stressed out mums and dads). They're the two reasons to venture to Magaluf and is great for kids of all ages.
And finally, if your family members aren’t scared of heights you can consider taking them on a hot air balloon flight from a launch site near Manacor.
Whatever you end up doing, there may be times when you'd like a rest from the kids. Cosy Toes, a Mallorca based childcare agency will offer 10% off your first booking when quoting ‘Take the Family’. They provide qualified nannies to help look after your little ones during the day or in the evening, as well as equipment for hire.
Click here for an up to date family friendly events guide to Mallorca.
Eat
There’s a wide range of restaurants in both our featured resorts, as well as elsewhere in Mallorca. Cala has the more upmarket restaurants but Puerta also has a good range of seafood and tapas or even fish & chips for your fussy children.
Cost
A family of four can enjoy a week in Mallorca for less than a £1,000 depending on season, flights and accommodation. And high season, high-end accommodation can push the price up substantially.
Travel reading
Time Out Guide to Mallorca and Menorca
by Time Out
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 30%
Sets the record straight about vibrant, amazing islands (outside Magaluf).
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Ready to go
Aparthotel Bonaire, Mallorca
from £289*
A top rated hotel for families.
* per adult for seven nights sharing a self-catering apartment with flights and transfers included.
Ca'n Durai, Mallorca
from £445*
A charismatic, traditional and homely country villa.
* per adult per week, including flights and car hire and based on four sharing.
Pollentia Club Resort, Mallorca
from £499*
A 80,000 sq meter resort in the North with a vast range of facilities and childcare.
* from £499 per adult per week, half board in May including flights and transfers
Viva Mallorca Aparthotel, Mallorca
from £518*
4 Star Small, well run and friendly resort that has it all for a families.
* prices per person for 7 nights including flights, based on 2 adults sharing a 1 bed apartment on a self catering basis.
Arabella Sheraton Golf Hotel, Mallorca
from £1,467*
A five star hotel with mature gardens and two 18 - hole golf courses nearby.
* per week per adult with bed and breakfast. Includes flights and transfers.
Viva Cala Mesquida Resort, Mallorca
from £549*
4 Star family resort next to the marvellous Cala Mesquida beach
* prices per person based on 2 adults sharing a one bed apartment on a Self Catering basis. Child prices apply ages 2-16. Supplements: - half board £19 (£10 child), All-Inclusive £38.
