Sean C
abbaa6e13e
- Flights MAN→PMI: £301-610 verified (cheapest direct £301) - Car hire (10 days): £483+ verified (much higher than estimated) - Updated budget calculations with verified prices - No-car option now recommended for budget (£1,651 total)
9.7 KiB
9.7 KiB
Option 2: Mallorca (Majorca), Spain 🇪🇸
Why Choose This?
✅ Villa packages including flights - great value
✅ Guaranteed private pool with most villas
✅ Short flight (2h 30m)
✅ Beautiful beaches - calas (coves) with clear water
✅ Very child-friendly - Spanish love kids
✅ Great for exploring - mountains, caves, trains
✅ Family restaurants everywhere
Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Destination | Mallorca (Majorca), Balearic Islands, Spain |
| Airport | Palma de Mallorca (PMI) |
| Flight from Manchester | 2h 30m direct |
| Airlines | Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI |
| Car Hire | Useful but not essential |
| Best bases | Pollensa, Alcúdia, Cala d'Or, Sóller |
Flight Options (Manchester → Palma)
Airlines & Typical Prices (July 2026) ✅ VERIFIED 16 March 2026
| Airline | Typical Price (return, family of 3) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest direct | £301 | Various airlines |
| Direct options | £301-610 | easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Vueling |
| Best value | £301-385 | Direct, good times |
Verified Cost (18-28 July 2026, family of 3): £301-610
Source: Kayak UK - direct search 16 March 2026
Actual Prices Found:
- £301, £312, £334, £347, £362, £383, £384, £385 (cheapest direct options)
- £440, £470, £483, £505, £555, £558, £610 (Jet2, TUI options)
Flight Times:
- Duration: 2h 30m direct
- Multiple daily flights in summer
Car Hire (Palma Airport) ✅ VERIFIED 16 March 2026
Prices (10 days, 18-28 July 2026)
| Car Type | Price (10 days) | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Small/Economy | £483+ | Various (Hertz, etc.) |
| Medium | £656+ | Various |
| Large | £1,068+ | Various |
| SUV | £673+ | Various |
Verified Cost (10 days): £483-673+ depending on car type
Source: Kayak UK - direct search 16 March 2026
Note: Prices are higher in peak season. Car is USEFUL but not essential if staying in one place with nearby amenities.
Accommodation: The Villa Package Option
Why Villas Work Well Here
Mallorca has a HUGE villa market with many operators offering packages including flights + villa + car.
Sample Package Deals (Found Online)
Villa Select Example:
- 3-bed villa, private pool
- Flights from Manchester included
- 7 nights
- Price: £734-965 total (for villa, not per person!)
Source: villaselect.com (April 2026 prices shown - July will be higher)
Estimated Villa Costs (10 nights, July)
| Option | Price Range | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bed villa + pool | £1,000-1,400 | Accommodation only |
| 2-bed villa package | £1,200-1,800 | Flights + villa |
| 3-bed villa package | £1,400-2,200 | Flights + villa + car |
Estimated: £1,400-1,800 for 10 nights including flights
Alternative: Airbnb Apartments with Pools
Option A: Apartment with Shared Pool
| Location | Price (10 nights) | Pool | Beach Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcúdia | £600-900 | Shared | 5-10 min walk |
| Cala d'Or | £700-1,000 | Shared | 5-15 min walk |
| Pollensa | £650-950 | Shared | 2-3 km (need car) |
Option B: Apartment with Private Pool
| Location | Price (10 nights) | Pool | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcúdia area | £900-1,300 | Private | Near beaches |
| Cala Ratjada | £950-1,400 | Private | Northeast coast |
| Sóller valley | £850-1,200 | Private | Mountain setting |
Budget Breakdown (10 nights)
Option A: Villa Package (Flights Included)
| Item | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Villa package (flights + villa + private pool) | £1,600 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Car hire (if not included) | £483+ | ✅ Verified |
| Food (self-catering) | £350 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Activities | £200 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| TOTAL | £2,633+ | ⚠️ Over budget |
Option B: Self-Booked (Budget) ✅ UPDATED WITH VERIFIED PRICES
| Item | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (cheapest direct) | £301 | ✅ Verified (Kayak) |
| Car hire (small) | £483 | ✅ Verified (Kayak) |
| Apartment (shared pool, 10 nights) | £700 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Food (self-catering) | £300 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Activities | £150 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| TOTAL | £1,934 | ✅ Under budget! |
Note: Car hire is quite expensive in July - consider if you really need one.
Option C: No Car (Stay in Resort Area)
| Item | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (cheapest direct) | £301 | ✅ Verified |
| Apartment (shared pool, walk to beach) | £800 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Food (self-catering) | £300 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Activities + local taxis | £250 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| TOTAL | £1,651 | ✅ Well under budget! |
Option D: 7 Nights Villa Package
| Item | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Villa package (7 nights, flights + villa) | £1,200 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Car hire (7 days) | £350 | ⚠️ Estimate (prorated) |
| Food | £250 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| Activities | £150 | ⚠️ Estimate |
| TOTAL | £1,950 | ✅ Under budget with private pool! |
Child-Friendly Activities (Age 6)
Beaches (Calas)
| Beach | Why It's Special | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cala Figuera | Crystal clear water, small | Near Santanyí |
| Cala Llombards | Safe, sandy, family-friendly | South coast |
| Cala Agulla | Beautiful, good for snorkelling | Near Cala Ratjada |
| Playa de Muro | Long sandy beach, shallow | Alcúdia area |
| Cala Millor | Resort beach, all facilities | East coast |
Attractions
| Attraction | What It Is | Cost (family) |
|---|---|---|
| Western Water Park | Water park, shows | €90-110 (£75-95) |
| Aqualand El Arenal | Large water park | €85-100 (£70-85) |
| Palma Aquarium | Huge aquarium | €70-90 (£60-75) |
| Caves of Drach | Underground caves + boat | €50-65 (£42-55) |
| Vintage Train (Sóller) | Beautiful train journey | €60-80 (£50-65) |
| Marineland | Dolphins, sea lions | €75-95 (£65-80) |
Free Activities
- Beach days
- Pool time at villa
- Exploring villages
- Mountain walks (easy ones)
- Markets (Santanyí, Pollensa)
Vegetarian Food
Self-Catering
Supermarkets:
- Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi, Eroski
- Fresh produce excellent
- Many towns have daily markets
Vegetarian Spanish Dishes
- Tortilla española (Spanish omelette - no meat)
- Gazpacho (cold tomato soup)
- Pimientos de Padrón (fried peppers)
- Ensalada mixta (mixed salad)
- Paella vegetariana (vegetarian paella - ask!)
- Queso Mahón (local cheese)
Restaurants
- Most restaurants have vegetarian options
- Look for "plato vegetariano"
- Pizza/pasta everywhere
- Tapas - many vegetarian options
Sample 7-Day Itinerary (Villa Package)
Day 1: Arrival
- Morning: Fly Manchester → Palma (2h 30m)
- Afternoon: Pick up hire car, drive to villa (30-60 min)
- Evening: Explore local area, supermarket, pool time
Day 2: Beach Day
- Morning: Nearest cala (cove beach)
- Afternoon: Beach play, swimming, sandcastles
- Evening: Local village, dinner out
Day 3: Water Park
- Morning: Western Water Park or Aqualand
- Afternoon: More slides, shows
- Evening: Relax at villa, BBQ
Day 4: Explore
- Morning: Vintage train Palma → Sóller (beautiful)
- Afternoon: Sóller town, tram to port
- Evening: Return, dinner at villa
Day 5: Caves & Coast
- Morning: Caves of Drach (Porto Cristo)
- Afternoon: Nearby beach
- Evening: Local restaurant
Day 6: Beach Day
- Morning: Another cala (different area)
- Afternoon: Beach, snorkelling
- Evening: Farewell meal out
Day 7: Departure
- Morning: Final pool dip, pack
- Afternoon: Drive to Palma airport, fly home
When to Book
| Item | When to Book |
|---|---|
| Villa packages | 4-6 months ahead (best selection) |
| Flights | 3-4 months ahead |
| Car hire | 2-3 months ahead |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✅ Guaranteed private pool with villas
- ✅ Short flight
- ✅ Beautiful beaches (calas)
- ✅ Great for families
- ✅ Lots to explore
- ✅ Good package deals
Cons
- July is VERY busy - book early
- Some areas very touristy
- Car needed for best beaches
- Over £2,000 for 10 nights with private pool
My Verdict
Best for a guaranteed private pool experience - but car hire is expensive.
If you want your own pool, Mallorca villas are the way to go. You'll need to do 7 nights instead of 10 to stay under £2,000, but you'll have a beautiful base with your own pool.
Budget-friendly option: 10 nights with shared pool apartment + NO car = £1,651 ✅
Note: Car hire in July is surprisingly expensive (£483+ for 10 days). Consider staying in a walkable area instead.
Pricing Status (Browser Verified - 16 March 2026)
| Item | Estimated | Actual | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights MAN→PMI | £250-400 | £301-610 | ✅ kayak.co.uk direct search (18-28 Jul 2026) |
| Car Hire (10 days, small) | £180-280 | £483+ | ✅ kayak.co.uk (Hertz, etc.) |
| Apartment (10 nights, shared pool) | £600-1,000 | £700-1,000 | ⚠️ Estimate - needs verification |
| Villa package (7 nights) | £1,200 | £1,200 | ⚠️ Estimate - needs verification |
Key Findings:
- Flights cheaper than expected - £301 cheapest direct option
- Car hire MUCH more expensive - £483+ for 10 days (vs £180-280 estimated)
- Without car is the budget winner - saves ~£500
Created: 15 March 2026
Prices verified where marked, otherwise estimates
All estimates clearly marked with ⚠️