Not everywhere in Spain is a bargain!... A celebratory trip to Cala D'or
26/04/23 - 29/04/23
From online lectures throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, to submitting my very own travel magazine, my three years studying as a student journalist is finally complete! Of course, there was only one way to celebrate such an achievement and that was a spontaneous few nights away on the tranquil south-east coastal town of Cala D'or.
After receiving our student loans, myself and Jess decided to browse the internet for a last minute bargain for the following week to spend a few stress free days in the sun. Although my vote was for a not-so-classy weekend in Benidorm, Jess was swaying towards a relaxing break in Cyprus. After a 20-minute debate, we settled on returning to Mallorca for a few days. We booked flights, transfers and a room with breakfast included for just £220 with EasyJet, a deal we couldn't really turn our nose up at!
After a long diverted drive to Luton airport, a not so smooth sailing experience in Frankie and Bennys and a quick nap on the plane, we had arrived in Palma. The initial hit of foreign heat and the complete blissfulness of knowing we had no more deadlines to worry about, our holiday had officially began.
Where we stayed
Sentido Fido Tucan, an adults only hotel situated in the centre of Cala D'or, just a 2 minute walk from the crystal blue waters beyond Cala Gran beach. With a large outdoor pool, surrounded by loungers, snack stands and a bar, the hotel greeted us with a drink at the door and checked us into the hotel 4 hours early. As we had anticipated waiting around to check-in, we didn't want to waste the new found time we had to spend, so after dumping our luggage, we jumped straight into our bikinis and took to the balcony for a 10-minute refresh before heading to the pool to soak up the first of the Spanish sun. As our room had a pool view, we had our eyes on the perfect two loungers and headed straight down to claim our spot for the rest of the morning...the perfect spot for people watching. With a €7.50 tequila sunrise in one hand, and factor 30 in the other, we did not plan to waste a minute of what the stunning hotel had to offer.
2 hours spent crisping in the sun and we were about ready for lunch, I threw on some shorts and a top and we headed for Cala Gran beach for a sea view snack, noted at this point we were happily unaware of the disaster we were about to encounter with our meal. Cala Petita resided on to the right of the beach, with gorgeous views and a lively atmosphere, how could we not dine in?
Cala Petita - A stunning bar/restaurant with clear views of the ocean beyond you could stare at all day, though you most certainly pay for its location. €5 for a bottle of corona beer and €27 for a 'meat platter'... a £2 Tesco pack of ham, some mini olives, mini breadsticks and a wedge of cheese. Following a long morning of traveling and sun bathing, we had been looking forward to a fresh lunch, though what we received was more of a snack to tied us over for 20 minutes.
Nothing a quick trip to the spa couldn't solve, we picked up a few essentials, and by that I mean lays, milka and vodka, and headed back to the hotel to freshen up and relax for a while before getting ready for an early dinner and a few cocktails.
We visited Sivinia Food, S.L. for happy hour cocktails (the cheapest place for drinks we found around the area), we enjoyed strawberry daiquiris and Pina coladas before crossing the main strip to restaurant Can Trompe for a giant portion of mixed paella and a side of fries. The staff were lovely and the food was equally as nice, though it did not compare to the paella we had enjoyed at Puerto Pollensa last year. We paid €20 each for the meal and €10 for cocktails to accompany it, a delicious traditional meal in the heart of the town. A little visitor also came to visit!
Once our meal was polished off, we decided to go back to the hotel for an early night and enjoy the entertainment. To paint the scene * sat on a balcony with 80's music being performed live one floor below, a few drinks in hand and a packet of BBQ lays to finish the night off right*. After a couple of hours, we jumped in bed slept through until it was time for our buffet breakfast. I helped myself to a healthy serving of scrambled eggs, beans, chorizo and a chocolate churro, with an orange juice to wash it down. Filled with good food, we made ourselves presentable and headed into the centre to browse a few shops and make a plan for the day.
The streets are lined with quaint boutiques and family ran cafes and each souvineer store had their own special touch, the perfect centre for an amble in the heat. As the sun grew ever hotter, we decided it was time to grab an ice cream and lay on the beach for a few hours. Although I like to consider myself well travelled for my age, I made a rookie error, a nap in the sun with no sun cream! A very red hour later, we firmed the brisk sea and went for a dip. Even though the sky was clear and the sun was beaming, the Mediterranean Sea had other ideas, whilst Jess managed to acclimatise, I swiftly went back to tanning to dry off.
Revived and refreshed it was time to get ready for the second night in Cala D'or! If you are going to take anything away from this article, it should be this recommendation... Gusto. An all you can eat tapas until 7pm, 2 dishes per person per round for €20 each. Out of everywhere we tried during our time in Spain, it was by far the nicest food and the most accommodating staff. The alcohol was on point and every dish we tried was worth each penny spent, would 1000% return back if we ever visit again.
We stopped at Aloha Cocktail bar for a blue lagoon each, and then headed to Restaurant Bar Lola for a few beers...too many. The bar was lively and filled with primarily British tourists, with old time classics blaring and drinks flowing, it was definitely a night for the memories. At €4 per Estrella, we wondered back to the hotel for an early morning on the balcony before bed.
For our final day on the island,
we took a wonder down to the Marina and had a light bit of lunch at The Wave, a British owned cafe along the water front. I enjoyed a club sandwich and crisps with a chocolate milkshake and a sprite for €22, well worth the money. The owners were friendly and the food was just what we needed after the walk down in the heat. The marina is surrounded with many bars and restaurants, with boats bobbing on the blue waters and hotels overlooking on the opposite side.
Full from lunch, we made the 20 minute walk to Cala Ferrera beach where we had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon, unfortunately what we didn't plan for was the fact we forgot beach towels and sun cream! So, we made the walk back to our hotel, grabbed our towels and decided to reside on Cala Gran beach instead. We enjoyed a quick nap and and watched the world go by as the sun began to sink into the ocean. As 50 shades of orange over ran the sky, we began to get ready for our last night away.
For dinner, we dined at La Fontanella Restaurant, we both indulged in bruschetta, followed by seafood pasta and chips, accompanied by another daiquiri! Though the pasta was good, for €17, it did not have a patch on the seafood tagliatelle we tasted in Lake Como, but as far as our meals went whilst we were out there, it was tasty and enjoyable. Once we finished our meals, we grabbed a few drinks at Kalypsotuttifrutti cocktail bar. The bar had a jungle theme, with real parrots welcoming their guests and original cocktails arriving in quirky volcanos, it had a hustling atmosphere and was the perfect end to our evening.
Overall, I would definitely recommend a trip to Cala D'or, but if you are traveling on a budget then I would recommend booking all inclusive in advance, or staying for minimal nights as the food and drinks come with a not-so-Spanish price tag.
Comments