I flew to Palma de Mallorca with my two-year-old nephew – here’s everything we did in 7 days!
Destinations
Guest post by an auntie who survived (and loved!) a summer holiday with her toddler nephew.
If you’ve ever attempted to holiday with young children, you’ll know there’s a fine line between sun-soaked bliss and full-blown chaos. So when my family decided to spend a week in Palma de Mallorca with a two-year-old toddler, we knew two things: 1) we needed sunshine, and 2) we needed it to be easy from the get-go.
That’s why we flew with easyJet from London Southend Airport — and let me tell you, it was everything we could’ve asked for… and more.
From stress-free parking to Fast Track through security with the pram (and all the snacks), London Southend made the journey feel like part of the holiday; it’s easy, speedy and family-friendly all at the same time.
We stopped for lunch in The Navigator Pub before boarding our 1:35pm easyJet flight and, two hours later, touched down in Palma at 4:30pm local time. A short walk through Arrivals and we collected our bags and headed straight to the car rental kiosk (booked in advance).
After a bit of faff trying to find the car (tip: head out any exit and walk directly over the road to the multi-storey car park), we were off! We’d booked a villa in Inca through Airbnb, about a 30-minute drive away, which made for a great central base to explore the island.
Here’s how we spent a SENsational seven days in Mallorca.
Day 1: Travel day!
Complete with picking up a map of the island at Palma Airport, connecting to the villa’s Wi-Fi immediately upon arrival, pizza in the oven for tea, and logging the telly into Disney+. All essential, of course.
Day 2: Cala d’Or beach day
We kicked things off with a drive to Cala d’Or — a postcard-perfect beach resort on the eastern coast (around 1 hour 20 mins from Inca). With five small beaches to choose from, soft golden sand and shallow turquoise waters, it was ideal for paddling, digging, and — of course — plenty of ice cream breaks. We wandered down to Playa Cala Gran (‘playa’ meaning ‘beach’ in Spanish) after having lunch in the main town at Euphoria Gastro Lounge Bar & Breakfast.
Cala d’Or definitely had the vibe of somewhere that came to life at night; however, in the day, the beaches were aplenty, the shops were open and the water was crystal clear. A lifeguard on the beach added to the reassurances of having a little one playing in the water, whilst the staff at lunch made every effort to keep Noah occupied and smiling.
Day 3: Mountain adventure to Sa Calobra
Ready for adventure, we hit the road through the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. It’s a twisty, scenic drive (hello, car snacks), climbing over 700 metres towards Puig Major. Plenty of cyclists heading up and down, so make sure you’re driving with care and paying attention to the roads.
We stopped off halfway for photos and fresh air before continuing for another 30 minutes until we came to the end of the road – literally. Not being able to drive any further, we parked up and walked a short way down to the shore (pram recommended). As it turns out, we’d accidentally discovered Port de Sa Calobra beach!
With a mixture of restaurants right on the shoreline – some even positioned in the water, you’ve gotta see it to believe it – we used this as the perfect excuse for some lunch when the heavens decided to open. Shortly after, we hopped back in the car to make the return journey home.
Day 4: Market day in Alcudia & Pollenca
On Tuesday, we explored the cobbled streets of Alcudia Old Town — completely pedestrianised and toddler-friendly. Between the market stalls, handmade trinkets and shaded cafes, it was a dreamy morning. Naturally, gelato and ice cream were involved.
In the afternoon, we drove 15 minutes north to Port de Pollenca for a seaside lunch, then made a final stop in Pollenca Old Town before heading back to Inca. If you’ve ever been to Pollenca Old Town, you’ll know about the chapel at the top of that 365-step-hill. And no, we did not attempt it! If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, Google ‘Calvary Chapel steps’. There’s one step for every day of the year, which should tell you all you need to know…
Day 5: Morning swim and lighthouse views
We started the day at Playa de Muro — think soft sand and peaceful vibes (early mornings are best to avoid the afternoon crowds and high temperatures). Sandcastles were made. Peace was (briefly) achieved.
Then we dusted ourselves off and drove up to the Punta de Capdepera lighthouse, followed by a grazed two-year-old knee and a wander around charming Arta town — well worth the drive for a quieter slice of island life.
Sidenote! We input ‘Capdepera’ into the car SatNav – and whilst we did eventually make it to the lighthouse, we did get a bit lost at first. Capdepera, as it turns out, is a separate small municipality about 10-mins away… It is GORGEOUS. A walled hillside town complete with market stalls, flags, and its own castle.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find anywhere to park and drove in and out within minutes and, regrettably, I didn’t take any snaps from the car. But if you do get the chance to stop off, I definitely recommend.
Feeling inspired?
Day 6: Hidden gems of Deia & Valldemossa
Possibly our favourite day! Having been south to Cala d’Or, north to Alcudia and east to Arta, it made sense that we explored the west side of the island. After a quick morning Google, we jumped in the car and took the scenic route to Deia via Valldemossa – about a 40-minute journey – where the tree-lined streets felt straight out of a fairytale. Views over the mountains were a classic jaw-drop moment, and then, out of nowhere, the coastal village of Deia emerges.
Truth be told, our initial attempt at finding parking was a bit of a nightmare. But as luck would have it, we found a hidden car park (down a long, windy road that we thought would never end! what3words ///gallantly.chandelier.superstars) and a pathway to a secret rocky cove, Cala de Deia, with two tiny restaurants — secluded, stunning, and surprisingly kid-friendly. A real highlight.
Day 7: Adiós, Palma
We packed up, said goodbye to our villa, and spent our final day on a slow drive down through the mountains en route back to Palma itself, before heading to the airport for a 6.40pm easyJet flight back to the UK.
Here’s our route: Depart Inca 10am > Esporles, 30 minutes. Esporles > Banyalbufar, 18 minutes. Bayalbufar > Port d’Andratx, 50 minutes (we skipped over the main town, it wasn’t particularly inspiring on first glance) Here, we parked up on the outskirts of the town and strolled along the port admiring boats, hunting for a toilet, and – surprise, surprise – somewhere to eat for lunch. Port d’Andratx > Peguera, 15 minutes. Peguera > Palma, 45 minutes.
Total drive time: 2hrs 40 minutes, arriving at Palma for 4pm after spending a couple of hours in Port d’Andratx.
Platja Palmira in Peguera exuded a ‘fly and flop’ feel, particularly for people looking to spend a week on the beach, eating at a different restaurant every night, and wanting to enjoy plenty of titbit shopping. ‘Resortsville’, for sure.
Thanks to London Southend, our return journey was just as smooth — no long queues upon arrival, no fluster at passport control, just a family of happy travellers… and a very overtired two-year-old!
Palma de Mallorca was the perfect mix of family fun and grown-up escapism — and flying from London Southend Airport made it all feel that bit more relaxed. So if you’re planning a family getaway, take it from us: start with #SENsational. Book with easyJet. You won’t regret it.
Flew from London Southend Airport in May 2025#FlyLondonSouthend #EasySpeedyFriendly
Exclusive offers and exciting route updates fly straight to your inbox with London Southend Airport’s community newsletter. Sign up here.