Six Travel Writers Walked into a Bar in Mallorca...
Of course, this means that food pictures were taken. But we also discovered the secret behind Mallorca's powerful draw.
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Coming to you this week fresh off the heels of a press trip to Mallorca, Spain. I was there with a fabulous leader from the Tourist Office of Spain (Chicago Office) and 5 fellow writers/podcasters.
Our job?
We were there to discover Mallorca and do a deep dive into all the reasons people from around the world should visit this paradise.
Of course, there’s the obvious pull of the climate… after all, they say Mallorca is “the place where the sun lives all year round.” The fabulous climate brings outdoor fun in many forms - beaches, golf, cycling, hiking, beach yoga, fishing, boating… and so much more. Plus there’s delicious food and wine, cultural activities, art, history, and festivals. The list could go on and on.
Our group was happy to take on the task of experiencing some of Mallorca’s many attractions.
Highlights of our trip included the breathtaking Cathedral of Mallorca (be sure to climb to the top for the city views), Alfabia Gardens (Mallorca’s version of the gardens of the Alhambra), charming villages of Sóller and Deià, family run hotels like the Son Sant Jordi, and art exhibitions and festivals in unexpected places.
An art exhibition in the Convent of Sant Domingo - located in the village of Pollença.
We also got adventurous and gave Salty Cycling a try (i.e. Peloton meets the Mediterranean), played great golf courses like Golf Arabella and Golf Alcanada, and had more adventures that I’ll tell you about in future issues.
And the food? It was beyond pic worthy. Mallorcan cuisine is not only delicious, each creation is a work of art.
As you can see… six days exploring Mallorca was not a bad gig. It was amazing, with so much to offer for recreation and relaxation.
After just one day, it was obvious that Mallorca is a beautiful paradise.
That alone is a draw.
But, in addition to the warm temps and glorious natural surroundings…
the people of Mallorca are warm, beyond measure.
And the magical thing about warm people is that you feel they are genuinely happy to see you. Warm people make us feel at home. We can sense that their goal is to make our experience as fabulous as possible.
And feeling at home away from home happens to be What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week:
My time in Mallorca made me realize something about travel and life experiences in general.
Incredible experiences become memorable when they’re spent with amazing people.
It’s their passion and warmth, and our shared moments of humanity that add to the richness of any experience.
In the case of Mallorca, I realized it’s the warmth of its people that makes the island truly beautiful.
And finding that warmth - whether at a destination or through the people you’re traveling with - is the secret to a trip that feels less like you’re visiting a place, and more like finding a home away from home.
And that’s my travel wish for all of you… to discover the people who make you feel like you’re welcome wherever you go.
With that, I’m leaving you with a special feature, Tips from Travel Experts. Midway through trip, it dawned on me that my new friends were a wealth of travel info, so I gathered a few of their tips to share here. Plus, be sure to check out their links and discover some cool new podcasts and blogs!
Enjoy!
TIPS FROM TRAVEL EXPERTS
Tip One: WHEN TO SLEEP ON THE PLANE
Here’s how podcaster and travel writer Chris Christensen of Amateur Traveler handles the proverbial “to sleep or not to sleep question?” “First, I set my watch to my destination as soon as I get on the plane. That way my watch and body stay in sync. Then, I always sleep 1/3 of the time on the way home, based on my total travel time.”
Tip Two: ADJUSTING TO A NEW TIME ZONE AND HOW TO BEAT JET LAG
Patricia Winn is the Press & PR Manager at the Tourist Office of Spain in Chicago (and was our amazing trip leader). Patricia has a routine for acclimating to a new time zone and beating jet lag. Patricia says, “I bring a special travel clock when I travel, and I set the clock ahead of time so that when I get to my destination, it’s showing the correct time. That way - I never have to question what time it is - it’s already set. Also, I try to rest on flights even if I’m just closing my eyes. I also avoid alcohol, try to stay hydrated by drinking water and I use hydration wipes to freshen up on the plane. Another tip - take along lavender sachets - there’s something about smelling lavender that makes me feel invigorated after a long flight.”
Tip Three: THE TRICK TO KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR PASSPORT
Max Hartshorne of GoNOMAD has one golden rule he swears by when he travels internationally. “I always put my passport in the same place - on every single trip. That way I never have to scramble to find it - I know exactly where it will be.”
Tip Four: PACKING ADVICE FOR ORGANIZED TRAVEL
Courtney Drake - McDonough of Real Food Traveler won’t pack without packing cubes. Courtney says, “I always use packing cubes - I roll my clothes within them, and then put the cubes in the hotel drawer when I arrive. It keeps my clothes neater and more organized, makes it easier to find outfits, and easier to pack when it’s time to go home.”
Tip Five: HOW TO GET DEALS ON TRAVEL
Here’s a tip from Paul Heney (@paulheney on Instagram), who covers family and LGBTQ travel, “When looking for flights for my family where I have to book four tickets, I use Google flights first and plug in multiple airports for both departure or arrival. To save money, we’re willing drive a couple of hours or more if necessary.”
An example of Paul’s resourcefulness:
“Once, we were planning a Kauai trip from our hometown of Cleveland. We couldn’t find trips from any airports for under $1300 each. And, $5200 in airfares was about to tank the idea of the trip at all. Then on a lark, I checked airports even further away and found Toronto to Kauai flights for $498 each. While I didn’t want to drive four hours to and from Toronto, I was willing to for $3200! We still joke about the time we had to take our passports to go to Hawaii!”
Tip Six: FINDING GREAT SPOTS TO EAT
Kristin Henning of Travel Past 50 is full of tips (here’s a great post with 50!), but one she told me about picking a spot to eat really stood out, “To find great restaurants, ask a local - not the hotel concierge - where they eat. Or, if you’re at the tourist office, ask them to circle a good street with great restaurants on the tourist map.”
Travel Tip 7: ALWAYS PACK SNACKS!
Bonus Tip! My seatmate on the way home was a regular traveler to Spain who recently relocated to Mallorca. Gabby says, “Always bring travel snacks… if you’re ever stuck on the runway without snacks, it can be a long time before dinner is served. This is good, especially if you have any dietary restrictions. Planes don’t always have gluten free or vegan snacks.” Along those lines, Gabby added, “If you need a special meal like gluten free, vegan, etc, check on the airline website for instructions on how to request one. Usually they require you to order a special meal 24 hours in advance.”
My tip? Know your travel style and honor it.
Before this trip, I was set on going carry-on only. However, as I prepared my clothes (I was planning to golf, work out, and do daily activities), I realized carry on only was not possible for me. So, I chose my trusty giant suitcase and brought all the clothes I needed and was able to enjoy my activities stress-free.
And that, is where I’m going to leave you. My good friend Jet Lag just rang the doorbell. Time for a nap.I hope you learned some tricks for your next adventure.
Hasta luego,
Abbey