When I set up Scarlettlondon.com several years ago, I never expected that it would have enabled me to experience some of the opportunities that have come my way. So when I was invited by OnTheBeach.co.uk to spend a few days on the beautiful Balearic island of Mallorca, my eyes lit up once again, excited to merge my two favourite pastimes, blogging and travelling. Armed with a bag full of cameras (I seem to take an assortment wherever I go), I headed to Gatwick to meet the bloggers, journalists and OnTheBeach team – who I’d be spending the next few days with.
I’ve decided to split my ‘travel diary’ into two different posts, as I have so many pictures to share that I didn’t want to bombard you all at once – however hopefully you’ll enjoy getting into the summery spirit – as Mallorca is the perfect sun-soaked holiday destination!
Day One
After a relatively short flight to Palma (made far quicker by the fact that Kayleigh, Em and I didn’t stop chatting the entire way), we arrived at our new home – the gorgeous BH Mallorca. Although situated in Magaluf, a destination with a notoriously ‘party fuelled’ reputation, the hotel exceeded my expectations on every level – providing very affordable but well thought out accommodation with a luxurious feel and as many activities as you could possibly dream of.
Each mini-apartment sleeps four (comfortably) and is charged on a per person basis, so if there’s only two of you – you have a huge space but aren’t charged any extra! There is an on-site over-18s water park (more on this later), luxury island beach club (complete with circular white beds in the pool) and a stage area for the bi-weekly concerts that the hotel puts on for guests and visitors. Although I’m not typically a big drinker or a huge lover of partying, I had such a fantastic time that I feel I am in the position to say that whatever your interests or ‘holiday expectations’, you’re in for a real treat here!
After a quick refresh and a little photo-shoot of my amazing room view, we headed down to a champagne and canapés reception in the restaurant. All inclusive for guests until 8pm each day, we were able to try out some of the incredible food that the hotel provides – as well as getting to know each other and breaking the ice a little. In addition to Em and Kayleigh, there were two other lifestyle bloggers on the trip – Jen and Zoe, as well as three travel journalists, Adam from Yin & Yang, Dean from National Student and Ben from The Student Pocket Guide. The group was completed by the lovely OnTheBeach team, Kiran, Emily (who did a fantastic job of creating a jam-packed itinerary for us all), Jamie and Tanasè.
After filling up on various drinks and nibbles, we headed down to the infamous Magaluf strip to people-watch and chat! When I told my family that I was going to Magaluf, it was met by laughter as anyone that knows me will know that I’m not a big fan of nightclubs and staying out late (I’m a bit of a Grandma really) however the reputation of Magaluf wasn’t as bad as the media makes it out to be. Although the clientele of the surrounding bars and clubs does vary somewhat (and you can spot several questionable outfits wherever you go), there is also a very chilled atmosphere during both the day and at night, opening my eyes to the fact that you shouldn’t close off a place before you try it – or judge a book by its cover!
Day Two
A comfortable nights sleep (I’m pretty sure the beds are memory foam mattresses – my favourite) saw an early start for a jam packed day of exploring Palma and the surrounding beaches by boat. Just a short walk away from the hotel is a stunning beach which plays host to several boat trips throughout the day. Ranging in size and duration, they are a great way to catch a tan, take some gorgeous photographs and see more of the incredible island.
We hopped on for a two-hour round trip – and couldn’t resist snapping away!
Playsuit: Boohoo (sold out, similar ones here, here and here), Glasses: Oco (link), Sandals: Boden (link)
I wore my new Boohoo Elephant Print Playsuit – which I absolutely love. I am obsessed with elephant and tribal prints at the moment – especially teamed with cute little pompoms dotted round the shorts! I also tested out my new Tom Ford Celina sunglasses from Oco Glasses – which I adore. They are a bit of a treat purchase but every summer justifies at least one of these! I teamed this with my Boden sandals – which have a really pretty stripy monochrome pattern and navy blue tassels. They’re super comfy and a bit unusual, which is why I liked them so much!
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We then jumped off the boat and had a walk up and down the beach. I spotted a gorgeous beach club on the way – which definitely looked up my street!
After a quick refresh, where I popped on my bikini and my South Beach Crochet White two-piece (amazing if you want to cover up a bit, but still want enough skin on show to tan) – we headed to a quiet beach we’d spotted while on the boat trip for a traditional Spanish feast – Tapas, Sangria and Paella! I even tried Calamari – after Em assured me it was delicious!
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Eager to make the most of the beautiful background (as most bloggers will relate to), we strolled along the beach, climbed the rocks and struck our best poses!
It was so lovely to chill, chat and relax as we lapped up the beautiful surroundings. Although we were in a gorgeous setting, the afternoon was made even better by the amazing company – by this point, we felt as though we’d known each other for years!
Perhaps the most exciting part of the day for me however, was exploring the beautiful city of Palma by foot – made iconic by the statuesque and very grand cathedral in the centre which towers over all the other buildings! We enjoyed getting lost in the winding, whirling streets – although I was pleased to have worn sensible footwear as there is predominantly cobbled tiles.
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Dress: Boden (link), Shoes: Asos (link)
I wore this comfortable t-shirt dress from Boden to wander round, feeling a little delicate from all the sun and wanting something quite easy to wear but pretty at the same time. I’ve actually got quite a few items from Boden this summer for my seasonal wardrobe update, they have some fantastic pieces! I really like the contrasting grey and orange colours and think they work really well together for a summer look – plus the material is super soft and sympathetic to any potential sunburn (guilty!).
Playsuit: Ted Baker (sold out, similar here), Shoes: Missguided (link)
Dinner was hosted by the breathtakingly beautiful Balneario Illetas restaurant, with views I never thought I’d enjoy in such a private and incredible location. Decked out with white chairs and tables, it looked like the kind of place the Kardashians’ would be seen dining at (sorry if you don’t appreciate the reference – but it was luxury on another level).
We changed our attire once again, something a little more formal to match the evenings’ stunning surroundings. I slipped into my favourite Ted Baker print playsuit and popped on my new Missguided Tassel Heels, which I am in love with (and try and wear at any given occasion).
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The food at the restaurant kept up with view – incredible! I opted for the Salmon Teriyaki and vegetables – although I was eying up some of the other mains, huge marinated monkfish and chicken skewers which towered over the other dishes on the table.
We wiled away the next few hours sharing stories and chatting – an amazing day in a beautiful location!
I think the area of Magaluf is often overlooked, as although there are nightclubs and bars should that take your fancy, there are also beautiful stretches of sandy white beaches, traditional tapas, luxurious restaurants and activities to suit all tastes. Palma is just a short drive away (although you could stay here if you want to get away from the clubbing crowds). We did venture out in the evening of day two to experience the nightlife and I have to say – I honestly had a brilliant time! Despite the alcohol convincing me that I was on my own version of Strictly Come Dancing (and nursing a horrible hangover the next day – in the sun, which wasn’t much fun), it was really nice to let my hair down a bit!
I’ll be posting lots more pictures from the next two days on my blog soon! I hope you enjoyed coming along with me and I hope to see you for part two! I’d love to know if you’ve ever been to Palma, Mallorca or Magaluf – and hear your thoughts too?
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This trip was compensated by On The Beach, however as with all of my reviews – this does not affect my opinions in any way. I will always be honest about my experiences and if there’s anything I didn’t enjoy, you’ll be the first to know!
Just as a little bit of background, On The Beach is a leading holiday specialist, providing amazing deals for over one million passengers every year – Majorca being just one of hundreds of incredible destinations! Their website, which I’ve used myself is super easy to navigate and allows you to package up your perfect holiday, often at a fraction of the cost as if you’d booked it via other individual companies. If you’re in the market for a fantastic holiday but want to stay in budget – I’d definitely recommend taking a look at their website – there are some very tempting offers!
