Last year, my son and I escaped to Mallorca for a few quiet days together at the Hoposa Pollentia. It was small, very chill and right on the beachfront -more boutiquey, really. We relaxed the minute we arrived. It set the bar pretty high.
This year, we decided to go back to Mallorca, same area, but try somewhere new: the MarSenses Puerto Pollensa Hotel & Spa.
Happily, everything about MarSenses was really nice. We stayed in a Junior Suite with a pool view. I’d describe the vibe as modern, spacious and bright and the staff on reception were genuinely lovely and couldn’t do enough to help.
The food? Honestly, it was better than our five-star stay in Ibiza earlier this year at Cala San Miguel. That’s saying something. Every meal was fresh, well presented, and full of choice. We both commented that it didn’t feel like your typical buffet experience, that it felt more like eating in a restaurant.
We both slept like logs every night – the beds were soooo comfortable. And as big believers in adults-only hotels, this one ticked the box perfectly. No splashing from the pool, no noise, just peaceful mornings with coffee on the terrace and a grown-up calm to the whole place.
My biggest bugbear, though? The sun lounger situation. Towels were out on those beds before the sun had even come up, I kid you not. One morning we went to the local market early, and when we came back around lunchtime, not a single lounger was free. My son, who’s 31 and usually the most laid-back person you’ll meet, ended up going up to the room for a siesta instead because he was so p**sed off.
The general age demographic was definitely on the older side which technically includes me at 62 obvs ha! It did feel though like there were quite a few people who’d left their manners at home. Maybe too many early mornings fighting over sunbeds takes its toll!
The weather was glorious – around 30 degrees every day – it was mid July. We spent plenty of time in the pool and under the parasol, soaking up the sunshine. We didn’t stay in for any of the hotel evening entertainment; it was a bit cheesy even for us. We much preferred strolling out onto the promenade to one of the many hotels to share a bottle of rosé or two.
They say the hotel is 100 metres from the beach, but I’d put it closer to 250 metres. Not that it’s a problem because that short stroll takes you straight onto the famous Pine Walk, which is just so beautiful. Shaded by tall pine trees and stretching along the waterfront, it’s perfect for a morning wander, an evening stroll, or just soaking up the scenery.
We deliberately went at the same time as last year in July for the Correfoc festival. It’s a traditional fire festival where performers dress up as “devils” (dimonis) and run through the streets, setting off fireworks it seems with abandon! Having done it before, we knew what to expect this time, so we made sure we got a great position right at the start of the night. It’s thrilling and terrifying in equal measures withsparks flying, the crowd cheering and absolutely lots of great fun!
More than anything, the trip reminded me why I love travelling with my eldest son. No matter how old your kids are, you just can’t beat that time together chatting about work, life plans, frustrations, dreams – really all the things that get squeezed out of everyday life because we’re all so busy.
He knows me better than anyone and that’s probably because he’s basically a clone of me. We think the same way, laugh at the same daft things and somehow always manage to find humour in the things others miss. We both admit we have the best belly laughs when we’re together, the kind that leave you wiping tears from your eyes and gasping for breath until your ribs ache. It’s one of my favourite parts of spending time with him.
Making time for our kids evolves as we all grow older, but it never stops being important.
And for anyone wondering, yes – trips away can absolutely be for mums and sons, too.
-
Room choice: We stayed in a Junior Suite with a pool view and loved it. Spacious, bright and comfortable.
-
Adults-only: Perfect for peace and quiet – no noisy kids around. If you value calm mornings and restful nights, this is a big plus.
-
Sun beds: Arrive early if you want a poolside lounger, especially after 9–10 am. Towels appear very early!
-
Beach & Pine Walk: The hotel is about 250 m from the beach, which leads directly onto the beautiful Pine Walk. Perfect for morning or evening strolls.
-
Food: Breakfast and dinner buffets were excellent, better than many ‘fancier’ hotels we’ve stayed in. Plenty of choice, fresh and well presented.
-
Timing: Try to coincide your visit with the Correfoc festival in July if you enjoy a lively, traditional local celebration.
-
Entertainment: The hotel’s evening shows looked fun but a bit cheesy even for us; we preferred relaxing on our own schedule.
-
Demographic: Mostly older, English-speaking guests which is fine if you like a quieter, mature crowd, but just be aware of the vibe.
-
Another holiday booked via Jet2 – MarSenses Puerto Pollensa Hotel & Spa. When my son’s in charge of booking these are his go-to as they make everything so easy especially when flying from Leeds Bradford or Manchester airports.
I’d completely forgotten about writing this trip up so please let me know if you enjoy my travel diaries.
