Trip from Abu Dhabi to Palma de Mallorca
Why Mallorca?
I love living in the UAE, it has beautiful beaches and it feels like I am always on vacation while living here. But, during the summer it is too hot outdoors, even the sea water feels like a jacuzzi.
As my partner was away for work I decided there is no better plan than go and meet him, have a little summer escape to Europe and discover and explore Mallorca for a few days with him and fall in love again. Nothing better than a island vacation to rekindle the flame.
Some History about Mallorca, a Spanish gem
Mallorca looks so tiny on the map! But it is in fact the biggest island from the Spanish Balearic Islands. According to Historians the first settlers arrived in Mallorca around 1300 BC. Since then several people have occupied the island, from Romans, Byzantines, Moors and tribes from the North of Africa. It was only in 1229 AC that the Catalan King Jaume I conquered the island, initiating the political dominion of the Spanish Kingdom (therein called Kingdom of Castilla and Kingdom of Aragon).
How to get to Mallorca, from Abu Dhabi
Flying from Abu Dhabi, stopover in Barcelona
Unfortunately, there is no direct flight from Abu Dhabi or Dubai to Mallorca. Ideally you can find flights with one stopover. My best suggestions are:
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Barcelona (BCN) – Palma de Mallorca (PMI): I consider this to be the best option because there are frequent flights with early departures from/to BCN to/from PMI. This means more options if you prefer a longer connection to avoid missing your flight, which by the way is only about 1h to/from Mallorca. This is what I did and worked perfectly for me.
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Zurich (ZRH) – Palma de Mallorca (PMI): this is the longest flight to/from PMI, about 2h, and Zurich airport also has higher fees and taxes when compared to BCN Airport which might increase the cost of your ticket.
Find your flights, here 👇
Please note, this information is only valid at the time of this publication and for accurate information on the best deals on flights you should verify your preferred airlines or other travel search engines. I leave you here with a few of my favourite platforms:
- Google Flights
- Website: https://www.google.com/flights
- Why Use It: Excellent for comparing prices across different airlines, finding the best dates to fly, and exploring destinations based on budget.
- Skyscanner
- Website: https://www.skyscanner.com/
- Why Use It: Great for flexible travel dates and ‘Everywhere’ feature, which helps you find the cheapest flights to any destination.
- Expedia
- Website: https://www.expedia.com/
- Why Use It: Offers package deals that combine flights and hotels, which can sometimes be cheaper than booking separately.
- Kayak
- Website: https://www.kayak.com/
- Why Use It: Excellent for comparing prices across multiple airlines and travel sites, with useful features like Price Alerts.
- TripAdvisor
- Website: https://www.tripadvisor.com/
- Why Use It: Ideal for planning a trip as it includes reviews of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. You can also find package deals and book flights.
- Momondo
- Website: https://www.momondo.com/
- Why Use It: Offers meta-search capabilities similar to Kayak and Skyscanner, plus a wide selection of travel deals and hotel options.
- Booking.com
- Website: https://www.booking.com/
- Why Use It: World’s largest travel e-commerce company, specializing in booking hotels and accommodations, with the option to book flights and package deals.
- Airfarewatchdog
- Website: https://www.airfarewatchdog.com/
- Why Use It: Specializes in finding error fares and sales, and includes tools for tracking price drops.
- Kiwi.com
- Website: https://www.kiwi.com/
- Why Use It: Innovative platform for finding the cheapest routes and combinations, even if that means using different airlines for each leg.
How to move around Mallorca
Renting a Car in Mallorca: From Anxiety to Practical Relief
At first, I was certain that relying on public transportation would be the simplest and cheapest option. I planned to book bus tickets through www.tib.org (Mallorca’s transport site) or tap my phone/credit card—methods I’d grown accustomed to as a traveler.
But doubts crept in when I realized the stakes: my early return flight to Abu Dhabi could mean missing the bus would mean missing the plane. After weighing the pros and cons, I reluctantly chose to rent a car. A surprising decision even for me, given how nerve-wracking I find driving in unfamiliar places.
Why I Chose the Car Over the Bus
My fears weren’t unfounded. I’d rented cars before in Portugal and the UAE, but Mallorca’s winding roads and tight schedules felt like a gamble. However, practicality won out. After mapping routes on www.tib.org and https://www.viamichelin.com/routes, I realised a 10-minute drive could easily stretch into an hour-long bus trip. Considering potential delays (missing a bus, waiting for the next one), and time was something we could afford to waste, as we only had about a week together. To confirm the financial logic, I compared costs:
- Public transport: Online tickets (40% cheaper than onboard purchases) still added up for multiple trips.
- Car rental: A 5-day rental with OK Mobility cost us just $58, plus fuel (estimated via https://www.viamichelin.com/routes), which paled in comparison to the hours saved.
The Rental Experience: Simplicity with Precaution
I’ll admit. I chose OK Mobility out of familiarity. We’d used them in Lisbon just a month earlier, and their seamless process (cheap prices, online booking, quick pickup at arrivals, and a Volkswagen T-ROC ready in less 20 minutes) won me over. But I’ve learned not to trust rental companies blindly. Their profit model often hinges on charging for minor damages they never fix, a frustrating business tactic if you are the customer paying for it.
If you would like to find the best deal with OK Mobility, click in the link OK Mobility. I earn a small commission on purchases made through my links, but at no additional cost to you. Honestly, I would recommend them anyway—they’re a go-to choice for anyone seeking affordable and hassle-free rentals.
How to Avoid Rental Hassles
- Document everything: I took photos/videos of every scratch, dent, and stain before driving off.
- Skip full coverage (if confident): I opted for basic insurance but ensured my thorough inspection would prevent surprise charges.
Renting a car in Mallorca wasn’t just a logistical win—it became a stress-free way to explore hidden coves like Cala Ratjada without clock-watching. For solo travelers on tight budgets, buses remain feasible (with military-grade schedule discipline!). But for time-crunched trips, the car’s freedom outweighed the risks—so long as you arm yourself with research and a camera.
Where to stay
We stayed in Parque Nereida Suites, in Cala Ratjada area. A beautiful hotel, as the name suggests with suites/apartments, and a style that reminded me of Greece, perhaps because of the white and blue colours. Several modern suits with living room, balcony, bedroom and shower.
It is served by 3 pools in the hotel, 2 bars and a large restaurant that serves a wonderful buffet breakfast and buffet dinner every day, which is great since we never had to wait long to have our meals while we were there.
They also have live performances with a different singer every night. It is also at a great location since you have a beach at walking distance if you don’t want to use the pools and several wonderful restaurants and bars also at walking distance.
Another point was the daily housekeeping. All the staff were very kind and attentive to our needs. An interesting fact: most guests staying in this area were germans, I guess it’s a popular destination as it’s only about 2h away and flights are very affordable.
You can find this accommodation on Bookings.com.
How to choose East or West of Palma de Mallorca
You don’t really have to choose if you can easily move around by car but whether you are going to stay in the East or West part of Mallorca will depend on what you plan to do. For example, if you prefer to have a beach vacation I would recommend staying on the east coast to enjoy the most beautiful harbors and seaside. On the other hand, if you are looking for history, architecture, culture, definitely go west.
Also, if you like nature and mountains, the west is where you have to go as that’s where you will find the beautiful Tramontana mountain range, definitely contrasting to the flat east side of Mallorca.
Where to eat in Cala Ratjada
As it was more convenient and included in our stay, we always had breakfast in the hotel which was a really good buffer with good quality and varied options. For lunch and dinner we decided to explore other places. Here are some restaurants we enjoyed and recommend:
El Gaucho: A steak restaurant just next to the hotel. Here we had a delicious T-bone steak with potatoes, salad and a home-made sangria while we were watching one of the Euro Cup matches. This was probably my favourite meal. I can’t help it, I just love being al fresco with my darling enjoying good food and drinks.
Sharky’s: a nice bar, also with outdoor area and a nice big screen to watch the football matches. I guess this is a must in any European city during the Euro Cup season. The menu and environment were good, we had some beers, burger and pizza here. Sorry, forgot the photos on this day, was just starving!
Palma de Mallorca is so popular that you will not have any difficulties finding good restaurants, though most of them are a bit pricey. If you travel on a budget you might consider getting some snacks at grocery stores if you want to skip a few overpriced meals.
Pharmacy/Medical Clinic
During our stay we had to get an asthma inhaler and some cough syrup. Luckily, Cala Ratjada area is served with 3 pharmacies also at walking distance but this pharmacy was the one that was closer to the hotel and by coincidence also next to a medical centre (which fortunately we did not need!).
Where to go in Palma de Mallorca
Here you can find a list of places we recommend you to visit if you are planning to visit Palma de Mallorca and its distance/time by car from the hotel we stayed in Cala Ratjada.
- Palma (1h15) – The capital city of Mallorca, known for its impressive Gothic Cathedral, the Almudaina Royal Palace, and the historic old town.
- Serra de Tramuntana (1h30)- A stunning mountain range along the northwest coast, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural beauty.
- Valldemossa (1h30) – A picturesque village in the Tramuntana mountains, famous for its charterhouse where composer Frédéric Chopin once stayed.
- Deià (1h40) – A quaint hillside town that has long attracted artists, writers, and other creatives, with its whitewashed houses and scenic views.
- Sóller (1h30) – A charming town in the northwest with an elegant main square, a historic tram, and easy access to the beautiful Port de Sóller.
- Alcúdia (1h) – An ancient walled city with Roman ruins, as well as beautiful beaches along its northeast coast.
- Cala Bona, Cala Millor and Cala Romántica (20—40 min.) – Popular beach resorts on the east coast, known for their sandy beaches and lively promenades.
- Caves of Drach (30min.) – Spectacular underground cave system and lake, one of Mallorca’s top natural attractions.
- Portocristo (30 min.) – Portocristo has a lovely seaside harbor with restaurants, shops, and a nice promenade. It’s a scenic spot to wander around and soak in the Mediterranean ambiance.
Some of these places are close to each other so you can choose to visit on the same day or stay overnight to avoid making the long trips.
One thing I must say is that it was difficult to find parking for the car so you should try to plan to leave way ahead of your schedule. My favourite places were Sóller and Cala Romántica. While in Cala Romántica we had a lazy beach day, in Sóller we explored the village, had some food and drinks, took the little train and even watched the Euro Cup 2024 match Turkey vs. Portugal. I also loved Cala Ratjada in general, but Sóller was definitely a special and beautiful little town.
Where to dive and/or snorkel in Palma de Mallorca
Unfortunately this time I did not come here for scuba diving but I found a few 5 Star PADI centers very close to where we stayed, in case I ever go back and if you want to check it out:
https://www.albatros-diving.com/
https://www.starfishdiving-mallorca.com
In resume, I would say there is still so much more for me to see in Mallorca. It’s a beautiful island, beautiful beaches, food, good hospitality services and fairly affordable when compared to other popular destinations, specially if you live in Europe and are looking for an escape from the city life. It’s a chilled out place, that calls for relaxation, even on the road. You will actually see a lot of cyclers there, It is a joy to just drive in Mallorca and enjoy the landscape, and it feels safe!
If you have any questions or any suggestions please feel free to comment below!