I’d been told to avoid this part of Spain, so I was very intrigued
I recently returned from a holiday to Spain, and I accidentally went to what I’ve heard called “the worst part” of the country. My husband, son, and I were keen for a change of scenery and some sunshine, so I began looking for flights to see if I could find any that weren’t a – extortionate, and b – at ridiculous times of the day or night.
As it turned out, at the time, my best option was return flights to Palma de Mallorca, so that’s what we booked. Then we had to decide which resort we would stay in, with there being loads of choice due to Mallorca’s size.
A friend recommended we stay in Palma Nova, due to its idyllic surroundings with crystal clear waters – not to mention it’s only around a 20 minute drive from the airport. We’d just booked it when another friend gave me something of a warning: “Palma Nova is beautiful but it’s right next to Magaluf”.
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While they didn’t say any more, I knew what they meant. Magaluf has long had a reputation for being one of the “worst parts of Spain”, thanks to countless holidaymakers flocking there to do nothing but party. And when we arrived in Palma Nova, I couldn’t help but have a wander down there myself – I was intrigued.
My friend had been right, we were very close to Magaluf and within 10 minutes I came across the notorious strip. Lined with bars called things like Prince Harry and Eastenders Karaoke, it was pretty much what I imagined, although it was lunchtime so I barely saw a soul.
But when I veered away from this road and onto the beach, I was amazed. The coastline at Magaluf is stunning, a far cry from what I’d seen just minutes early.
Fine-grained white sand and bright blue water, comfy-looking beds, there were people putting down a mat and doing some yoga, or jogging along the path that runs parallel. It was honestly one of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen.
A quick Google search told me that Magaluf has undergone a huge transformation of late, with investment in upgrading facilities, and shifting towards a more family-friendly resort. It shows, and I’d be more than happy going there for a holiday, despite having no desire to “party” whatsoever.