4 MINUTE READ
A few weeks ago I had just finished a big work project and there was nothing particularly pressing in my life for the next few days – apart from my P11D (it’s a horrible tax form for self-employed people that involves mileage for the last year, petty cash stuff and generally hard sums)…so I ran away.
Well, I went to Majorca for three nights…
ON MY OWN!!!
It was a totally impulsive decision.
One minute I was staring at a spreadsheet and the next I was pressing Confirm Booking on Jet2.
I was flying the next day, which got me thinking…What about my hair, nails, eyebrows, that surplus 7lbs, packing and ermmm..
Where will I stay!!!!
PALMA!
Of course. It’s a city. It’s lively. There’s a Zara. And I won’t get bored or feel like a weirdo because I’m traveling on my own.
So I got on to Hotels.com and Expedia and TripAdvisor and Lastminute and and and…and realised that the cost of the return flight (£72) had lulled me into thinking that it was a quiet time of year and accommodation would be aplenty BUT – it was school week and there was a major corporate bash on in Palma – and downright ropey looking hotels were way out of my budget.
I considered forgetting the whole thing and writing off the seventy quid, but then I remembered the P11D, so I expanded my search to
ANYWHERE IN MAJORCA.
After a few hours (seriously I think we all underrated travel agents, this shit takes ages) I spotted this really quirky looking hotel in Porto Cristo.
The Hotel Felip
It looked like it hadn’t changed since the 1950s. It had a little pool and a room with a balcony that overlooked a beach and a spa package which included a massage and a bottle of cava and a basket of fruit and breakfast and wifi all for £60 a night. Oh and a Salon (not a bar, but a big quiet Miss Marple type room, with really comfy chairs where people waft about reading and dozing).
So I booked.
Then I packed (have you been paying attention?) hand luggage
Then I thought where is Porto Cristo?
Turns out it’s 60km from Palma airport – which got me thinking ermmm…how do I get there?
Back on to Mr McGoogle….so apparently it’s impossible (I think it’s illegal for the companies in Majorca) to book a bus transfer within 24 hours of your arrival, and a taxi would cost over 100 euros.
By this point, I was starting to stress, had screen brain and my legs needed shaving so I decided to go with the flow, man.
That’s all very well, man, till you end up in Palma airport off a 6am flight (and just for the record that’s getting up at 3am) and haven’t a clue how to get to your hotel on the other side of the island.
So I got my efficient face on and asked the tourist desk, then the Jet2 people then the transfer people, then the taxi queue woman and ended up at the bus stop where, in my best Spanish accent (not Spanish mind you, just speaking loudly, adding a few As to the end of most words and adopting a slight lisp)..
HOW-a DO I-a GET-a To PORTO-a CRISTO-a and a very helpful (and rather handsome) young man explained in excellent English, that you get the No 1 bus to Palma then the No 412 bus to Porto Cristo which would take about three hours.
THREE HOURS!
I looked at the taxi queue and thought…
I could just blow the budget and I’ll be there in an hour, and then thought…
what’s the rush, and then thought…
I could just go with this and then thought…
this could be FUN
And then suddenly…
I was 20 again!!
I won’t bore you with the details of the three hour / two bus journey but it was a treat which involved a tasty filled roll, some crisps (I love Spanish crisps), a beer…a DIY mini manicure, while I passed through some of the interior of Majorca including, the town where Rafael
Nadal was born (and lives) and another town where strings of peppers, aubergines, and tomatoes hang outside shops, (which apparently are used to make Pa Amb Oli)…and getting a mint sweetie from a nice German couple.
The hotel was perfect – the Cava chilled, the fruit bowl impressive, the view stunning, the bed comfy and Porto Cristo was a delight –safe and friendly and not a rip off (my pet hate) with a beautiful quiet beach and a harbour full of twinkly, clinky, little boats and men who go out on them after dark and presumably bring back fish, which I ate, which was rather tasty.
I was planning to go on a trip to the (apparently famous) nearby Drach Caves but as I was about to set off I realised that I didn’t fancy the idea of being underground in a hot sweaty cave for hours – so I took a glass bottom boat trip up the coast, which was a bit cheesey, but I loved it.
On my last night, I had a leisurely dinner in the Terranea Restaurant and watched the sun set over the harbour. When the waiter brought me with the bill he presented me a Limoncello – on the house.
And I didn’t feel like a weirdo.
THE END
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Love the story, feel the bus 🙂
I have traveled on my own a bunch in my 30’s and 40’s and looking forward to my next adventure, next year. That will be HUGE. I always had a dog with me though:)
Author
Thanks Angie. Can’t wait to hear about your next adventure. Include Scotland !!
Your trip sounds like so much fun and you have a hilarious way of telling about it. Now I want to go but I live in Los Angeles so I’d need to book at least a month. LOL
Author
Hey Rebecca thanks for your lovely comments. Yes Spain is a bit of a trip from LA but one day!! Jill x
Would you consider sharing your story on my podcast, Go Solo Live! It highlights stories of solo women travelers just like you. I don’t want to spam with a link, so pleasr message me if interested!
Author
Hey Jennifer thanks for that. Yes I’d be happy to do that. Let me know what you need. Jill
Love this Jill. I went on my own too — to Soller – in my late 20s. Love the way you tell a tale. Lol!!!
Author
Thanx LES. Then there was your lizard and sandwich trip! 😳😂x
Oh that bus, many the time! Trip looks stunning though am a bit jelly😊
Author
Thanks for commenting. I loved that trip! x
Never ever travelled alone and so wish I had. What an adventure. Loved this post!!
Author
Thanks Judith. I loved that trip – it’s was fun x
Hi Jill, nice to meet you at Suzie’s party.
Sounds like you have had quite an adventure here in Majorca! Good on you, sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones and take on the unknown. Great post and very well written, you had me chuckling all the way. Lorelle
https://amindfultravellerblog.wordpress.com/
Hi, found your blog over at Suzie’s party. This post is the perfect example of how some of the best travel stories come from things not going just as you planned. Sounds like you had a good and interesting vacation.
Author
Hey Maja totally agree. It’s great to just go with the flow. I had a ball on that trip. Thanks for commenting. Jill x
Sounds like a fantastic experience! I’d love to travel alone one day!
Author
Hey Ritu, thanks for reading. I loved that trip x
I love this! I think you’re so brave for going away on your own. I’ve never done that! It sounds like it all worked out good in the end :_
I found you on Suzie’s link party, Jill, and what a delight you are! I love the story of your adventure by yourself and agree with you. We took travel agents for granted and I want them back! At any rate, your solo trip sounds like a smashing success and I like the way you even made the bus trip a unique experience. Looks like a lovely place and way better than filling out tax forms! We you able to write off the trip on your tax forms as a mental health expense?
Author
Hi Molly thanks for reading and commenting. That trip was much more fun than filling out tax forms but sadly I couldn’t write off the cost 🙂 Good idea though! Jill x
Solo travel is fun! I’m happy you took this opportunity to travel and have some time off..relax and enjoy!
Author
Hullo. Thanks for your comment. That was a fun trip Jill x
I’ve always wanted to travel solo. I always travel with my best pal/flat mate because we are very similar so travelling together has no negatives (well not yet anyway). Sounds like a great trip though!
Author
HI Anna, thanks for reading and commenting. I had a great trip but love going away with friends too. Jill
When travelling I love to experience the area as the locals do, thus taking the public transport and exploring and enjoying it to the fullest.
Author
Hello. Thanks for your comment. I agree public transport is a great way to get about on holiday. There’s no rush. Jill
Hi,
1. I love Captain James Kirk! Thanks for this!
2. I almost became a travel blogger since I travel often. I blog about blogging tips now.
3. My daughter went off to travel alone (you mentioned you did this) but I was worried as a mom. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so worried. Apparently, a lot of girls do this.
4. I met you at Suzie’s blog party. Maybe you can check out my blog if you need any blogging tips. That’s what I write about. I also have blog parties like Suzie.
Janice
Author
HI Janice thanks for reading and commenting. I’ll check out your blog and say hi. Jill x