MalcolmS
New member
Part 1 of 2 (see reply below for part 2)
Just back at the weekend there after another brilliant week in Pollenca – helped enormously by some fantastic weather. I should probably split this in to the different sections – Flights, Car Hire, Villas, Eating Out, etc but hopefully you don’t mind if I ramble on all in one post! A trigger warning – we didn’t go to Puerto Pollensa at all this trip so PP die hards may want to move on now?
If you’ve read any of my previous posts you’ll know that we prefer somewhere within a short walk of the town centre and somewhere with some privacy for sunbathing. We’d found an ideal town house last year booking direct with the owner but unfortunately when we went to book this year it was already booked - almost solid through to September. It’s become very popular.
We eventually found what looked to be the ideal property (a renovated town house with plunge pool and private back courtyard) with a company called Oliver's Travels. Hadn’t used them before but didn’t read any negative reviews and they seemed to specialise in slightly up market villas. It was maybe slightly more expensive than what we wanted but the spec fitted our requirements spot on so well we decided to go for it.
We booked and paid the deposit on line but then two days later got an email to say “really sorry, but the owners have taken a booking direct and forgotten to update the calendar”. :-(
Oliver's asked what our requirements were and came back with a list of alternatives some of which met our spec but were slightly over budget. We were interested in one particular town house which didn’t have complete privacy but location was very good. To Oliver’s credit they were willing to waive their booking fee to encourage us to take it and to make up for the disappointment of the previous ‘non-booking’.
However in parallel we had been looking with other companies. If I’m honest I hadn’t been that impressed with the service from some of the companies – having asked for our requirements they would then fire a list of dozen properties which didn’t match – they maybe were within our price range but were all in the country side and ideally needed a car. Villa Vida and Solmar were particularly helpful in identifying properties and I’ve certainly logged them for contact next year.
We eventually found three properties, two with Villa Plus and one with Vintage Travel – both companies we’ve used before. One of the Villa Plus properties was a town house that we’d stayed in twice before with Villa Parade and we were initially very tempted especially as it was nearly half the price we’d paid when previously staying there. The other two properties were on the Ternelles road – just about 15 minutes walk from the centre.
The Villa Plus one we’d stayed in before many years ago when our kids (now 21 and 25!) still used to come with is and the Vintage Travel one was literally around the corner. We’ve probably booked through VT more times than any other company so we’re comfortable to book with them and as it offered more privacy we decided on that property.
Really glad we did. Internally it had everything we were looking for, outside the pool area was partially overlooked by neighbrs but it had a back courtyard not overlooked by anyone and a 1st floor sun terrace with was nearly private depending where you sat/lay.
We’d certainly go back to this villa (although we would still prefer an in town town house).
Our Easyjet flight from EDI was perfect arriving a little early and whilst my wife waited on our suitcase I had checked in with Sixt (walking past the biggest Goldcar queue I’d ever seen!) for our hire car and we were in the villa for 11pm having left our house in Scotland at 4pm.
There was zero food or drink in the villa on arrival so we just got up early on Sunday, had breakfast in the square (il Giardino) and then food shopped at the market missing the crowds and were back in the villa by the pool by 11am.
Our plan was to eat out every second day and BBQ or eat in at the villa on alternate days. You’ll see from the following reviews we failed miserably with this target.
Sunday afternoon has traditionally been tapas for us and we’ve had our favourite haunts for many years which seem to disappear year on year lately. Dos Hermanas has been a favourite in the past but seems to have been replaced by the Monkey Bar attracting a younger local clientele. We ate in La Botigueta last year but the menu all seemed to be Japanesey this year when we walked past. Not sure how popular that will prove to be as it was empty almost every time we past it by throughout the week.
In the end we settled for a beer and some tapas at the café at the bottom of the calvari steps (left hand side as you head down – can’t recall it’s name Café Calvari??). It was fine but nothing special – the people watching was probably better!
On Sunday evening we had planned to rediscover our favourite restaurant Cantonet in their new home but unfortunately didn’t check opening times and got there and find they were closed Sunday's now. We wandered down the hill and ate in another of our favouries – Can Costa. Once again we were the only couple in the restaurant the whole evening (8.30pm to 10.30pm) – although there were a couple of tables taken outside.
We chose the 5 course tasting menu which I think was 34€. Whilst it was very good and I think good value for money there was nothing outstanding about it – other maybe than a tuna tartare dish that both of us raved about. However other than the lack of atmosphere we had a great night and service was just right - attentive without being obtrusive – although they did get the final bill wrong including two bottles of agua sin gas when we only had one.
The following night we were excited to revisit Cantonet and we were not disappointed. We got a great welcome from the family and sat through in the new courtyard. We remember it well from Del Temple days and it was completely transformed. They’ve removed one of the fruit trees – retaining a lemon and apricot tree. Taken away one of the outbuilings and covered terrace opening it right up. The floor used to be on two or three different levels but now the whole floor is tiled front to back on the one level. Everything is painted white and they’ve used two of the enormous white parasols they used to use on the church terrace to finish it all off. It looks smashing and very romantic.
We couldn’t detect any difference in the quality of the food from the old premises and depending on where you sit you can see it being prepared and cooked in the kitchen. Our meal there of two courses with wine and a shared pudding was the cheapest of the whole holiday.
What I love about Cantonet compared to other restaurants in Pollenca is they actually let me speak Spanish and indeed encourage you to. At all the other restaurants you can try to speak but Spanish to them but as soon as they realise your English they all, without exception, respond in English to you. My Spanish is not great but I do like the opportunity to practice.
On Tuesday we went to another Pollenca favourite - La Fonda - and despite it being the same waiters there, for all the years we've been going there's nothing like the same welcome as Cantonet. However we do like the food and that night we were lucky to get a table outside in the street (although we were unlucky to be sat down wind of a table of smokers at the next table). Another great meal and very reasonably priced.
On Wednesday we went into town a bit earlier to do some shopping - it's my wife's birthday shortly and she always like's a look around Shobha Diane's jewelery shop in town. Nothing cheap in there but always unique, different and well made (worth a look). Being at that side of the square we decided to give La Font Del Gall a try again. My wife really likes this restaurant but I've always found the food so so and the service mediocre however the meal we had this time around and coupled with the excellent service changed my mind. We had a great night - slightly more expensive but I think some of that was down to the particular wine I ordered and the large fillet steak I had!
Just back at the weekend there after another brilliant week in Pollenca – helped enormously by some fantastic weather. I should probably split this in to the different sections – Flights, Car Hire, Villas, Eating Out, etc but hopefully you don’t mind if I ramble on all in one post! A trigger warning – we didn’t go to Puerto Pollensa at all this trip so PP die hards may want to move on now?
If you’ve read any of my previous posts you’ll know that we prefer somewhere within a short walk of the town centre and somewhere with some privacy for sunbathing. We’d found an ideal town house last year booking direct with the owner but unfortunately when we went to book this year it was already booked - almost solid through to September. It’s become very popular.
We eventually found what looked to be the ideal property (a renovated town house with plunge pool and private back courtyard) with a company called Oliver's Travels. Hadn’t used them before but didn’t read any negative reviews and they seemed to specialise in slightly up market villas. It was maybe slightly more expensive than what we wanted but the spec fitted our requirements spot on so well we decided to go for it.
We booked and paid the deposit on line but then two days later got an email to say “really sorry, but the owners have taken a booking direct and forgotten to update the calendar”. :-(
Oliver's asked what our requirements were and came back with a list of alternatives some of which met our spec but were slightly over budget. We were interested in one particular town house which didn’t have complete privacy but location was very good. To Oliver’s credit they were willing to waive their booking fee to encourage us to take it and to make up for the disappointment of the previous ‘non-booking’.
However in parallel we had been looking with other companies. If I’m honest I hadn’t been that impressed with the service from some of the companies – having asked for our requirements they would then fire a list of dozen properties which didn’t match – they maybe were within our price range but were all in the country side and ideally needed a car. Villa Vida and Solmar were particularly helpful in identifying properties and I’ve certainly logged them for contact next year.
We eventually found three properties, two with Villa Plus and one with Vintage Travel – both companies we’ve used before. One of the Villa Plus properties was a town house that we’d stayed in twice before with Villa Parade and we were initially very tempted especially as it was nearly half the price we’d paid when previously staying there. The other two properties were on the Ternelles road – just about 15 minutes walk from the centre.
The Villa Plus one we’d stayed in before many years ago when our kids (now 21 and 25!) still used to come with is and the Vintage Travel one was literally around the corner. We’ve probably booked through VT more times than any other company so we’re comfortable to book with them and as it offered more privacy we decided on that property.
Really glad we did. Internally it had everything we were looking for, outside the pool area was partially overlooked by neighbrs but it had a back courtyard not overlooked by anyone and a 1st floor sun terrace with was nearly private depending where you sat/lay.
We’d certainly go back to this villa (although we would still prefer an in town town house).
Our Easyjet flight from EDI was perfect arriving a little early and whilst my wife waited on our suitcase I had checked in with Sixt (walking past the biggest Goldcar queue I’d ever seen!) for our hire car and we were in the villa for 11pm having left our house in Scotland at 4pm.
There was zero food or drink in the villa on arrival so we just got up early on Sunday, had breakfast in the square (il Giardino) and then food shopped at the market missing the crowds and were back in the villa by the pool by 11am.
Our plan was to eat out every second day and BBQ or eat in at the villa on alternate days. You’ll see from the following reviews we failed miserably with this target.
Sunday afternoon has traditionally been tapas for us and we’ve had our favourite haunts for many years which seem to disappear year on year lately. Dos Hermanas has been a favourite in the past but seems to have been replaced by the Monkey Bar attracting a younger local clientele. We ate in La Botigueta last year but the menu all seemed to be Japanesey this year when we walked past. Not sure how popular that will prove to be as it was empty almost every time we past it by throughout the week.
In the end we settled for a beer and some tapas at the café at the bottom of the calvari steps (left hand side as you head down – can’t recall it’s name Café Calvari??). It was fine but nothing special – the people watching was probably better!
On Sunday evening we had planned to rediscover our favourite restaurant Cantonet in their new home but unfortunately didn’t check opening times and got there and find they were closed Sunday's now. We wandered down the hill and ate in another of our favouries – Can Costa. Once again we were the only couple in the restaurant the whole evening (8.30pm to 10.30pm) – although there were a couple of tables taken outside.
We chose the 5 course tasting menu which I think was 34€. Whilst it was very good and I think good value for money there was nothing outstanding about it – other maybe than a tuna tartare dish that both of us raved about. However other than the lack of atmosphere we had a great night and service was just right - attentive without being obtrusive – although they did get the final bill wrong including two bottles of agua sin gas when we only had one.
The following night we were excited to revisit Cantonet and we were not disappointed. We got a great welcome from the family and sat through in the new courtyard. We remember it well from Del Temple days and it was completely transformed. They’ve removed one of the fruit trees – retaining a lemon and apricot tree. Taken away one of the outbuilings and covered terrace opening it right up. The floor used to be on two or three different levels but now the whole floor is tiled front to back on the one level. Everything is painted white and they’ve used two of the enormous white parasols they used to use on the church terrace to finish it all off. It looks smashing and very romantic.
We couldn’t detect any difference in the quality of the food from the old premises and depending on where you sit you can see it being prepared and cooked in the kitchen. Our meal there of two courses with wine and a shared pudding was the cheapest of the whole holiday.
What I love about Cantonet compared to other restaurants in Pollenca is they actually let me speak Spanish and indeed encourage you to. At all the other restaurants you can try to speak but Spanish to them but as soon as they realise your English they all, without exception, respond in English to you. My Spanish is not great but I do like the opportunity to practice.
On Tuesday we went to another Pollenca favourite - La Fonda - and despite it being the same waiters there, for all the years we've been going there's nothing like the same welcome as Cantonet. However we do like the food and that night we were lucky to get a table outside in the street (although we were unlucky to be sat down wind of a table of smokers at the next table). Another great meal and very reasonably priced.
On Wednesday we went into town a bit earlier to do some shopping - it's my wife's birthday shortly and she always like's a look around Shobha Diane's jewelery shop in town. Nothing cheap in there but always unique, different and well made (worth a look). Being at that side of the square we decided to give La Font Del Gall a try again. My wife really likes this restaurant but I've always found the food so so and the service mediocre however the meal we had this time around and coupled with the excellent service changed my mind. We had a great night - slightly more expensive but I think some of that was down to the particular wine I ordered and the large fillet steak I had!
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