We’d never heard of Port d’Andratx before we picked it for a last-minute Spring week away as a result of a special deal that came up on Travelzoo.
It seemed like a good option to hopefully get away from what had seemed like an endless UK winter and get some much-needed sun – just a 2-hour flight away from Bournemouth Airport, which itself is just a 40-minute drive from home for us.
Much of South West Mallorca is a pretty heavy tourist destination, home to the resorts of Magaluf and Palmanova and their heavy-drinking, big partying Brits abroad.
It’s a popular part of Mallorca – but not ideal for us with our young family and our hopes for a quiet, relaxing week away in the sun.
As the coach wound its way through the resorts, dropping holiday-makers off at their hotels, we were getting a bit worried by the look of some of the big high-rise apartment blocks, the rows of neon-lit bars and clubs, the rubbish littering the streets – and the racket being made by some of the more rowdy tourists on the coach, who we feared might be our neighbours for the week!
Port d’Andratx was the last stop on the coach’s route – right at the very far south-west corner of the island and, as we drove in to the town towards our hotel, it was instantly clear that this is a completely different type of town to its neighbouring resorts.
Port d’Andratx (which is pronounced “Andratsch“) is a small fishing village situated around a beautiful marina.
There’s none of the flashing neon pub signs and streets carrying the debris of the previous drunken nights. Just quiet, smart restaurants, cafes and small shops typical of traditional Spanish fishing villages.
Fishermen were drying their nets on the quays in front of tourists and locals enjoying coffee, beer and wine around the impossibly bright blue, sparkling waters of the harbour and its marina.
There’s a peaceful, relaxing and clean feel to the town – but still with plenty of amenities including a supermarket, pharmacies, shops – as well as the handful of cafes and restaurants. It’s a complete world away from the touristy feel of some of the other neighbouring towns and resorts.
If you’re looking for a pleasant, relaxing town to visit or to stay in that’s suitable for families and which keeps you separate from the hard-partying revellers of nearby Magaluf, Port d’Andratx is absolutely ideal.
There are great bus links which take you along the coast to the other resorts and beaches (though hiring a car would be preferable because, as pleasant as the town is, there’s not enough here to occupy you there for a full week).
While I was on the bus, I was sat next to a lady with a small baby who was staying in Magaluf and had just visited Port d’Andratx for the day. She was bemoaning the fact they had to leave and go back to their hotel in Magaluf, which she was now unhappy about having experienced the serene surroundings of Port d’Andratx in comparison with Magaluf, which she was complaining was “a bit skanky!”
No-one could ever describe Port d’Andratx in that way – and if you’re looking for a quieter and more relaxing stay away from the familiar sights and sounds of Magaluf, particularly if you’re visiting with children, then we thoroughly recommend this town.
There’s just one potential downside to bear in mind, which is that there’s no beach in Port d’Andratx and, if you want sand and swimming in the sea, you’ll just need to catch one of the regular buses around to Peguera, Camp de Mar or Sant Elm, which for us was no problem at all.