El Arenal holidays

This diverse hotspot is lined with delicious fare from its crepe stands luring you in with Nutella chocolate and juicy strawberries to its KFC and McDonald’s. But for a taste of authentic Spain, there’s a few favourites you’ll find on almost every menu, including lechona asada which is a roasted pig and tapas which will feature a selection of olives, cheeses, meats and battered baby squid. Usually this dish is best shared over a jug of Sangria, the perfect blend of red wine, chopped fruits, brandy and orange. In terms of fine dining, the Fortress Restaurant is nearby and as you may have guessed, this 5-star eatery serves dishes such as seafood paella and grilled sea bass in castle surroundings. The finest Spanish fare can be located at Linos Grand Cafe de Mar which gets 10 out of 10 for its gazpacho. But for pizzas, pastas or grilled meats, Tomy Burger and Hole in the Wall will win you over.

Approximately 5km in length stretching as far as Playa de Palma and Ca’n Pastilla, this sandy bay is flawless. Resembling the coastline of the Bahamas with its turquoise-tinted waters and pristine conditions, you won’t be able to resist sinking your toes into this exotic shore. Teeming with sunloungers, grab a spot close to the promenade for easy access to the bars and restaurants. Nearby you have a selection of shops overflowing with buckets and spades, as well as inflatables and other beach essentials. Also, there are plenty of takeaway joints when you just want a slice of pizza on the go. El Arenal Beach is safe for children owing to its shallow Mediterranean ripples and when they’re not making a splash, there are goal posts and a volleyball court to keep the boredom at bay.

Watersports play a huge part in El Arenal’s entertainment scene with a shoreline decorated with pedalo boats, jet skis and banana boats, it’s easy to see why adrenaline-junkies are drawn to its tropical coast. Nearby there’s a duo of waterparks for further splash-filled fun and of course the city of Palma is also at your fingertips. Rent quad bikes and tackle the island terrain on four wheels or simply soak up its cosmopolitan nightlife via party boat, there’s an endless list of excursions.

Sink a hole in one at Dino Golf: Unlike any other mini golf course, this one is certainly not small in size. You can’t miss it either, just look out for the enormous dinosaur as you stroll along El Arenal promenade or head towards Nova Beach Lounge which is attached to this putting green. In fact, it’s one of the biggest of its kind on the whole island. Start with a small game of 18 holes before moving onto the immense 54-hole option – either way, there are three courses to choose from. The routes will lead you through caves, over bridges and on top of artificial waterfalls.

Plunge down slides at Aqualand: Right in the heart of this resort, you have easy access to its biggest rides including the King Cobra and the Tsunami which is a huge 15-metre half pipe with two vertical falls. There’s also the Crazy Race which is made up of three 40-metre tracks and the Banzai will see you skimming across the water at a rapid speed. Over at Kidzworld, which is also referred to as the biggest playground in Majorca, there are over 12 mini slides alongside a dragon themed area with a baby pool, shoots and waterfalls. Toddlers will appreciate the sprinklers and tipping buckets in the Children’s Paradise section and there’s a new rainforest area with water-based games.