The Spanish resort with €3 pints and infinity pool – and flights are just £12.99

TWO directions, two very different outcomes.

Turning left out of my resort, I wander along a tree-lined promen-ade past open-air restaurants where families are tucking into their catch-of-the-day with peaceful views of the lapping Mediterranean sea.

4

4

If I’d turned right, I would have been greeted by foam parties, stag do hi-jinks and neon signs hanging over club doors, all just a short walk away.

I’m staying near the notorious party town of Magaluf on the sun-soaked island of Majorca.

But my experience is a little different to the raucous scene you might expect — as seen by my stroll into the peaceful Son Matias, Palma Nova, where everything is quiet and quaint.

My resort, the slick new Cook’s Club Calvia Beach, is just 300 metres from the sea in an enviable location right between the two distinct towns of Magaluf and Palma Nova.

It’s an ideal spot for those who might like to dabble in partying but still need their downtime.

Thankfully, during my short break on the Balearic island, the only sore spot is my head when I wake up, as three nights of frozen cocktails and €3 pints deliver a painful reminder that I’m not 21 any more.

Luckily, on the streets surrounding Cook’s Club, instead of pubs with names such as EastEnders, and the Prince Harry kebab shop dishing up doners at 5am, there are restaurants serving fresh seafood caught only that morning.

Instead of beachgoers sleeping off hang-overs, families are making sandcastles, taking rides on pedalos and meandering between the soft white sand and nearby play areas, stopping for slushies and ice creams as they go.

And instead of tales of tipsy tumbles and tattoos from the previous night, there’s laughter and life with a relaxed, rather than regretful, tone.

From Palma Nova, it’s a 20-minute taxi ride north west to Majorca’s stunning capital city Palma, which has a fascin-ating history of invasion and renovation dating to the Bronze Age.

I would highly recommend booking a walking tour with Bluebird Mallorca (€19pp at bluebirdmallorca.com).

It took us from the mesmerising Gothic cathedral through narrow streets full of art galleries, boutique designer shops and traditional Spanish restaurants.

There are modern, familiar brands such as Zara and H&M but they all blend seamlessly into the Gaudi-inspired archi-tecture and dry-stone structures.

For an authentic taste of Spain, Bar Espana is tucked away down a tiny side-street.

This is how the locals like to spend their time, rather than on the Magaluf strip.

Waiters bring us little plate after little plate of truly Spanish tapas — sizzling patatas bravas, crunchy cod fritters, spicy padron peppers and cured ham croquettes — all bursting with flavour and washed down with the Spanish beer Mahou.

Get to Palma early if you want to avoid the crowds, though, as after lunchtime the city becomes packed.

We decided to escape the hustle and bustle by booking a boat trip on the Mediterranean Sea.

The four-hour excursion with Lemon Boat took us to one of the most scenic bays for a dip in the crystal-clear water.

And when we clambered back on board, we had delicious homemade food, San Miguel beers and soft drinks waiting for us.

If you’re on a Maga mad one with a stag or hen do, you can always opt for one of the catamaran booze cruises instead.

That is, of course, assuming you even want to leave the sun-drenched serenity of the Cook’s Club sanctuary during the day.

The adults-only hotel, which launched in May, has 211 rooms, with single, double and triple bed options, each with a contemporary and fresh design.

Breakfast comes with the standard booking, but you can upgrade to half-board — and you may wish to when you see the wealth of food on offer at the hotel’s cantina.

There are buffet breakfasts and a la carte lunches and dinners that offer everything from indulgent feasts to healthy vegan dishes.

During the day, there’s a large main swimming pool and an infinity pool, plus there’s a sandy beach area that has its own bar whipping up fruity cocktails.

If you don’t fancy venturing into Magaluf, the resort has a DJ delivering music sessions around the clock, with the tunes tailored to the time of day without giving off an extreme party atmosphere.

It feels like it is aimed at anyone aged 18 to 80 really, and we saw couples young and old, solo travellers and even a 40-strong hen do all doing something different with their holiday.

You may get the occasional reminder of your location thanks to the odd scream from the nearby Magaluf slingshot bungee but, crucially, the hotel is set back far enough from the noise to allow you to really enjoy your holiday.

And at a cheap €82 per night — and with an easy-going vibe and stylish, modern design — you can’t go far wrong.

That is as long as you steer clear of the Prince Harry kebabs.

4

4