Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eating Out
Eating out with children is a breeze in Mallorca, where large family lunches are a way of
life and the mood is laid-back in all but the most formal of places. You'll get lots of
smiles if you have kids with you and letting a tot wander around a restau rant - as long as
they're not breaking wine bottles or bothering anyone - is usually OK.
Many resort restaurants offer inexpensive children's menus - simple grilled meats,
French fries, spaghetti and tortillas and the like, followed by ice cream. If not, most chefs
are generally happy to improvise to suit children's appetites and whip up smaller por-
tions. Kids with more adventurous tastes might like to try
pa amb oli
(bread rubbed with
oil and tomatoes with a variety of toppings) and paella, while Sóller orange ice cream al-
ways goes down a treat.
You cannot rely on restaurants having high chairs, although many have a couple - get-
ting there early increases your chances of snaffling one. It's worth bringing your own
harness, though, as these are often lacking. Few places have nappy-changing facilities.
Nappies (diapers), baby food and formula milk are widely available in town and resort
supermarkets and chemists.
TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN
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Ask for extra tapas in bars to suit younger tastebuds, such as olives or raw carrot
sticks.
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Adjust your children to Spanish time (ie late nights) as quickly as you can - oth-
erwise they'll miss half the fun.
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Unlike in the USA, crayons and paper are rarely given out in restaurants - bring
your own.
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Kids who share your bed won't incur a supplement - extra beds usually cost €20
to €30.
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Ask the local tourist office for the nearest children's playgrounds.
Children's Discounts
Discounts are available for children (usually aged under 12) on public transport, while
under-fives ride for free. You can also expect substantial reductions on sights, though
ages vary widely, with free entry ranging from 0 to 16 years. As a rule, under-fours are
free and under-12s pay half price, and there are concessions for youths. Most tours (for
instance boat tours) offer a 50% reduction for children.
