Family Stay at Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa
Mallorca Starts at Playa de Muro
LE MILE
We came to Mallorca for a few days by the sea with our two small children, collecting a hire car at Palma airport before driving north to Playa de Muro. By late afternoon, we had reached Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa, beside the long sandy shore of the Bay of Alcúdia. Having the car meant we could explore beyond the resort, though I was looking forward to a first morning that involved nothing more complicated than breakfast and taking the children to the beach.
Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa
The Resort and Beach
We woke well rested, with Playa de Muro just beyond the hotel gardens. Staying beside the beach makes a difference when you are travelling with children. A swim needn’t become a whole-day expedition, and returning to the room for a rest doesn’t mean abandoning the afternoon. Along this part of the Bay of Alcúdia, the long sandy shoreline also gives you room to walk without immediately reaching the end of a little cove. Albufera Playa shares its grounds and facilities with neighbouring Albufera Park, giving families access to seven pools, children’s play areas and Star Camp activities. The programme includes games and creative activities organised by age. Park concentrates on family rooms, while Playa offers mainly doubles and suites; the gardens connect the two, so choosing Playa doesn’t mean losing access to the children’s facilities.
Having a car also gives a family the freedom to spend a day elsewhere on the island. For Palma, I would keep the itinerary modest: visit La Seu, then walk through the old town and stop for lunch. The narrow streets around the cathedral deserve time, and with small children there is little pleasure in hurrying between monuments. A morning of looking around followed by a long lunch would be my preference over trying to cover the whole city.
For a different stretch of coast, Cala Llombards lies in the southeast, near Santanyí. Its sandy beach sits between rocky sides, with pines above and small boathouses along the water. This is a longer outing from Playa de Muro, best given its own day. In busy periods, go early; there is far less space here than on Playa de Muro. Closer to the hotel, Alcúdia’s old town or neighbouring S’Albufera nature park offer alternatives to another long drive.
Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa
Infinity Pool
Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa
Room
Back at the resort, we ate at Nopal and Martinete, two restaurants within the shared Albufera complex. Nopal is a Mexican taqueria, with cochinita pibil tacos among its specialities. Martinete serves Spanish tapas and traditional dishes, with an emphasis on local ingredients. The tapas format lends itself to ordering several plates for the table and trying them together, making dinner an opportunity to explore different flavours as a family. Both restaurants require reservations, so it is worth booking early in the stay.
I also enjoyed a massage at the spa, which was fantastic and an appointment I would happily repeat. Elsewhere in the resort, Icedream serves ice cream and crêpes to take away, making it possible to carry dessert down towards the beach. For another visit, I would give us more days to explore Mallorca and keep some afternoons free to spend on Playa de Muro together. Having the beach beside the hotel makes it easy to return to a favourite place while discovering others by car. I like the thought of coming back as the children grow, beginning again on this stretch of sand and travelling a little further across the island each time.
Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa
Dining Area
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