Okay so last month I was itching for some Spanish sun and realized I couldn’t decide between Mallorca and Las Palmas. Everybody talks about Mallorca, right? Las Palmas felt kinda mysterious. Ended up saying screw it, I’ll try to figure out which one’s actually better for my wallet and vibes. Grabbed my laptop, cursed at slow Wi-Fi, and dug in.
Step 1: Flights – The Wallet Punch
First thing: how much to even get there? Checked my usual flight search spots. From my nearest airport, flights to Mallorca (PMI) were popping up like crazy. Good deals if you booked way ahead or went super off-peak. Las Palmas (LPA) flights? Fewer options, usually meant a connection somewhere like Madrid or Barcelona. Like, okay, getting to Gran Canaria wasn’t as simple as hopping straight to Mallorca. Winner for cheap and easy flights? Mallorca, hands down.
Step 2: Places to Crash – Hotels vs Apartments
Looked at booking sites next. Mallorca? Man, choices everywhere:
- Resort Areas (like Palma Nova): Big hotels, pools, breakfast included. Felt kinda expensive, especially close to the beach. We’re talking €100+ per night easy for just okay places.
- Palma City: More apartments and smaller hotels. Some cool old buildings, maybe €70-90 a night. Less beachy, more city exploring.
- Little Villas/Apartments: Found some decent apartments around €60-80, especially a bit inland or not prime beachfront. Need a kitchen? This made sense.
Switched to Las Palmas. Focused mainly on Las Canteras beach area because that seemed to be the hot spot:
- Beachfront Hotels: Woah. Nice views, direct sand access… also super pricey. Similar to Mallorca’s beach resorts, €100+ easy.
- Apartments Near the Beach: This felt like the sweet spot. Found way more apartments here than massive hotels. Lots in the €55-€75 range just a block or two back from the beach. Good vibe.
- City Center: Even cheaper digs away from the beach, maybe €45-60. But then you gotta bus or walk to the sand.
Verdict? Las Palmas felt easier to find decently priced stuff close to the action, especially if you liked apartments. Mallorca had deals, but you had to hunt harder.
Step 3: Daily Spending – Food, Coffee, Buses
Searched blogs, forums, travel sites to see what people said about daily costs. Wrote down rough averages:
- Coffee/Breakfast Pastry: Mallorca €2-€3.50, Las Palmas €1.50-€2.50. Small win Las Palmas.
- Cheap Lunch Menu del Dia: Mallorca €12-€15, Las Palmas €10-€13. Las Palmas a bit cheaper.
- Dinner Out (No Fancy): Mallorca €15-€25 per person, Las Palmas €12-€20. Again, Las Palmas nudged ahead.
- Local Beer in a Bar: Mallorca €3-€4, Las Palmas €2-€3.50. Same pattern.
- Bus Ride: About the same, €2-€4 depending on distance. Tie.
Overall vibe? Las Palmas was consistently cheaper for everyday stuff. Not massive savings on single items, but it adds up fast over a week. Mallorca wasn’t outrageous, but definitely higher.
Step 4: Stuff to Do – Beaches & Exploring
Compared what you actually get for the stay.
- Mallorca: Mega famous beaches (Cala Millor, Soller – gotta see those pics!), but also stunning mountains (Serra de Tramuntana = epic drive/hike), cute historic towns like Valldemossa and Sóller, Palma’s huge cathedral. Plus vineyards! You need wheels to see the good stuff. Renting a car meant €€€ though.
- Las Palmas: One phenomenal city beach – Las Canteras – seriously long, sandy, protected. Amazing city vibe right there. Then, different world up in the mountains/dunes like Maspalomas (wild scenery!) or Roque Nublo. Island has crazy microclimates. Exploring outside the city needed a car or bus trips.
Mallorca wins for sheer variety of scenery packed together, IF you rent a car. Las Palmas gives you that awesome beach + city combo easily without moving. Different strokes.
The Final Tally & What I Actually Did
So putting it all together:
- Total Cost Winner: Las Palmas. Flights maybe a bit more or equal, but accommodation + daily spending generally lower.
- Ease of Logistics Winner: Mallorca for simpler flights (depending where you fly from!). Las Palmas for finding decent central stay.
- Vibe Winner: Subjective! Mallorca = beach + charm + mountains. Las Palmas = epic city beach + adventure landscapes.
In the end? I went to Mallorca. Why? Found a stupid cheap last-minute flight I couldn’t ignore. Stayed in a little apartment in Palma for about €65/night, rented a clunky Fiat Panda for three days (ouch, €100-ish!), ate plenty of cheap tapas and menu del dia lunches. Spent a day getting lost in Valldemossa, another just chilling on a sandy cove. Cost more than Las Palmas would have probably, but those flights made the decision for me. Honestly? Both places are pretty damn fine.
