Living in Mallorca, Spain – Interview With an Expat

What is it like to move to and live in Mallorca?

This Spanish island is an incredibly popular tourist destination in summer, and a quieter island in winter.

I briefly lived in Mallorca myself, in a town called Soller.

But, this article isn’t about me. In this article I’m interviewing Nancy, who has been calling Mallorca home for several years.

She’ll share both personal experiences and practical tips for anyone interested in living in Mallorca.

This interview is part of the Ask an Expat series. In this series, I interview people living all over the world but outside of their home country. I try to help paint an honest picture of the ups and downs of life abroad, and share tips about moving to the place the expat now calls home.

Living in Mallorca, Spain

Name: Nancy Michelle Côté
Age: 44
Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Her Story:

”I was brought up in a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Montreal. I finished university and was devastated at how little my life changed! Wasn’t your ‘life supposed to start’ when you’d ticked all the boxes?

I made up my mind to make it happen and took a short Teaching English Abroad course. Within a month and a half I was on a plane to South Korea with a teaching contract in my pocket.

This was the first of many moves I would make across continents. I taught in Greece, in Brazil, and finally in Portugal where I would meet my husband and have a family.

After looking for different places to stay in Ericeira, the only World Surf Reserve in Europe, we set up house and lived there for several years before deciding to run our short-term rental company remotely from Mallorca.

The pandemic was horrible in many ways, but it did create the opportunity for us both to work remotely from a beautiful island in the Mediterranean.”

Why Did You Move to Mallorca?

”Why wouldn’t you move to Mallorca, right?

Mallorca had us at hello. We went to visit friends who lived there about a dozen times before we realized that it really was the ideal place to live in Europe because of its proximity, weather, and great schools.

As parents we were also star-struck by all the beaches, parks, umpteen summer camps, rainy day activities, and relaxed attitude offered in Palma de Mallorca.

We just couldn’t believe how easy it was to while away an afternoon with friends on a shady green terrace while the kids played on the swings in the square 50 meters away.

It seemed like every time we were invited somewhere we met more interesting people from varied countries, and the busy social circles sharply contrasted with the stark social life we had in Portugal. It was just an easy yes!”

What Do You Like About Living in Mallorca?

”I love the diversity of the people who live in Mallorca.

People are from everywhere and anywhere, and speaking several languages is the norm.

I quickly realized that schools here offered kids a range of possibilities like very few places around the world.

The extremely international community creates tolerance and normalizes multilingual communication and cultural differences.

I also love how diverse nature is in Mallorca: you can go to the beach today, hike around a lake tomorrow, and have dinner up in the mountains the next day, all within a 30-minute drive.

I also like how many people work remotely. Similar to the coworking spaces in Ericeira where I used to spend what seemed like 30 hours a day, the coworking spaces in Palma de Mallorca are green and spacious and create a sense of community.

Working on their own time also means that people are slightly more flexible with their schedules and are a little more available to meet. I really like this!”

Also Read: Why Spain is a Great Country for Working Remotely

What Do You Dislike About Living in Mallorca?

”Unfortunately, the Mallorca government worked hard for many years to attract a certain type of tourist, which they are now trying to move away from. These are people on the party scene 24/7, and at least one of them dies yearly from something ridiculous like falling drunk off a balcony.

These tourists have taken over a few areas on the island which are now considered a lost cause and are the bane of the residents’ existence. I guess nothing is perfect.”

Also Read: Things Nobody Tells You About Life in Spain

Is Mallorca Safe as a Place to Live?

”Mallorca is one of the safest places I have lived, although you do want to keep your eye on your bike!”

What Is Your Favorite Thing to Do in Mallorca?

”I love going to the beach in the summer and hiking in the winter.

Summertime brings ‘chiringuitos’, those fabulous beach bars where you can have lunch and a drink at a table with your feet in the sand while listening to the surf. Beach season actually starts in May and finishes in October.

Winter allows you to drive to the beautiful charming villages on the island, sit in a square and people-watch after walking up a hiking trail for an afternoon of fabulous views and nature. 

The village markets and fairs are also a treasure hunting bonanza that I love to wake up to on the weekends.

The incredible variety of excellent food in Palma is another amazing perk of living here, not to mention the nightlife if you’re up to it.

There is just so much to like here.”

What Is the Expat / International Community Like in Mallorca?

”It is truly marvelous.

Mallorca has it all, from the hoity-toity to those here to work and send money home. This is because Mallorca is one of the biggest boating industry hubs in the world. Here you’ll find everything that goes along with it.

Expats in Mallorca generally come from North America, South America, or Europe. It is a huge mix.

Since most choose to come to Mallorca, they come open-minded, and without extended family which means people are generally available and happy to meet and socialize.”

Can You Share Anything About the Cost of Living in Mallorca?

”Mallorca is actually not as expensive as you’d think.

Although prices are generally going up now due to world events, prices are still fairly reasonable all things considered.

I actually feel I get a lot more quality of life here than I did in Portugal, for example. I live 200m from the beach, have a garden, we walk to school and I rarely need to use the car. Very few places in Europe allow for this type of lifestyle. 

Mainland Spain is slightly less expensive, but the government makes up for it with the excellent quality of the health system, education, and the travel rebates given to residents. Travel to mainland Spain is nearly free for residents.”

Any Tips for Moving To / Living in Mallorca?

”Spain is a relatively easy place to emigrate to. If you are from the EU, getting your residency is fairly straightforward. If you’re not, like me, it takes about 2 years longer, but it still isn’t all that difficult.

Certain EU countries now allow people to get passports by bloodline all the way back to grandparents, so this is a route some people go.

Others just come to live, become residents, and apply for their paperwork.

 When in doubt I’d pay for a company that provides such services since they usually have contacts which speed the process up.”

Also Read: Moving to Spain as an American – What I Wish I Knew

Any Resources You Found Useful During the Process of Moving to and Building a New Life in Mallorca?

”When we first moved to Mallorca we rented an Airbnb for a month, and then looked for a permanent place. We used a few apps for this, one called Idealista, and another called Yaencontre.

As for meeting other expats living in Mallorca, I actually met many people through an organization called Girl Gone International (GGI). They exist all over the world and organize meet-ups and events for female expats. They can be found on Facebook.

One site I found very helpful was www.abc-mallorca.com. They had lots of information on all kinds of things like schools, neighborhoods, markets, visa requirements, etc.”

Is There Something You Just Have to See or Do When You Are in Mallorca?

”One of my favorite, most memorable things to do in Mallorca is to rent a boat with friends for a day. This is usually my favorite summer memory here. Take a picnic with you and have it onboard, enjoy the small bays, dive off the boat, and explore with a paddle board.

Sit at the bow of the boat while it sails from bay to bay with your feet dangling off the side, and smile in the sunshine!  We generally go with two other families and split the cost of the day trip. The kids have a blast and the adults too.

We always feel like we’ve just had a week’s vacation after a day of lazing in the warm turquoise water hanging onto a paddle board with our drink balanced on it! Definitely not to be missed!”

Also Read: Chartering a Boat in Spain – Tips From a Pro

About Michelle

A beachcomber, an avid bookworm, and a teacher. Michelle is a Canadian travel blogger who writes about Ericeira.

She fell in love with the charming Portuguese village when she was enticed to move there by her Portuguese husband.

She now lives between Mallorca and Ericeira, with her family and Fluffy the hamster. 

Follow her adventures on Ericeirafamilyadventures.com.

About Mallorca, Spain

Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, located off the east coast of Spain.

The island has a population of just under 1 million and it’s said that Mallorca, together with the rest of the Balearics, is the region in Spain with the largest foreign population.

Loved for its coastline, nightlife, and wide range of resorts, Mallorca receives millions of tourists every summer.

But, there is another side to this island as well.

The large mountain range Serra de Tramuntana is loved by hikers, small towns offer a more authentic Spanish feel, the rich history of the island shows in places like the capital, Palma de Mallorca, and with its long and diverse coastline, it’s easy to find a beach that ticks your boxes.

The island also offers good scuba diving, great sailing, many other water sports, and a growing culinary scene.

Mallorca has a Mediterranean climate with mild and relatively wet winters and hot, dry summers.

For more information check out the article Mallorca: A Tourist Trap or a Beautiful Island?

Also Read:

• Things to Do in Soller, Mallorca
• The Best Places to Live in Spain
• Famous Spanish Food to Try in Spain
• Why Moving Abroad is Such a Valuable Experience

 

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