Travel: A 2-day itinerary for your getaway to Mallorca in Spain
Hospitality, at its core, allows our walls to drop. It creates a space where the self can step forward unmasked; the person behind the performance.
I quickly learned what that feels like at Jumeirah Mallorca, in Spain. It expressed itself in golden-hour light, in stillness, and in intuitive gestures. The Goldilocks effect: a balance between attentiveness and calm. On reflection, I arrived needing a reset. (Don't we all?)
And what I received was the kind that seeps into your nervous system. A rest from pace, noise, and performance. And don't get me started on the team. I must have spoken to a dozen of them: Nicky, Ruben, Guillermo, Luis, Carla, Annie. I gained so many intangible gifts in my short time with them.
Nicky reminded me that it's possible to balance island chill with ambition and grace.
Ruben and Guillermo stood quietly by as I tried to weave my (still-broken) thoughts together over my final sunset. Carla and Annie were nothing but charming from the moment I arrived.
And Luis sent me home with an incredibly auspicious gift. A quiet encouragement. The kind that says, 'Keep going. You're on your way.'
On the first night, I had one of the most extraordinary vegetarian meals I've ever tasted — vibrant, deeply satisfying and perfectly balanced. The standout? A vegan ceviche so delicate and flavourful I still think about it. And as if the evening wasn't magical enough, I found myself seated beside a real-life Pocahontas (of the Mallorcan male variety). And I'm one who hadn't even seen the film. But as I picked his brain over dinner, he spoke to me of ancient traditions, sacred trees, and the island's layered wisdom. I was utterly immersed.
Despite the hotel's beauty and barefoot elegance, this was no 'sit by the pool and lounge' sort of trip. Annie, with her effortless charm and contagious energy, was determined for us to see more. And I'm so glad she was.
We ventured to Viti Vinci, where scent becomes philosophy, and watched as perfumes were composed like symphonies: layered, subtle, unforgettable. We explored Herodian Art, a space that Katharina made to feel more like a sanctuary than a showroom, where ancient craftsmanship met modern expression with reverence.
And at SONMO, short for Son Moragues, we witnessed first-hand the genius of regenerative agriculture that produced the olive oil on my plate. I left with a deeper appreciation for the slow, sacred work of the land.
Each of these initiatives works closely with the hotel and reflects its ethos: to collaborate with Mallorca's creatives and stewards, and to help regenerate the very island that welcomes its guests.
Almost becoming a presence in its own right, the spirit of hospitality danced through every smile, every conversation, every moment of silence.
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