Review: Barefoot chic for Families at Zafiro Palmanova, Mallorca

Just 200 metres from the beach in the quiet resort town of Palmanova, Zafiro Palmanova is the kind of all-inclusive that manages to feel both properly relaxing and yet also very well geared up for young families. We stayed for four nights in October with our two children, Leah (3) and Noah (1), and were lucky enough to be upgraded to a One-Bedroom Swim Up Suite within Club Zafiro, the hotel's more exclusive section.

Mid-October turned out to be a sweet spot for us. Days were warm and sunny, evenings and mornings pleasantly cool, which meant we spent almost all our time outdoors without ever feeling too hot or struggling with the little ones in the heat

Arrival

The transfer from the airport was smooth, with car seats already fitted and waiting for us, which is always the first small sign that a hotel has thought about families properly. Check-in was quick and easy too, no queuing with a restless toddler and a walking baby ready to tear down the plants.

The Swim Up Suite

Our One-Bedroom Swim Up Suite was part of Club Zafiro, and it did not disappoint. The room itself was generously sized, as was the bathroom, which came with a proper, deep bathtub, ideal for winding down two small children before bed. A lovely touch was the Jo Loves toiletries lining the bathroom shelf; a small detail, but one that made the space feel a little more special than your average family hotel bathroom.

The sofa bed was a single, which was fine for my husband while Noah's travel cot ended up being used far more for play and storage than actual sleeping. I was in the big bed with lovely sheets and a child either side of me.

The real highlight, though, was our own private swim-up pool just off the terrace. It had a small gate separating it from the water, which as parents we genuinely appreciated. Leah couldn't simply launch herself in whenever she pleased, which meant we could actually sit, breathe and enjoy a drink on the terrace without one eye permanently fixed on the water.

Club Zafiro perks

Club Zafiro access came with a few lovely extras that elevated the whole stay. We arrived to a welcome gift of a bottle of red wine and fresh flowers waiting in the room, a small gesture that set a relaxed tone from the start. We were also able to enjoy two complimentary 25-minute massages each as part of our Club Zafiro access, booked in around nap times, which felt like an unexpected little luxury on a family trip.

The spa area itself was lovely, calm and well kept, while the gym was properly equipped for anyone wanting to keep up a workout routine during the holiday. We gave each other one hour each, daily.

Pools and outdoor space

Beyond our own swim-up pool, the resort's wider pool area gave us plenty to explore. There's a big splash pool with slides although it sat in the shade for most of the morning and was noticeably colder by the afternoon compared with the other pools, which were warmer and better suited for both us and the kids. Worth bearing in mind if you prefer warmer degrees.

The playground and bouncy castle were an easy win, and we found ourselves there most afternoons. Leah was in her element, and it meant we could let her burn off energy while also keeping an eye on Noah.

Dining

We mainly ate in the main buffet restaurant, which ran a different theme each evening, something that kept things interesting over four nights rather than feeling repetitive. The food itself was great, with a good spread for both adults and children, so there was never a moment of panic trying to find something both kids would actually eat.
The other restaurants were lovely too, although much quieter. Had we gone with friends we would have visited more.

Evening entertainment

If you'd told me a few years ago that the highlight of my evening would be a mini disco, I'm not sure I'd have believed you, but here we are. Every single night at 8pm without fail, we took Leah and Noah to the mini disco, and they adored it. Songs played mainly in English, but with Swedish, German, Spanish and Dutch thrown in too, a nice nod to the mix of nationalities staying at the resort. Towards the end of each session, Izzi the Koala would appear for a little dance and photos with the children, and Leah was genuinely buzzing every time. We didn't miss a single evening.

Leah and Noah were just a touch too young for the kids' club itself, which runs sessions with drawing and entertainment in a dedicated room. We could have stayed in with them, but the space felt quite busy for little ones their age, so we opted to take them outside instead, where there was plenty else to keep them happy.

The wider atmosphere

One of the loveliest things about the resort was watching how many big groups of friends and family were staying together, multiple generations clearly making the most of a holiday side by side. The staff, across the board, were brilliant with the children, warm and attentive without ever being intrusive, which makes a genuine difference when you're travelling with little ones.

Location

The beach is barely a ten-minute walk from the hotel, and we made a point of strolling down a couple of times just for a change of scenery. It's a lovely, easy addition to the stay rather than a necessity, since the resort's own pools more than cover the day-to-day swimming needs.

Final thoughts

Zafiro Palmanova struck a balance that can be surprisingly hard to find: proper, grown-up touches like the spa, the wine on arrival and the swim-up suite, alongside genuinely thoughtful family provisions like the pool gate, the nightly mini disco and a buffet that didn't make children feel like an afterthought. For a family trip with a one and three-year-old in October, it hit every note we needed. Relaxed, warm and easy, right down to the Koala-shaped photo opportunities we will probably be looking back on for years to come.

Noelle Riemslag Fayika