Do you have luck, a knack for a particular craft and time? Then you might be a freelancer. That opens up an unlimited number of opportunities that you simply have to grab by the scruff of the neck. My colleague and I head abroad every year for a work brainstorming trip. The point is inspiration and getting out of our own work bubble. With hand luggage, laptops, a notebook and a pen, we fly around the beauty spots of Europe – chosen mainly by whatever flight is cheapest at the time. This time we landed on an unassuming Spanish island – Palma de Mallorca, otherwise known as a paradise for the German tourist forces.
How the day was structured
Our picture-perfect days started with a regular run along the boulevard east of Palma. The idea was to kick-start the body and, if we’re honest, to prepare ourselves for eating more at breakfast (what else are you supposed to do when breakfast is served as a brunch).
After breakfast we headed to the hotel lobby, where we’d spend roughly 3-5 hours on client work. Meetings, but also the ordinary work that all our partnerships are built on. As I like to say, “sometimes you have to pick up the shovel”.
Thanks to the favourable set-up at the hotel, we used brunch as lunch too. The hotel served food until 13:30, largely because of the party crowd. To explain: bear in mind that especially in the summer months, when temperatures are around 40 degrees, normal life only starts in the evening. It then runs on into the early hours, which means the only people at breakfast at eight are the staff, families with children and us – the nomads.
After lunch we dealt with whatever was left over and headed for the beach. An important part of a working holiday is “time for yourself”. I spend it in a few ways:
- Reading a book
- Writing down thoughts
- Listening to a podcast
- Staring into space – I consider this one extremely important.
We’d round off the romance on the beach with a coffee and move on to brainstorming at the hotel. We’d debate topics conversationally, taking notes that we then recycle once we’re back home.
How we get more inspiration and ideas
Most often by simply talking to each other about our experiences. Even the most basic question can lead the other person to an interesting idea.
By following industry media, notable people on social media and specialist articles.
Or we just take paper and a pen and write down whatever is bothering us most. By describing the problem in detail we arrive at a diagnosis, and from there we work out the “treatment”.
Accommodation in Mallorca
I have to say this one was a golden touch. The three-star Hotel Tent gave us an incredible base at a very reasonable price. 5 days (4 nights) including daily brunch, daily towel changes, room service, a gym, a pool and a spacious lobby suitable for working came to 830 CZK per person per day!
What we appreciated most of all, though, was the staff, who made us feel at home. Genuinely.
If you have the chance, want to save money and find a good spot for nomading without worrying about food, book here.
A long-term stay in a hotel may not be as cost-effective, so there are other options. The most common is Airbnb. In the capital, a monthly rental out of season comes to roughly 2,000 €; if you contact the owner in advance you can negotiate. You’ll get a better price outside Palma – the ideal location is the north of the island, around Port d’Alcúdia.
You have to add the cost of food, of course. Thrifty types can get by on 20-25 € a day, while those after the experience will manage on roughly double that.
What to see around Palma de Mallorca
Unfortunately we miscalculated our time a bit, so all we saw were kilometres of beach, a lot of local restaurants, the centre of Palma de Mallorca and the airport.
What our nomad adventure in Mallorca cost
The interesting part, which will surely be of interest to every “nomad” as well as to low-cost travellers. In the table below I’ve tried to record all the costs connected with the trip.
4 nights / 5 days – 822 CZK
Flights, hand luggage only – 1,935 CZK
Spending over 5 days excluding souvenirs – 2,500 CZK
Unfortunately we couldn’t find cheaper flights, because our dates were fixed and on top of that we were flying over Easter. What we didn’t save on flights we made up for on accommodation and food.
Useful advice and tips
Definitely download the MobiPalma app when you land – it gives you a clear overview of timetables across the whole island. The app covers every bus service; just enter the stop number and you immediately know which buses run and when.
Don’t say “yes” to every seller. And there are plenty of them on the island! It’s swarming with refugees from Senegal, and more arrive almost every month. Their approach might strike you as annoying, but sadly it’s probably their only chance to make a living.
It definitely pays to venture beyond the well-known spots. That’s how you can stumble on local restaurants where you eat well for decent money and get a taste of real Catalan life on top. You’ll find a few tried-and-tested tips on where to find those places in this map of my saved spots.
You’ll find another load of trip ideas for Spain here, and there are plenty of them. Among others, the Camino de Santiago.
