Today the weather here in Magalluf has taken a turn for the worse. Its not as bad as the Uk but a bit too cold for us out here. We’ve had to dig out jumpers and umbrellas but by Wednesday it is meant to have passed. I spent my weekend in a place called Alaro up in the mountains in Mallorca. This is where I had lunch at a restaurant BBC´s masterchef Rick Stein filmed last year, and where apparently you can get the best lamb on the island. It was excellent! I don’t normally eat Lamb (think little Shaun the Sheep jumping up and down in the fields but this was very great. After lunch we had a walk up to Castle Alaro. Amazing views. If you want directions let me know…

Yesterday I was talking about the best ways of getting out to Magalluf and finding somewhere to live at the start, but what about for the rest of the summer? There are apartments for long term rent in Magalluf and Palmanova, as well as some apartments a bit further a field such as Son Caliu, El Toro, Son Ferrer etc.

The apartments in Magalluf tend to be a bit old fashioned and run down but unfortunately it’s the supply and demand thing. Landlords tend to ask for 2 months deposit for these apartments as experience has taught them that some workers don’t pay their rent and just do a runner. So if you are coming out, you need to have some money in your pocket. Last year apartments tended to be 100 euros a week per person, but don’t forget a lot of apartments will have 4 people in so you might be fighting over the bathroom in the morning…

How to find these apartments? Back in the day you had to just walk round looking up at balconies and asking randoms. Now with the internet and Facebook it can be a lot easier. I have put Magalluf Workers Accommodation Finder as a group on Facebook and also Magalluf Job Centre where people are putting on their details so you can hook up. There is also one called Magalluf Workers. If you haven’t already, add us (The Travel Buddy) as a friend on Facebook wher we send out details of jobs and deals we have on cheap hotels etc.

The Mallorca summer is just around the corner now and I’m getting loads of emails and messages on The Travel Buddy Mallorca Facebook about how to get a job out here in Magalluf and Palmanova. So I thought I’d write my thoughts and experience down here.

Timing – Bars in Magalluf are just starting to do their cleaning and painting so will be opening in the next 2/3 weeks (around Easter time). Mallorca, especially Magalluf and Palmanova get busy around Easter time and then it drops of until May 1st, however most bars and restaurants stay open in that time, often making a bit of a loss for those last 2 weeks of April, but they stay open so they can hold onto their staff. In other words, you need to be thinking of booking your flights very soon!

Accommodation – I would always recommend that you book 5 days / a week at some hotel or apartment complex. This means you can fly out, check into your room and then leave you cases and head out and find a job and long term accommodation. Last year it was the accommodation that was the problem. Lots of jobs but nowhere to stay. This might be happening again this year. We sell hotel rooms and apartments (remember 4 of you can stay in a 1 bedroom apartment), and in fact last year we had some people that stayed in a hotel for 2 months as it was cheaper than renting a long term apartment. Send me a message on Facebook or email and we’ll try and get you somewhere cheap.

Tomorrow – Who do you want to wake up with?

We have had plenty of applicants for the job here at The Travel Buddy , our sister restaurants “Canto” in Palmanova, and the Katmandu bar and restaurant in Magalluf. There’s a real mixture of people working in Magalluf and the other resorts on the island. I came out here 8 years ago for the summer just to get away from the UK and have a bit of fun…and I’m still here!

Over the weekend I went to Llucmajor in the South East of the island where BBC´s Top Gear were filming one of their Top Gear Challenges, the Mallorca Classic Car Rally. The place was full of ex-pat’s enjoying the sunshine. We saw Hamster, Clarkson and May, although Richard Hammond wasn’t racing…so don’t know what happened there…

Once again the weather is fine, fine, fine. There are a few tourists knocking around, some on the beach sunbathing but it’s a bit too cold for that. But was that a bikini I saw? You’re a brave lot! I’m getting cold just watching some of you walking around in shorts and swimwear. It’s lovely in the sun, but the minute you’re in the shade it’s a different matter. But each week brings warmer weather and soon even I’ll have my shorts on…

Here in Magalluf at the Travel Buddy enquiries for flights and hotels are begining to flood in. It doesn’t seem you lot are being put off by the ‘crisis’. In fact - this year we expect more and more visitors who want to escape the constant doom and gloom being fed to us by on a daily basis.

Yes - it’s that time of year again…Mallorca is gently waking up after hibernation after an unusually cold winter. The bars and restaurants are getting a lick of paint, shops are getting ready to open and here at The Travel Buddy we are busy preparing for what is sure to be a great season!

So make sure you visit our website for all the best deals, whether it be accommodation, excursions or just all the best up to date information on how to get the best from your holiday.

An don’t forget you can call us direct on free phone 0800 680 0768 if you prefer to speak to a real person.

Can’t wait to see you here soon…