Everyone is saying how expensive Mallorca has become, so I’ve come up with 10 ways to save money here on the island.
- The Spanish government subsidises 75% of the fares of scheduled air or sea transport for all EU citizens who are residents of the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta or Melilla. For us Brits living in Mallorca it means to qualify for the discount, you must be a permanent resident, either with the green NIE stating ‘permanente’ or with the TIE card. You also need to get a resident certificate from the municipal council where you are registered. I got ours from one of the tourist information offices.
- All public transport will continue to be free in 2024. This will be for interurban buses, trains and Metro in Mallorca. Palma buses are treated separately, and the town hall has said these are also free. To get your card, you’ll need to take your NIE and ‘empadronamiento’ – proof of residence in your local municipality – to one of the travel information offices. Palma’s intermodal station is just one of the locations where you can obtain your card. Note that the Soller train is not included in the above.
- In the municipality where I live in Calvia, parking is free in the blue zones in the winter, which is normally November to the end of March. In those blue zones in the summer months, you have to pay on Mondays to Fridays 09.30 to 13.30 and 16.00 to 20.00. Saturdays, 09:30 to 13.30, Sundays and bank holidays are free. It’s always best to check the machine before paying. It can be different in other municipalities, so it’s good to check first. There is a parking app called Elparking.com which I haven’t used yet but looks useful, particularly in the summer months.
- Hotel treats is a website that offers vouchers to luxury hotels, spas and beach clubs not just to tourists but to residents too. My Wife made me aware of this when she booked a day at Puro Beach in Illetas last summer. We got a Bali bed for two, drinks and fruit on arrival and a three-course meal with wine in their restaurant, all for just €100.
- Menú del día, or “menu of the day”, is a set menu or served by Spanish restaurants during weekday lunch, one of the largest meals of the day in Spain. It is known for being economical, and normally you’ll have a choice of 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts plus a bottle of house wine and water. Lots of restaurants are offering this now, not just your traditional Spanish restaurants.
- Most of the supermarkets have loyalty cards. We shop in Lidl, who have an app that you can download. You tend to find that they will offer you discount on the things you buy regularly, which is useful. Aldi offer something similar, Eroski and Carrefour have a club card system and as far as I am aware Mercadona do not have anything. Although they do have that annoying jingle which now I’ve said it will be going on in your heads all day!
- “Too Good To Go” is the free food recovery app that makes it easy to make a positive impact on the planet while saving money on your favourite foods. The #1 app for reducing food waste, you can save tasty unsold snacks, takeaway meals, and ingredients straight from shops, cafés, supermarkets and restaurants in your area – all at an unbeatable price. Most of the offers range from €2 to €5 and are normally available in the afternoon/evening.
- Mallorca Fashion Outlet is situated just outside Marratxi on the outskirts of Palma. It has a full array of shops offering factory prices plus a cinema, karting and many different food outlets. Every last Thursday of the month they offer “Super Thursdays” where they offer even bigger discounts. I went to one last year when they were offering all goods without paying IVA(VAT to you and I).
- Most excursions on the island offer a resident’s discount. It’s best to check with each one what they offer. At Pirates, you can get 20% off of Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos, by using the code RESW20. But keep a lookout in the winter months, as sometimes we’ll offer a bigger discount for a limited period only.
- Most of the above are for residents here on the island, but a few of them can be used if you’re visiting us from somewhere else. I would encourage more of you to come in the low season and in the winter. Mallorca and Palma in particular have a great deal to offer than just sun, sea and sand. Gastronomy, culture, bars, boutique hotels, history and lots of shopping opportunities are just a few of the highlights.
This list has been made up of things I already knew and some from friends that I didn’t know about. I’m sure there are many more, so please feel free to send them to me or add them into the comments below.
Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
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