October Half Term Sunshine at Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa, Mallorca

October Half Term Sunshine at Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa

Escaping to Mallorca for October half term felt like the perfect reset. We chose the beautiful Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa for a 6‑night all inclusive stay and it turned out to be exactly what a family holiday should be: relaxed, fun filled and full of those little moments you want to bottle.

A beachfront setting made for families!

Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa sits on one of Mallorca’s very best beaches, a long stretch of pale, soft sand and shallow, turquoise water that is ideal for children. Step through the gardens and you are on the sand in moments, with that lovely feeling of sea breeze and wide open views.

As guests here you also enjoy access to the facilities at the sister property next door, Iberostar Selection Albufera Park, which really opens up even more pools, spaces and activities to explore.

We were blessed with clear blue skies and sunshine around 25°C throughout our stay. It was warm enough to enjoy the pools and beach comfortably in the day, but pleasant in the evenings. In late October it felt like we had stolen an extra slice of summer.

All inclusive with real variety.

We stayed on an all inclusive basis and were really impressed by the choice and quality. Branded drinks were included, which was a nice touch, and the food offering worked brilliantly for us as a family of three.

There are two excellent buffet restaurants with plenty of fresh options at every meal. On top of that you have three à la carte restaurants:

• Greek
• Tapas
• Mexican

We tried them all, but the Mexican quickly became our favourite, both for the flavor's and the atmosphere. It is lovely to be able to sit down to a more “restaurant style” dinner without worrying about the bill at the end.

Stand‑out service

As I have come to expect from Iberostar, the staff really made the stay. Everyone we met was friendly, helpful and genuinely warm, from reception and bar staff to housekeeping and the entertainment team. Nothing felt like too much trouble, which makes a big difference when you are travelling with a child and just want everything to run smoothly.

Pools, sky bar and those Alcudia Bay views

There are several pools to choose from, but our favourite spot quickly became the pool up at the sky bar. From this high vantage point you get panoramic views over Alcudia Bay and along the coastline. It is the ideal place to linger with a drink while our daughter splashed in the water, and to soak up those golden hour sunsets that Mallorca does so well.

Non‑stop fun for our daughter

This is a hotel that really understands families. There is a wealth of entertainment and activities throughout the day, plus the dedicated kids’ Star Camp. Our daughter loved the programme, which kept her busy, happy and making friends, and gave us some proper downtime to relax by the pool or enjoy a quiet drink together.

The daytime entertainment around the pool was fantastic too. One of our standout memories is the kids’ foam party in the middle of the day by the pool, which was great fun and a real “holiday moment” our daughter is still talking about.

In the evenings the atmosphere shifts but the energy keeps going, with a brilliant mix of silent disco, magic shows and live music that kept all ages entertained.

Exploring beyond the hotel.

Location wise, you have a couple of shops and restaurants within an easy walk, which is handy for a wander and an ice cream. We also hired a car for three days to explore a little further afield.

A real must‑do is Alcudia Old Town and its market. The old walled town is incredibly atmospheric, with cobbled lanes, stone houses and lots of characterful little squares. On Tuesdays and Sundays the streets fill with stalls selling hand‑crafted jewellery, local artisanal food, clothes and shoes. It is the sort of place you can happily amble for a few hours, picking up a few treats and enjoying a coffee in the sunshine while you people watch.

Why it works so well for families

For me, Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa is an easy recommendation for families, whether you are travelling with one child or a larger crew. It ticks so many boxes:

• Beachfront location on one of Mallorca’s best stretches of sand
• Access to the facilities of both Albufera Playa and Albufera Park
• Spacious pool areas including the sky bar pool with panoramic views
• Excellent all inclusive with quality branded drinks and a choice of buffet and à la carte restaurants
• Fantastic kids’ club and a full entertainment programme that our daughter loved
• Daytime fun such as the poolside foam party, plus evening entertainment from silent discos to live music

Combine all of that with reliable October sunshine around 25°C and the simple joy of swapping grey skies for blue, and it adds up to a half term break that feels both easy and special.

If you have families looking for a stress‑free October escape with plenty going on for the children and some lovely touches for the adults too, I would absolutely suggest this hotel as one to consider.