All of the recent investment in Magalluf and other parts of Calvia are certainly paying off. In October, Magalluf hosted the ABTA convention with Calvia Council keen to show off the new look resort to captains of the UK travel industry and it appears that Calvia has caught the eye of some of the leading luxury travel experts. Top magazine Condé Nast Traveler has just published “The Best Places to Go in Spain and Portugal in 2026” and second on the list is Calvia.
Every year all of the different editions of Condé Nast Traveler around the world, in China, Germany, India, Italy, the Middle East, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, create their lists of the top destinations to visit in 2026. These are places that are wonderful to travel to at any time but, in the year ahead, they should move to the top of your list.
And travel journalist David Moralejo writes about Calvia: “Why go? In addition to the recent efforts of destinations like Magaluf to make improvements to their infrastructure and clean up its beaches, there is the perennial and undeniable beauty of Mallorca’s famous coves that are home to hotels such as the St. Regis Mardavall, which is scheduled to reopen following renovations in 2026, and the eagerly awaited Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, which should open its doors next spring.
“The coastal area of the town of Calvia, to the west of Mallorca’s capital, Palma, and easily accessible from the airport, stretches from Cas Català to Cap Andritxol and is a succession of seaside cliffs, coves, and beaches. Here, classic hotels such as the iconic Hotel del Mar Gran Meliá and Hotel Bonsol Resort & Spa, both in Illetas, and Bendinat, in Portals Nous, coexist with more recent additions such as the Zel Mallorca in Magaluf, and the Purobeach Resort Santa Ponsa and the Kimpton Aysla Mallorca, both in Santa Ponsa. All of them, however, share a common goal: to raise the profile of an area that for years was synonymous with budget tourism.
“Two other hotels are key to Calvia’s current momentum, both with prime locations (they are neighbors) on Cala Punta Negra, located between Portals Nous and Palmanova. The iconic St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort promises to be the talk of the island when it reopens in February 2026 following the refurbishment of some of its suites and the renovation of its common areas. A classic luxury option in the Balearic Islands promises to only get better. Next door, the long-awaited Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra will open in summer 2026. You can choose which luxury brand best suits your style.” So, for all those who have been involved in the redevelopment of Magalluf, it’s been money very well spent.