Oliver sits down with Nick Brown, a regular in the Majorca Mallorca community known for translating complicated rules into plain English, to unpack what is changing at Europe’s borders.

They cover the Entry/Exit System (EES) kiosks and biometrics, how the Schengen 90 days in any 180 days rule actually works, what could cause longer queues at Palma, and the practical stuff people can do to reduce stress when arriving or departing.

They also break down ETIAS, why scam websites are already appearing, and a separate but related headache: the UK’s ETA rules, especially for British dual nationals travelling on non-UK passports.

1. EES is the “at the border” change: biometric registration and electronic tracking replace the old stamp logic for most non-EU short-stay travellers.
2. 90/180 is rolling, no reset: it is not “90 then one day out then 90 again”, it is “are you over 90 of the last 180 days, today?”.
3. Queues may be worse before they are better, especially at busy regional airports in peak season, because first-time registration takes longer and needs staffing.
4. ETIAS is not live yet: the EU’s official position is that it will start in the last quarter of 2026 and travellers do not need to do anything now.
5. UK ETA is now enforced for people who need it, and costs £16 via the official route.
6. Beware paid “application services” and fake sites, especially for ETIAS, since it is not even open yet.

Mentioned in the episode

1. EU official Travel to Europe pages: EES and ETIAS (what they are, and current status)
2. European Commission explainer: EES vs ETIAS differences
3. UK Government guidance: Apply for a UK ETA, cost, what it does and does not do
4. UK Government announcement on ETA enforcement (25 Feb 2026)
5. Banco de Alimentos de Mallorca, donation options (as referenced by Nick)
6. Brits in Spain Facebook page, run by the British Embassy in Madrid (referenced in the discussion)

EU EES (official): https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees

EU ETIAS (official): https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias

European Commission: EES vs ETIAS explainer: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/ees-vs-etias-main-differences-know-travellers-2026-01-29_en

UK ETA apply (official): https://www.gov.uk/eta

UK ETA enforcement news release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enforces-digital-permission-to-travel

Banco de Alimentos de Mallorca (donations): https://www.bancodealimentosdemallorca.org/donativos

Brits in Spain (British Embassy Madrid): https://www.facebook.com/BritsInSpain/

....and some links from Nick.

Work out how long you can stay with this spreadsheet.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wTSpknDO0azRvEa_JQvCTJ_W3iMBafySYi9p3i6KvYw/edit?gid=1766127169#gid=1766127169

...help him to help local charities while getting a personally guided tour of Palma from the man himself.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563615153343

Mallorca Restaurant Week is live, and despite the name, it’s five weeks long.

We’re joined in the studio by Anna Ruiz Alvaro and Mia Narpta, the team behind Mallorca Restaurant Week, to share what’s new for this edition, why the event focuses on the low season, and how it brings together restaurants, producers, hotels, and partners across the island.

We talk about:

1. When it runs, and why the timing matters
2. How restaurants are chosen, beyond Michelin stars
3. The local produce commitment, and why it’s part of the point
4. What you can book, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails
5. How feedback leads to end of event recognitions
6. A few suggestions to get you started, from Japanese spots to veggie picks

Book through the official site and explore the list of restaurants and menus. Links are in the show notes.

Guests

1. Anna Ruiz Alvaro, Mallorca Restaurant Week
2. Mia Narpta, Mallorca Restaurant Week

What you’ll hear

1. Mallorca Restaurant Week starts now and runs until 31 March, with a closing party on 30 March at Tabana
2. Over 50 restaurants participating, with more joining during the run
3. Why it’s designed for low season, to support restaurants and extend the season
4. The focus on local produce and the island’s food ecosystem
5. How booking works, and how feedback is collected
6. Names mentioned in conversation include Mark Fosh, Voro, DINS Santi Taura, Adrián Quetglas, Andreu Genestra, Aromata, and others

Mentions from the conversation

1. Restaurant Week website: restaurant-week.es
2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantweekes/

MallorcaRestaurantWeek, RestaurantWeekMallorca, PalmaDeMallorca, MallorcaFood, MallorcaRestaurants, MallorcaLife, EatLocalMallorca, Km0, SlowFoodMallorca, VisitMallorca, FoodiesMallorca, PalmaFood

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the Mallorca Mallorca Podcast. This week, Soller Shirley joins Vicki in the studio for a wide-ranging winter chat, starting with festive downtime, sea walks, and why the quiet season can be the most grounding time to live in Mallorca.

From there, we dive into one of the island’s most loved winter traditions, Sant Antoni in Sóller, from bonfires and barbecues to demonis, the blessing of the animals, and the surprisingly surreal horse races that take place right in the middle of town.

Along the way, the conversation moves into something deeper too, the difference between the postcard version of Mallorca and the year-round reality, the cost of living, subsidies, and the voices we do not always hear, especially from the immigrant communities who keep the island running.

And yes, there’s a delicious detour into Bhukkad Boca, the new Punjabi and South African-inspired neighbourhood bar in Palma.

1. The joy of the “between Christmas and New Year” quiet days
2. Winter rituals, sea walks, slow season routines, and the comfort of familiarity
3. Why Repic and Port de Sóller feel like a safe place
4. What belonging really means when you live here year-round
5. Sant Antoni in Sóller, what happens, when, and where
6. Bonfires, demonis, barbecues, and why it still feels joyful and free
7. The blessing of the animals (and why you should wear red)
8. Horse races in the town car park, and how surreal that feels
9. The bus culture of fiestas (and why younger locals love it)
10. Cost of living, subsidies, and what a “voucher world” looks like
11. A personal story that brings the conversation back to gratitude and perspective
12. Desi pubs in the UK, and how communities reshape culture over time
13. Bhukkad Boca in Palma, a new opening with big neighbourhood energy

1. Sóller
2. Port de Sóller
3. Repic
4. La Huerta (Sóller)
5. Sant Antoni (Mallorca)
6. Sant Sebastià (Palma)
7. Bhukkad Boca (Son Armadams, Palma)
8. Merchants (Palma)
9. Tom Brown’s (Palmanova)

1. “I love that week where you don’t know what day it is, you can just mooch about in your pyjamas.”
2. “The sea is definitely my safe place.”
3. “Everywhere you go in the next ten days, you’ll find a celebration of some kind.”
4. “It’s not spicy, it’s spiced up.”
5. “Mallorca has so many layers, the holiday version, the resident version, the international version, the working version.”

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the Mallorca Mallorca Podcast wherever you listen, and share this episode with a friend who loves Mallorca in the quieter season.

And if you’re spending January on the island, this is your sign to get out and experience the winter fiestas, even if you watch from a safe distance with a warm drink in hand.

Vicki sits down with Maya Flynn, a Poland-born health practitioner who lived in Ireland before moving to Mallorca. Maya shares how her own health journey, from low thyroid and fatigue to digestive issues, led her into naturopathic nutritional therapy and functional medicine.

Together they unpack why symptoms are often signals, not the real problem, why the body is individual, and how lifestyle, environment, digestion, and stress all shape how we feel. They also discuss the difference between folklore wisdom and modern science, and why the best results often come from using both.

Vicki brings a real-world question to the table too, a skin antioxidant test result that made no sense on paper. Maya explains how nutrients are prioritised in the body, why absorption matters as much as intake, and why context always wins in nutrition.

Finally, Maya shares details of her new Mallorca workshop series, Food as Medicine, starting 24 January, a ten-session community experience designed to cut through misinformation, build food confidence, and help people understand their own bodies with practical tools, not perfection.

1. Maya’s move from Poland to Ireland, then Mallorca
2. Why “healthy” diets do not work the same for everyone
3. Functional medicine, what it is, and why people seek it out
4. Common issues clients bring, acne, bloating, itching, allergies, hormone shifts, perimenopause
5. Why symptoms are not the disease, they are signals
6. Ancient wisdom vs modern science, and why both can be useful
7. Time, routines, and why simple, repeatable meals matter
8. The updated US food pyramid and what it could mean in practice
9. Antioxidants, beta-carotene, absorption, and why fats matter
10. How Maya works with clients, questionnaires, photos, consultations, tests, and support options
11. Organic vs non-organic, and the “level up, not perfection” approach
12. Maya’s Food as Medicine series in Santa Catalina, Palma, and what each module covers

1. Starts: 24 January
2. Format: 10 Saturdays (you can join single sessions, or bundles of 5 or 10)
3. Session length: 2.5 hours, with a brunch break
4. Location: Santa Catalina, Palma (at Cintina)
5. Language: English
6. Sign-up: via Maya’s website (Food as Medicine tab)

1. New Year Reset (mindset, health audit, cutting through misinformation)
2. Food confidence (shopping in Mallorca, labels, avoiding marketing traps, Yuka app pros and cons)
3. Reading bloods and symptoms (how to interpret patterns, what you see in the mirror)
4. Stress resilience (thriving in stress, not pretending you can remove it)
5. Gut health (microbiome, parasites, ecosystem balance, symptoms beyond digestion)
6. Hormones and perimenopause (why symptoms are so intense, lifestyle factors)
7. Fitness and immunity (autoimmune conditions, histamine issues, sensitivities vs intolerances)

1. Mallorca
2. Santa Catalina, Palma
3. Cintina
4. Mercadona
5. Yuka app

1. “There is no such thing as one healthy diet.”
2. “Symptoms are not the disease, they’re the expression of what’s happening deeper.”
3. “Sustainable health comes from consistency.”
4. “Embrace the routine.”
5. “Improve life without turning it into a project.”

If you’re feeling confused by conflicting nutrition advice, or you want practical steps that fit real life in Mallorca, this conversation is a great starting point. Follow the Mallorca Mallorca Podcast wherever you listen, and share this episode with a friend who’s trying to feel better without making life more complicated.

Food writer and Restaurant Week organiser Mia Naprta joins Vic and Ollie for a fast, funny, very hungry catch up on what she’s been eating around Mallorca, plus the places she’s most excited about right now.

They talk winter comfort food, Croatian Christmas traditions, Palma’s stand out lunch menus, tapas worth the splurge, and why first impressions matter so much when a new venue opens. You will also hear about a few lesser known neighbourhood favourites and how Mallorca’s food scene is expanding far beyond the classics.

In this episode, we cover

1. Why some Croatians celebrate Christmas on 7 January, and what a Croatian Christmas table looks like
2. The dishes Mia misses and the soups she is cooking at home this winter
3. Adrian Quetglas (Palma), a lunch menu that feels like a treat without going overboard
4. Bazar (Palma) for elevated tapas and generous set menus
5. A “vermouth show” bar, and why Palma is at its best when it gets a bit weird
6. Merchants (Palma) and their winter afternoon tea experience
7. A new opening: Bhukkad Boca, an Indian inspired cafe near Bellver Castle
8. Mango Beach, Colombian comfort food and a sugar cane based drink worth trying
9. Restaurant Week Mallorca, and how restaurants can get involved
10. A birthday spa day at La Residencia, including an ice bath moment

Places mentioned

1. Adrian Quetglas, Palma
2. Bazar, Palma
3. Merchants, Palma
4. Bhukkad Boca, Palma (near Bellver)
5. Mango Beach, Palma (Son Gotleu area)
6. Iroko, Palma (near Hotel Zel)
7. La Residencia, Deià
8. Connected Mallorca (events)

People and projects

1. Mia Naprta, food writer and organiser of Restaurant Week Mallorca
2. Restaurant Week Mallorca (end of February to end of March)

Croatian phrases from the episode

1. Happy New Year: Sretna Nova (or Sretna Nova Godina)
2. Merry Christmas: Sretan Božić

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You can email MM on [email protected]

In this episode, Vicki speaks with Imke, a life coach and counsellor based in Mallorca, about what it really means to change direction in life.

Imke spent almost 25 years working as a cardiologist in Germany before moving to Mallorca. What she expected to be a continuation of her career became a moment of deep questioning, leading her to step away from medicine and retrain in counselling and coaching.

Together, they discuss:

1. Leaving a secure and respected career
2. Why courage is not the absence of fear
3. The difference between functioning and living
4. Walking the Camino de Santiago alone
5. Coaching versus counselling
6. Why New Year’s resolutions so often fail
7. Mental health in Mallorca and the expat experience
8. Midlife as a powerful turning point, especially for women
9. The Dare To Be You coaching programme

This episode is for anyone who feels restless, disconnected or quietly asking themselves, “Is this really it?”

https://www.thegapcounselling.com/

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You can email MM on [email protected]

Vicki McLeod and Oliver Neilson kick off the year from their “stationery cupboard studio” to recap 2025 with three standout moments each, a mix of uplifting local stories, celebrity chaos, and one beloved Mallorca project that did not quite survive.

1. A new “studio” setup, and why January in Mallorca feels like a long, lovely exhale, thanks to puente days and slow returns to work
2. 2025 pick 1: Otillie Quince, transplant athlete and relentlessly positive force, expanding her bike shop and winning again at the Transplant Games
3. 2025 pick 1: Justin Bieber in Port d’Andratx, the reality of fame, crowds outside Nacra, and Vicki’s accidental viral “Beliebers” moment
4. 2025 pick 2: Kanye West and Pueblo Espanyol, and the scramble to help Drag Brunch find a venue after a sudden complex takeover
5. 2025 pick 2: The Disgusting Food Museum in Palma, what it was like to try the samples, why it was a great idea, and the disappointment of its closure
6. 2025 pick 3: Nick Brown, the Palma walking tour expert who refuses tips and encourages donations to local charities instead
7. 2025 pick 3: Luna Fluxà Cross, Mallorca’s rising motorsport talent, her Mercedes programme, and the step up into Spanish Formula 4
8. A quick note on 2026 intentions: consistency, community, and staying focused on what’s good about Mallorca

Otillie Quince, OQ Service Course (Pollença), Port d’Andratx, Nacra, Cala Llamp, Gran Folies, Poble Espanyol, Disgusting Food Museum (Palma), ABTA conference (Magaluf), Simon Calder, Nick Brown (Palma walks), Luna Fluxà Cross, Spanish Formula 4

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You can email MM on [email protected]

In this episode, Vic is joined in the studio by Jan Edwards from Eat Drink Sleep Mallorca, (https://eatdrinksleepmallorca.com) writer and restaurant reviewer, for a lively catch-up on what’s worth booking right now across the island.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your podcast app. You can also find links and references in the show notes.

This episode was actually recorded before Christmas, but all of the info is still relevant now.

1. Little Jarana (Palma): Jan’s latest restaurant-of-the-week, a small, intimate spot built around sharing plates and a counter view of the kitchen. Chef-owner Abraham Artigas keeps things Mediterranean with playful international touches, and it is one of those places you will want to book ahead. https://www.littlejarana.com/
2. Mallorca’s Michelin conversation: A quick, friendly breakdown of what the latest guide recognition means on such a small island, and why you do not always need to dress up, even in star territory.
3. Terrae and the rise of zero-waste dining: Jan talks sustainability, “use everything” cooking, and why zero-waste restaurants are so compelling right now.
4. Can March (Manacor) turns 100: A centenary celebration for a long-running family restaurant, plus a newly published book covering the story and recipes (with more languages expected). https://www.canmarch.com/en/
5. Tomeu Caldentey in Sa Coma: Jan shares a packed-room tasting menu experience, the appeal of chef-counter dining, and why some chefs choose freedom over the “golden shackles” of constant awards pressure. https://tomeucaldentey.com/en/
6. Restaurant discovery and marketing: Instagram rabbit holes, why character-led marketing works (including a shout-out to Annabelle’s), and why “book ahead” is the best stress-reducer in Mallorca dining season.

More links!

https://fincacanbeneit.com/en/gastronomy/

https://www.brutrestaurante.com/

https://nuspalma.com/

https://mesquidamora.com/es/

https://www.instagram.com/canmel_casconcos

This episode of the Majorca Mallorca podcast is your friendly guide to Christmas and New Year on the island. Vicki is joined in the studio by returning guest Nina Moons, founder of The Calendar Mallorca, to talk about how to navigate the busiest, sparkliest time of the year without missing the good stuff.

Nina shares how The Calendar Mallorca has become a curated hub for events across the island, and why she created a special “Festive Moments 2025” category to keep Christmas programmes manageable. Together they talk through family friendly highlights in Palma and beyond, artisan markets and gifting ideas, and the local traditions that make a Mallorcan Christmas feel different from anywhere else.

You will hear about belen routes and restored nativity scenes, Santa Lucia in the cathedral, the Festa de l’Estendard on New Year’s Eve, fancy dress runs in Calvià, cold water swims, hotel afternoon teas and the magic of the Three Kings parades. Along the way, Vicki and Nina also touch on women’s health events, the importance of shopping local and why experiences often make the best presents.

In the final part of the episode, Vicki and Ollie catch up on island life, from a new smoking ban proposal and invasive horseshoe snakes to house prices and the challenges of finding somewhere to live in Mallorca.

Guest bio

Nina Moons is the founder of The Calendar Mallorca, an online platform that curates events, markets, workshops and cultural happenings across the island. Passionate about community and supporting local businesses, she sifts through hundreds of listings so that locals and visitors can find the best of what is on, without the overwhelm.

Links

• CHECK The Calendar Mallorca website https://thecalendarmallorca.com/ and Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thecalendar.mallorca/ for weekly event listings.

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You can email MM on [email protected]

This episode dives into the story behind Food Tours Balearics, the self guided food tour company reshaping how people experience Palma. Vicki speaks to Michelle about her journey from St Maarten to Mallorca, how the business began almost by accident, and why the island’s food scene is the perfect backdrop for curated culinary experiences. The conversation covers entrepreneurship, Palma’s evolving gastronomy, the importance of local partnerships and the joy of discovering the island through food.

Michelle is the co founder of Food Tours Balearics, a Mallorca based company offering self guided and group food tours across Palma, Santa Catalina and, most recently, Ibiza. With a background in large scale events and a passion for connecting people through food, she has built a concept that blends local insight with modern technology, giving both residents and visitors a fresh way to explore the Balearics.

Mallorca Food Tours https://foodtoursmallorca.com/ discount code at checkout MM10

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You can email MM on [email protected]