We booked this last minute directly - (it has a special offer if you book a week or less before). There are plenty of budget airlines operating flights to Mallorca that don't leave at 3 am as well! We knew nothing about Mallorca before we went other than its cheap holiday reputation, but it's a beautiful place.
We've tended to book holidays independently and have never been to a resort before, so were a little worried. But we needn't have - Viva Mallorca is pretty much as good as you could possibly get for this type of holiday. Our six year old loved the Bufo kids club -she dipped in and out of the various activities, you didn't have to sign up for long periods - the animation staff were pretty good with the kids, and there was plenty for them to do. Worried parents will find the lack of a signing in process (some days there were some days there weren't!) a concern, but the kids club itself is self enclosed and safe, and our daughter was accompanied back to the pool when she wanted to find us on one occasion. There's a great kids pool, a massive main pool and an over 18's pool (nice idea but plenty of kids in it!). In short, it's an extremely good family resort - not recommended for couples, but really well set up for families.
Pool area had plenty of sun beds though this didn't stop one outbreak of war over one particular bed (why are people so weird about their towels?). Animation team are not pushy but enthusiastic beyond belief! We didn't watch any entertainment other than the mini disco which was as terrible as these things always are, but was a big hit with our daughter!
Can't comment on the food but there are plenty of good restaurants around. Can Picafort is actually lovely down by the port, and the beach is superb - sandy, with a long shallow bay with strong winds - great for wave jumping! Our daughter loved it. The resort is given a mixed press but not really sure why - we preferred it to Port de Pollensa, certainly in terms of the beach and the resort itself seemed to be used by a more cosmopolitan crowd - Pollensa was very British!
Definitely worth renting a car - just to go to Ermita de la Victoria (beyond Alcudia town), an superb restaraurant there called the Mirador with an amazing drive to get there, - great views. We also enjoyed trips to Alcudia town, (not to be confused with the port) and Binissalem (for wine lovers....) Palma airport is about an hour from Viva Mallorca and you can rent a car for £100 a week in high season. There are other good trips -Lluc monastery, Pollensa town, some hair raising mountain roads near Soller, and Palma itself is a great place to visit.
Alcudia itself is horrible unless you're a lover of Burger King etc, but go down to the port area and it's lovely - Bodega d'es Port does great tapas there.
So, if you've got kids, and are tempted by a resort holiday but are nervous as to how it might turn out, I'd thoroughly recommend the Viva Mallorca - apartments are clean and spacious (all important separate bedroom, and small kitchinette), staff are friendly and professional, and there's even an on site doctor, laundry, supermarket, spa, gym............. thoroughly recommended.













