Finally switch off properly again!

Three days on the island. Three days far from home. Kid and husband staying in Berlin. Quick as a flash, I'd packed my best friend up and was whisking her away for a relaxing weekend in Mallorca. And don't forget the bikini! Ooo yeah.

Finally, it's summer – and we are living it. Two friends, alone on the island for a long weekend of taking some time out for ourselves. Time for delicious food, good conversation and pure relaxation, with no responsibilities, no need to entertain the kids, no tears, no tantrums and no admin. The dads back at home can take care of that on their own for a change.

We booked into what's probably the coolest place to stay on the island: the Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel in the bay of Port de Sóller. Located in the unbelievably beautiful scenery of the Tramuntana moutains, this trendy gem of a hotel is nestled in the hills of this picturesque port town in North Mallorca. It's the perfect spot to embrace switching off and lounging around to a backdrop of chilled beats and good vibes.

The Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel is such a feel-good place, and that's thanks in part to its captivating design. There's a certain hippy feeling in the air, with just the right amount of boho-style and plenty of attention given to unique, creative touches. At the heart of the hotel is the pool area. From our room, we could walk over a small private terrace directly to the pool whilst enjoying a dream-like view of the bay. It was just paradise!

Appropriately, there'll be a big party here at the end of September named "Woodstock Vibes" with a chilled barbecue and the most sought-after live DJs. Why? Bikini Hotel is celebrating its 5th birthday. Many happy returns …

If the pool is the hotel's heart, then NENI is its soul. The cuisine of Israeli-Austrian restaurateur Haya Molcho and her family is something we know very well from Berlin, and have also sampled in Vienna. We love the creative culinary mix that the Molchos call their "Balagan Style", which is probably best translated as "pleasant chaos". A big part of the experience is the idea of really being together with friends, taking your time to dine at long tables, sharing plates, trying new things and finishing off the evening with some amazing drinks from the Donkey Bar.

Of course, we tried their Signature Balagan Menu, a delicious selection of the restaurant's wider offering. We shared a variety of starters, two different mains and some yummy desserts. And to top it off, dinner also came with a stunning view of the port.

Feeling fully satisfied after our wonderful meal at NENI, we strolled along the promenade of Port de Sóller at sunset and let ourselves get lost in the evening's hustle and bustle. Joyous laugher and an excited babble of voices rang out from the surrounding restaurants and bars. On the beach, families and friends met to listen to gentle music, picnic together and watch their children as they screamed and splashed around along the gentle waves in the candlelight. It was the Night of Sant Joan, (or Midsummer), and it's traditionally celebrated on Mallorca with fire, music, dancing and bathing in the sea after midnight. The atmosphere was magical – and we silently took it all in.

Admittedly, you can easily spend a whole weekend at Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel without ever setting one foot outside the door, and, in all honesty, we devoted a very generous portion of our holiday to the pool and the terrace. But, not even making it out for a little adventure seemed a shame, especially as the hotel has free bikes and e-bikes to hire. Exhilarated, we jumped onto our bikes and set off to explore the surrounding mountains, at our own leisurely pace of course. Our destination was Fornalutx, a small village in the Serra de Tramuntana that's often described as "the most beautiful village in Spain". And we fully agree.

Bikes and e-bikes aren't the only thing on offer at Bikini. There are regular yoga classes on the roof terrace for all guests. Several times a year, they host special yoga retreats, with, amongst others, the fantastic Jelena Lieberberg from Kick Ass Yoga, who we've already practised yoga with in Croatia. In October, there's also a Life-Work-Summit especially for women.

Of course, there's lots more to discover and experience outside the hotel, for example long-distance hikes (especially in the low season, walking in Mallorca is an absolute dream, as we've discovered for ourselves before), a visit to an aloe vera farm, a Vespa tour, or a wide range of water activities, from a stand-up paddleboarding tour with an SUP to a sailing trip on a catamaran.

Our three days at Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel went by way too quickly. We would've happily spent far longer on Mallorca and explored it more fully on land and sea – but, you have to prioritize and at least we really made the most of the pool, the drinks and the boho vibes! We headed to the airport with huge grins on our faces, a light tan on our slightly salty skin, voices a little husky from all the talking and laughing, and feeling totally relaxed and fully recuperated all round. This summer really couldn't have got off to a better start …