Enjoy our quick guide to Ses Salines, a small traditional village situated in the south east part of Mallorca.
The town is noted for its ancient salt mines with its presence seen from the early times of the Romans.
Since then, salt production has become the area’s major industry wherein gourmet flavored salts were also exported.
August is the typical month for sea salt extraction with traditional methods being used in the process.
Some of the popular things to do in the area include bird watching, strolling and cycling. You can also go to nearby Colonia St Jordi for its spectacular beaches and watersports.
Below we feature an expat interview with Volker Wessels of Bellacasa Mallorca who covers the Ses Salines area.
Specifically, we asked Volker on the advantages of choosing Ses Salines as a place to live and the value for money that one can get if you decide to stay permanently in the area.
Volker, thanks for helping our readers. I guess we should start off by asking what would you say would be the advantages to living in Ses Salines compared to other Mallorca towns?
Locals and foreigners are living peacefully and supportively together.
The South of our magical island is the area with the most sun hours and the least rainfall and is favored by the Mallorcan microclimate structure. Who does not love the ambitious Mallorcan sun?
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
Holidaymakers who love the Mallorcan tourism centres and hikers should avoid the romantic, flat and sunny South.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
The municipality of SES SALINES includes 5,000 inhabitants and 3/4 of the population is Spanish.
The name of the village SES SALINES has its origin in the well-known salt production.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
Enjoy the natural paradise and the variety of delicious Mallorcan and international kitchen. See the salt lakes, visit the romantic fisher village of Cala Figuera and the award-winning bays of the natural reserve Cala Mondrago. Stroll over the market in Santanyi. Take a sun bath on the natural beach Es Trenc. Enjoy a sailing yacht trip and a bicycle tour.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
You can find plenty of bars and restaurants in and around Ses Salines, but these four insiders you should not miss:
Restaurant Casa Manolo, Bodega, Plaça Sant Bartomeu 2,
T (+34) 971 649 130
The Spanish king was enjoying the tapas and fish gourmet food and the owner Manolo is well known in the whole country, having his own TV series.
Restaurant Es Pinaret, Ctra. Ses Salines-Colonia de Sant Jordi km 10,
T (+34) 971 649 230
Just 2 km outside the village in the direction of Colonia de Sant Jordi, you will enjoy an unforgettable evening under the stars with exclusive food and a top service. A timely reservation is essential.
Bar Estarellas, Plaça Sant Bartomeu 7, T (+34) 971 649 604
Taste the typical Spanish tapas from Emilio.
Bar Ca Na Morenta, Plaça Sant Bartomeu 18, T (+34) 971 649 284
Typical village bar with delicious drinks. Here you can get closer to the locals.
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
Ses Salines offers a really good infrastructure as you can find doctors, schools, two supermarkets, bakeries and plenty of bars and restaurants.
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
There are a variety of villages and beaches that surround Ses Salines and the island metropolis of Palma with its old town and the international airport can be reached in only 30 minutes drive.
In the neighborhood you will find the charming village Campos with all major supermarket chains, the former fishing village of Colonia de Sant Jordi with its marina and the natural beach Es Trenc, the ambitious small town Santanyi, the picturesque bays of Cala Santanyi, Cala Llombards, Mondrago and the charming fisher village Cala Figuera.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
All international schools are located in the island´s metropolis of Palma de Mallorca.
Is crime an issue for expats?
In the European context, crime plays a subordinate role on our magical island.
Our quiet South of the island is usually spared, while the island´s capital and the South-West experience the one or the other criminality.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
The destination Mallorca with its International airport PMI offers a wide network of flights to all European countries and the whole world.
A unique infrastructure in the South of Europe with a 300 sunny days guarantee!
Whether a villa, a townhouse, a finca or an apartment, a property on our magical island with high quality of life is a worthwhile investment in any case.
While other forms of investment do not promise any or hardly profits, the purchase of a property in Mallorca is currently highly attractive.
Spain has also experienced an economic crisis and the real estate prices have fallen considerably.
On the mainland even more clearly than on Mallorca, which shows the property value retention and appreciation on the Balearic Island.
The Spanish government has reacted by reforms and mastered the crisis. The result was an economic growth of more than 3% in 2015 and 2016. At the same time, real estate prices have also developed. After a bottoming out in the years 2013 till 2015, the prices were slightly up in the last 15 months.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
Mallorcas properties are now cheaper to buy than before and the trend is rising due to the higher demand further up.
The average sqm price for second hand apartments and houses in Mallorca is € 2,000, including non touristical places.
Compared to the municipalities of Andratx, Son Severa, Calvia, Porto Alcudia and Son Vida with sqm prices from € 3,000 till € 5,000, the South of our island remains attractively priced and offers a price level between € 2,000 and € 3,000 per sqm.
In the South the municipality of Santanyi is slightly higher with € 2.900 per sqm than the surrounding villages of Ses Salines, Colonia de Sant Jordi, Campos and Sa Rapita between € 2.200 and € 2.700 per sqm.
How much are the typical property prices in Ses Salines for apartments, villas etc?
The price range for second hand properties in Ses Salines is between € 2.400 and € 2.700 per sqm.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Ses Salines or surrounding area?
The most important issue in purchasing a property is to pay attention to the quality and legality of the house and to trust yourself to a professional agent who takes the time and the understanding for your wishes and accompanies you individually till the notarisation and beyond.
Volker, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact him, you can find his details below.
Dream it, feel it, live it!
Sant Bartomeu, 16
E-07640 Ses Salines
Illes Balears, Spain
Tel. +34 971 716 100
Mobile: +34 662 644 104
Email: info@bella-casa.com
Website: www.bella-casa.com
VOLKER WESSELS
Director
“Born in northern Germany, I discovered my love for Mallorca already at an early age. Influenced by my skills in banking and tourism (real estates, hotels, travel agency, destination and quality management) in several countries of our world (36 countries with focus on Spain, Greece, Isle of Man, New Zealand, Turkey and Sri Lanka) and with a wide range of experiences in the international service sector, I returned to my Mediterranean home Mallorca. Here I dedicate under the renowned name BELLACASA MALLORCA my knowledge and my passion around the property to YOU, my honored current and future clients.”
BELLACASA MALLORCA
The company Bellacasa Mallorca was founded in 1985 on the sunny island of Mallorca.
Bellacasa Mallorca has established itself quickly as a leading quality broker on the Mediterranean pearl Mallorca.
With its experience, installation and well-known service quality Bellacasa Mallorca has reached a leading position in the Majorcan real estate industry.
Bellacasa Mallorca is located in the sunny South East of Mallorca in the charming village Ses Salines. Bellacasa Mallorca presents you a variety of hand-picked quality properties throughout the island.
We cultivate for over 30 years the network with renowned partners all over the island. Whether chalet, villa, residence or finca (Majorcan country house), penthouse or apartment, hotel, commercial property or a plot – we have the right property for you.
You will find your dream home with us and enjoy, according to our motto DREAM IT, FEEL IT, LIVE IT!, our personal quality of service.
From the first contact to the handing over of the keys – and even afterwards, it creates a feel good atmosphere to us serving you competently.
Here is an interesting video that highlights Ses Salines’ natural beauty.
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
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