I was born in Bilbao, but life has taken me to live in very different places: Barcelona, Madrid and Dublin. In 2008, I arrived in Mallorca, almost without imagining that this island would one day become my home.

In every city where I have lived, I have made friends. Friends from different stages of life, different jobs, trips, sports and personal stories. And with many of them, I share a passion that has grown enormously in Spain in recent years: padel.

There is something curious about padel. You start by playing one match almost by chance and, before you know it, you are already checking when you can book your next court. It is easy to start, fun from the very first day and incredibly social. Perhaps that is why it has gone from being a sport played by a few to becoming part of the lifestyle of thousands of people.

That is why, whenever a padel-loving friend comes to visit me in Mallorca, I almost always say the same thing:

“Don’t forget your racket.”

Because if you come to Mallorca and you love padel, playing at least one match on the island is almost a must.

That is exactly what happened with my friend María, from Barcelona. She came to Palma for work and decided to extend her stay for a few days to discover the city with me. María comes from a tennis background, but like so many other players, she has also fallen into the temptation of padel. Once you start, you may not know exactly what it is about this sport, but it hooks you.

I booked a court for Saturday morning at Club Pádel Portitxol. Before playing, we decided to start the day properly: with a good breakfast by the sea.

We went to Es Vaixell, a small café facing the Portitxol cove, often visited by residents from the area. There, we ordered a llonguet, a traditional Mallorcan sandwich that tastes even better when enjoyed with coffee and views of the Mediterranean.

Portitxol has a very special charm. Once an old fishing neighbourhood, today it still keeps part of that maritime soul, mixed with a very pleasant local lifestyle: boats, terraces, bicycles, people walking and the sea always present. It is one of those corners of Palma where you can still feel the city breathing at a different pace.

After breakfast, we walked to the club. Court 3 was waiting for us, together with two local players: Marga and Joana, a very friendly pair who worked in the nautical sector. The plan was a friendly match, but as often happens in padel, as soon as the game starts, everyone wants to win just a little.

With her tennis background, María began hitting the ball as if she were still on a clay court. More than one ball went straight to the glass, and the look on her face as she tried to understand the rebounds was priceless.

“But how can the ball come back like that?” she kept saying, laughing.

Joana was not far behind. She sent several serves into the net and, since we jokingly decided that every missed serve had to be paid for afterwards, she quickly became the official first candidate to buy the beers.

The match was very close. We went to three sets, with long rallies, a few unexpected bandejas, lots of laughter and that perfect mix of competitiveness and good atmosphere that makes padel so special.

Playing outdoors in Mallorca, with the sea breeze nearby and the sun lighting up the court, is a different kind of experience. It is not just about the match. It is the setting. It is the feeling of doing sport, enjoying the climate and sharing something simple but memorable.

After 90 minutes of play and a refreshing shower in the club changing rooms, we met at the café. There, we celebrated the real victory of the day: having met each other on court.

We talked about padel, work, travel, Mallorca, Barcelona and all those little stories that appear when a match ends but the conversation continues. That is one of the reasons why my friends always want to come back: because padel creates moments that go far beyond the score.

After saying goodbye to Marga and Joana, I took María for a walk from Portitxol towards Molinar and Ciudad Jardín. It is one of those seafront routes that many residents do almost without thinking: some walking, others cycling, others skating, and others simply sitting on a bench looking out over the Bay of Palma.

The day was sunny, the sea was calm and the city seemed to move at a different rhythm. As we walked, María said something that stayed with me:

“Now I understand why you love living here so much.”

And I think that is the effect Mallorca has when you experience it from the inside. Not just as a tourist. Not just with a list of places to visit. But through real plans, sport, food, conversations and local people who show you the island from a different perspective.

We ended the day back in Portitxol, sharing a paella near the club. Afterwards, I drove her to the airport, still carrying that beautiful mix of tiredness and happiness that a good day of padel leaves behind.

Before saying goodbye, she told me:

“Next time, I’m coming back for more days. I want to play more matches and keep discovering Mallorca like this.”

And that is when I understood something that today is part of the essence of Grip and Trip.

Anyone who comes to Mallorca for a few days can enjoy its beaches, gastronomy and climate. But those who experience it through padel discover something more: a way to connect with the island, with its people and with an experience that is not easily forgotten.

Because a padel trip to Mallorca is not just about playing matches.

It is having breakfast by the sea before stepping onto the court. It is sharing a game with people you have just met. It is laughing at a ball that rebounds strangely off the glass. It is walking beside the Mediterranean after the match. It is sitting down to eat without rushing. It is going home already wondering when you will be able to return.

And that is why my friends always want to come back.

At Grip and Trip, this is exactly what we want to create: padel trips in Mallorca that combine sport, local plans, good company and authentic moments. Experiences designed for those who do not just want to visit the island, but truly live it.