A Spanish Royal retreat

Majorca, the largest of the four Balearic Islands, is a great all-round destination. It is also the location chosen by the Spanish Royal family for their summer holidays. There are lovely unspoilt beaches, mountainous regions, fertile plains with windmills, and a wide variety of resorts. Palma (the capital) is a port with a nice old town and cathedral, and its own fair share of restaurants and nightlife.

Other resorts include Palma Nova, a popular and friendly resort, great for families. Its curving sand and shingle beaches are kept clean and safe, and there are plenty of water sports. Illetas is a charming resort with fabulous views. Alcúdia offers one of the longest and most beautiful beaches on the island, with a thriving fishing port, and a fascinating old town. However the most beautiful spots of all are to be found along the Tramuntana mountain range to the North and in Formentor in the northeast corner of the island.

You have quite a few German enclaves as well as British resorts. You can pick and choose where you want to go to, whether it be up-market, down-market, or unspoilt country or mountain side. This said it has a bit for everyone. Palma is a very mature and quite sophisticated town even if it is not as pretty as it could be. Great walking and dining in its streets where there is lots of life and often a lot of music.