IN FOCUS BALEARICS


The Balearic Islands are back in favour despite losing some business to cheaper destinations outside the eurozone


and there are also plenty of small, character hotels (check out the Reis de Mallorca consortium) and converted farmhouses.


But the mass market is seeing major investment too, with Sol Hotels opening its new Calvia Beach Resort development in June. This resort complex in Magaluf joins together four seafront hotels: the Sol Antillas, Sol Barbados, Royal Beach and Mallorca Beach. The totally modernised hotels have revitalised the beach front to create a modern sports/ leisure/lifestyle concept under the Nikki Beach and Wave House brands. And then there is Palma, an excellent city break destination in its own right and responsible for giving Majorca a year-round tourism industry. The old town has Roman remains and Arabic baths close to the seafront cathedral, while the modern town is a joy to


stroll around as you take in trendy stores and traditional markets. Majorca appeals to everyone from clubbers to families, wealthy couples and older people who come off-season to enjoy the mild climate. Menorca is the quietest of the three main islands, with more beaches than all the other Balearic islands combined, and a strong emphasis on family holidays.


Balearics Menorca Most Menorca resorts


are scattered around the south of the island, including Cala Blanca, Cala Galdana, Son Bou and Santo Tomas, with a generally high proportion of self-catering. The capital


Mahon is good for shopping and discovering Menorca’s British links, as Britain ruled Menorca three times between 1708 and 1802. Mayonnaise was named after Mahon by the French, after briefl y gaining control from Britain in 1756.


Ciutadella, on the west coast, appeals more to history lovers. The interior of Menorca


has unusual appeal too, as it has


over 1,000 megalithic monuments, including pre-historic tombs called taulas. There are also traces of a Roman settlement.


Balearics Ibiza


If Majorca sometimes suffers an image problem because of its 'mass market appeal', this is even truer of Ibiza. Its long-established clubbing scene continues to attract youngsters by the thousand to venues such as Privilege and Pacha near the resort of San Antonio, and there are also plenty of clubs around Ibiza Town.


San Antonio is strictly for the under- 30s, but it is not as down-market as some youth resorts in Greece and Cyprus which now attract much more lurid headlines.


Ibiza has plenty to offer the older visitor too. Quieter resorts appealing to couples and families include Santa Eulalia, Es Cana and Playa d’en Bossa, which has the island’s longest beach. The island appeals to walkers and is worth exploring, with a large Phoenician archaeological site at Puig des Molins.


FACTFILE 23


Where to Book It Cosmos


0871 423 8518 www.cosmos.co.uk A seven-night stay at family-friendly BelleVue Club in Alcudia, Majorca, departing Gatwick on May 1 2013, costs from £239, based on six people sharing a two-bedroom self-catering apartment.


Mallorca Farmhouse 0845 800 8080 www.mallorca.co.uk


New properties for 2012-13 include Sa Tanqueta, which sleeps eight. Situated on the outskirts of the small village of Calonge but only a few minutes’ drive from Cala d’Or, it costs from £1,558 to £2,083 per week in 2013.


Classic Collection 0800 008 7288


Seven nights at party venue Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel, Playa d’en Bossa, cost from £1,167 in May 2013 for B&B. In Menorca, Insotel Club Punta Prima costs from £675 for seven nights in May 2013, on an all-inclusive basis.


Who Flies There Flights to Majorca operate from all main UK airports, with rather less capacity and fewer departure airports for Menorca and Ibiza. The main airlines serving the destination are easyJet, Ryanair, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch and Jet2.


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www.sellinglonghaul.com • September/October 2012 13


thedeal seal


Bright lights, small city: “Agents should


promote Palma as one of the Med's most stylish and authentic city destinations"


My Balearics... by Dave Richardson


“The west coast of Majorca is extremely beautiful, being overlooked by the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains. There’s plenty of interest if you take the winding road along the coast from Palma, but a faster road leads through the interior if you’re in a hurry. Be sure to visit Valldemossa, where the monastery once hosted the composer Frederic Chopin. Staying at the Hotel Mar I Vent in the village of Banyalbufar (featured by Kirker from £769 for a three-night package, and run by the same family since 1931), I went for several walks along the coast which can be enjoyed in virtual solitude. Paths require varying degrees of fitness and are well marked, but I chose a gentle stroll along the coast rather than a slog up the mountains.”


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