Majorca Guide - Interesting Articles

Majorca Family Holiday Activities
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(by Daniel Eyre)

A cheap Majorca holiday is a fantastic getaway for the whole family, and there are plenty of ways to entertain all ages with these great Majorca family holiday activities, with highlights ranging from pirates to parrots. Hold on tight!

The Magaluf Pirates Show

The Magaluf Pirates Show is one of the most popular days out for Majorca family holidays - just make sure that you pick the child-friendly version if you're bringing the kids! This stunning show features world-class acrobatics and impressive dancing from actors, dancers and acrobats from eight different countries.

With former World Champions, European Champions, British Champions, World Games Silver and Bronze medallists, European silver medallists and Commonwealth Games competitors, the Magaluf Pirate Show is an amazing spectacle. Dinner is included with the ticket, which is reasonably priced if you're aiming for a cheap Majorca holiday.

Aqualand, Magaluf

Aqualand, also in Magaluf, is arguably the best water park in Majorca, featuring a variety of water rides and activities for waterbabies of all ages. The park has 16 water-based slides and attractions, from the fearsome Boomerang to the more sedate Congo River.

But Aqualand's most famous attraction is The Tornado - a tubular slide that sweeps the most daring guests down a giant whirlpool, whirling them around with the water before hurling them down into the swimming pool below. A brilliant way to re-energise on a cheap Majorca holiday!

Majorca Auto Safari park

As the island's only dedicated zoo, the Majorca Auto Safari offers tourists a unique experience. The 4km drive across open countryside, punctuated with unusual wildlife, provides an ideal day out for family holidays to Majorca. Monkeys, giraffes, zebras and flamingo are amongst the animals to be spotted by park visitors in the drive, and there is a baby zoo with baby elephants and crocodiles. Aaah!

Marineland, Majorca

A regular highlight for family holidays, Majorca's Marineland offers a fantastic day out for adults and children, featuring dolphins, sharks, reptiles, penguins, sea lions and several exotic birds. The dolphin show is the highlight of the park, rated amongst the best in the world.

Go Karts in Majorca

Karting Magaluf is an excellent attraction for those looking for something a little different. Trying to replicate the experience of real racing, the course is perfect both for amateur and professionals and will inject a high-adrenalin rush into your cheap Majorca holiday.

Karting Magaluf is highly recommended for families and groups of friends, as the experience is great fun when racing against people you know. There are also karts (and a practice course) for children as young as three years old.

Fantasia Golf, Palma Nova

If you're at all interested in improving your swing then this enormous crazy golf complex is very enjoyable for all levels of golfers with its novelty waterfalls, caves and tropical gardens. Fantasia Golf at Palma Nova is considered to be the he best mini golf course in Majorca, with three different 18-hole courses. It is extremely popular with tourists of all ages and perfect for a day out on a family holiday in Majorca.

Daniel Eyre is the Product Manager of Search Travel Online. Search Travel Online is part of the Co-operative Group, specialising in cheap Majorca holidays.

Majorca Holidays: not Just About Making Merry - (By: Adam Singleton)

To most people, the mere mention of Majorca elicits those all too familiar images of Club 18-30 hotspots - Palma Nova and Magaluf - which have historically been popular with young holidaymakers looking to have a good time. However, Majorca has many resorts which cater towards a more tranquil, easy-going holiday.

Majorca is the largest of the Spanish islands and is part of the greater Balearic Islands archipelago. Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, Majorca has been synonymous with the package holiday industry since tourism on the island began in 1952 and is still popular with young holidaymakers and families alike today. But while the younger holidaymaker will undoubtedly seek the fast-paced hustle and bustle of Palma Nova, Alcudia or Magaluf, those holidaymakers looking for a more tranquil time are also well catered for on the island.

The resort of C'an Pastilla is situated nearby the island capital of Palma. In fact, C'an Pastilla was one of the first resorts to be discovered by British holidaymakers during the early tourist boom of the 1960s and despite its proximity to Palma airport it is little troubled by aircraft noise. The town was originally a small fishing village which has grown since the early days of tourism and many of the buildings and facilities still date back to this period. The resort plays host to a selection of small shops, restaurants and bars, as well as the picturesque harbour, marina and Playa de Palma beach and is an ideal location for those who desire a more sedate beach holiday.

In the opposite direction lies the resort of Paguera, which similarly to C'an Pastilla began life as a small fishing village. However recent years have seen it grow into a popular tourist destination with plenty of restaurants and facilities. Paguera is a much livelier resort than C'an Pastilla, but pales in comparison to Palma Nova or Magaluf. With three picturesque beaches - Playa Palmira, Playa Tora and Playa La Romana - and a large selection of shops, bars and restaurants, Paguera is an ideal spot for those looking for the best of both worlds in their holiday with accommodation to match, whether it be a 5-Star hotel or a self-catering, family friendly hotel in Majorca.

The resort of Camp de Mar is situated nearby to Paguera, and although a little off the beaten track compared to many package holidays, the resort is in easy reach of the city of Palma, while the town Santa Ponsa lies just around the bay for those seeking some excitement. The resort has so far managed to avoid major tourist development and manages to convey the impression of being somewhat isolated from most of the other tourist spots on the island, with many of the bars and restaurants being hotel-based. However, this has not stopped the area being popular with the rich and famous, with Claudia Schiffer, Tom Cruise and Michael Schumacher all owning property in and around the area.

From spending lazy days basking in the sun, to enjoying a vibrant, exuberating nightlife, Majorca has a place to cater for most people. With many of the smaller, quieter resorts situated nearby to the more cosmopolitan tourist centres, visitors are well placed to combine both elements. What's more, flight time from the UK is just over two hours away so holidaymakers needn't spend a large chunk of their well-earned holiday time travelling. So, why not forget the Club 18-30 stigma of Majorca and discover that island has more than just bars full of boozy Brits to offer?

Adam Singleton is an online freelance journalist from Scotland. His hobbies include travelling and hiking.

Fresh, Delicious And Simple - The Food Of Majorca - (By: Daniel Eyre)

When you're planning an all inclusive holiday to Majorca, perhaps the last thing on your mind is the excellent food available while out there. Obviously the beaches, sunshine and activities are at the forefront of your mind at this stage, but you'll be relieved to hear that Majorca's food is really good and made from local produce. The seafood, especially is fresh and flavoursome, and although it's possible to get every type of cuisine under the sun (you can easily find an authentic curry house, or a full English breakfast in the resorts) the local Majorca cuisine is hearty, flavoursome and fairly priced. In this article, I shall outline some of the traditional foods you can expect to find on a package holiday to Majorca.

Breakfasts

Common wisdom dictates that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and whether you believe this or not, it's best to become a temporary subscriber so you can enjoy an ensaimada each morning. These are spiral yeast buns dusted with icing sugar, and are rarely seen outside of the island, making them a popular product for tourists to fill their suitcases with when the time comes to leave the island paradise. Make sure you bring a few back when you reach the end of your all inclusive holiday to Majorca.

Light Bites

Although these are labelled as light bites, it's very easy to come back to these Majorcan food items, making them into a whole meal and spoiling your dinner! Treats range from trampos (similar to vegetarian pizza), cocarrious (local pasties), local soups and pa'amb oli - a traditional mix of Majorcan bread, garlic, tomato and olive oil sometimes with cheese or cured ham on top. You should definitely try these delicacies of Majorca's cuisine during your visit to the island.

Filling Dinners

If you have managed to resist filling up on cocarrious, the main meals are sure to leave you satisfied. Pork is the main meat in Majorca's cuisine, and the lechona asada (roast sucking pig) is a favourite for those who usually end up with eyes bigger than their stomachs. Pork also plays a big part in sobrasada (chorizo sausages) and llom amb col, an old favourite of pork wrapped in cabbage with pine nuts and raisons. Lamb is an alternative to pork based dishes, and fish eaters will delight in the fresh monkfish and bream, and may even indulge in the lobster stew on a special occasion. Another favourite in Majorcan food is 'frit mallorqui' - a fry up of offal, potatoes, tomatoes and onions.

All of this sounds a little worrying for vegetarians looking to find good cuisine in Majorca, but rest assured there are a number of options available for them, all using vegetables grown locally: cauliflower with raisins and pine nuts, pumpkin fritters, various mushroom dishes, and my personal favourite: tumbet, which is a ratatouille of aubergines, peppers and potatoes in olive oil.

Indulging the Sweet Tooth

Majorca's deserts aren't the strong point of Majorcan food, but there's still enough here to warrant saving some space for afters. Turron is handmade nougat with local almonds, pudding is the name for a desert similar to crème caramel and geixonera de brossat is delightful local cheese cake. For those without enough room, the local fruit and nuts are considered a good way to round off a meal.

...and to drink?

But to compliment Majorca's cuisine, you need a good drink to wash it down. It seems natural for an island that was once occupied by the Romans to be big wine drinkers, and the Majorcans do not disappoint. The central plains of the island have proved excellent for grape production, with Benissalem the main village for wine. The red wine named after the settlement is particularly recommended. Elsewhere, the island also makes rather fine brandy - and you may find yourself sneaking a couple of bottles home from your package holiday to Majorca!

Daniel Eyre is the Product Manager of Search Travel Online. Search Travel Online is part of the Co-operative Group, specialising in all inclusive holidays to Majorca the Algarve, Costa Brava, Tenerife, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol, Andorra, Egypt, Malta and the Canaries.

The Best Resorts in Majorca - (By: Daniel Eyre)

When summer comes, it seems that all of Europe goes on holiday in Majorca; since the first custom built Majorca resorts appeared in the 1960s, the island has been the number one choice for sun and sand holidays. The combination of beautiful beaches, busy nightlife, blazing sun, numerous hotels and low cost flights have made cheap holidays in Majorca irresistible for many, with the island attracting millions of visitors from England, Ireland, Germany and many other parts of Europe every summer.

There are over two dozen resorts in Majorca, and they are by no means identical. Each one has its own attractions and individual character, so whether you want to party the night away or relax on the beach with the kids, there will be a resort to suit you. Here is a selection of the best resorts in Majorca:

Alcudia - Best for...Beaches

For a cheap holiday in Majorca, one thing matters above all others - the beach. There's plenty to do apart from swimming and sunbathing in Majorca, but the majority of visitors have come to escape grey skies at home and grab a little quality time in the sun.

So if hitting the beach is your top priority, Alcudia is the place to be. Widely reckoned to be the best in Majorca, Alcudia's gorgeous beach stretches out for over nine miles along the north coast of the island. The water is calm and safe for children to play in, and there are a huge range of water sports and activities to get involved with. If you want to lounge on the best beach in Majorca, a holiday in Alcudia will be perfect for you.

Magaluf - Best for...Clubbing

If you are looking for a party while on holiday in Majorca, there's nowhere better than Magaluf. The central strip is stuffed full of bars, and you are spoilt for choice for clubs, with BCM and Bananas two of the biggest and most popular. Magaluf is well known on the European clubbing scene, and regularly hosts top DJs like Judge Jules and DJ Sammy. The resort is especially popular with a young British crowd, with many going on a cheap holiday in Majorca specifically to hit the clubs of Magaluf. But it's not all clubbing at this Majorca resort: it also has a massive water park (perfect for kids...or to cure a hangover!), a go-karting track, and one of the best beaches on the island.

Palma Nova - Best for...Families

There are numerous family friendly Majorca resorts, but Palma Nova may be the pick of the bunch. The resort is quieter and more relaxed than some of the busier, club focused resorts. The beach is clean, safe and ideal for families, and most of the evening entertainment is designed to be family friendly. There are plenty of activities to keep children entertained, including junior golf, and the waterpark at the neighbouring resort of Magaluf. Overall, the resort of Palma is ideal for a cheap family holiday in Majorca.

Palma City - Best for...Culture

Culture may not be the first thing that springs to mind for a holiday in Majorca, but its capital, Palma City, is the perfect place to combine some time in the sun with a taste of Spanish and Balearic culture. Most travellers to Majorca will prefer to stay in a holiday resort on the beach, but Palma City is perfect for a day trip. The best restaurants in the islands are in Palma, offering a great selection of Majorcan cuisine. The city also features a massive medieval cathedral, partially restored by Antoni Gaudi, and several good art museums. Once you've filled up on culture, you can enjoy numerous nearby beaches or the city's very active bar and clubbing culture before you return to your Majorca resort.

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