The Balearic islands lie 82 kilometres east of the Spanish mainland in the Mediterranean sea. Mallorca is the largest island, roughly 100 kilometres from east to west. Mallorca´s coastline runs for some 555 kilometres.
In the north high cliffs fall abruptly into the sea, while the east coast is indented with sandy coves. Two great bays gnaw into the island, Badia D´Alcudia in the Northeast, and Badia de Palma in the west now home to the islands capital, Palma de Mallorca.
Mallorca enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. The mountain of the Serra de Tramuntana which runs the length of the north-west coast attract the greatest rainfall, and sometimes are capped in snow in the winter.
This mountain range acts as a buffer against winds from the north, while sea breezes temper the heat of the summer months.
The population of Mallorca is approximately 650,000 of whom around half live in the capital city of Palma de Mallorca. In addition, every year approximately 12 Million tourists visit the island, attracting an influx of seasonal staff to serve them. An idea of the lop-sided effect tourism has on the islands character can be gauged by the fact that the resort of Calas de Mallorca has a resident population of 250, yet accommodation for 8,500 visitors.
It is estimated that some 30,000 British people reside on the island, either on a full or part time basis. Of the full time residents most will own and operate a business in one of the many resorts on the island. The entire island and its resorts are so diverse its hard to believe that you are on the same island as you travel from coast to coast.
The capital city of Palma de Mallorca is bustling and busy all year round, in fact the quietest month is likely to be August when many businesses close due to the heat. The city is vibrant and exciting, with lots of shops, bars, restaurants, discotheques and many historical places of interest.
There is a large English speaking community based in the city, many of whom are allied to the yachting industry. Most government buildings are based in the city so its very likely that at some stage or another you will have to travel to the capital on business...
The south-east of the island has the largest foreign based population. What makes this area so popular is the longer season that it enjoys over and above all other parts of the island, and with close proximity to the city of Palma and the airport.
From Palma the first resort is Cala Major which merges into San Augustin making one large area. The resort is busy all year round as many residents live here permanently. There are also several hotels and holiday apartment buildings.
Illetas is an up-market resort which juts out into the bay of Palma, Illetas has several hotels, all of which have either a 4 or 5 star rating. There are many apartment blocks many of which are lived in all year round.
Portals Nous has very much a village feeling with many English and German residents, lots of shops, restaurants and several hotels. Lying below the village of Portals Nous is the famous yacht marina of Puerto Portals, see here million pound yachts, designer boutiques and many up-market restaurants and bars, a place to definitely watch the world go by.
Next along the coastline are the well known resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf, the main destination on the island of many British holidaymakers. Palma Nova tends to be more family orientated with three large sandy beaches and many hotels, restaurants and bars. Magaluf by contrast is lively, bustling and at times noisy with many discos, bars and restaurants. Very much a place for the younger set, a night out in Magaluf is a must for the pleasure seekers.
Further down the coast is the beautiful resort of Santa Ponsa which is built in a horseshoe shape around a large bay. Again, Santa Ponsa is more family orientated with a beautiful, large sandy beach with lots of hotels, apartment blocks, bars and restaurants.
Finally, along the south-east coastline are the resorts of Paguera and Puerto Andratx, both very beautiful and busy, Paguera has a large sandy beach with many restaurants and bars for the mass market, whereas Andraixt is very up-market with some fantastic restaurants and bars. Another place to sit and people watch.
To the east of the city of Palma lie the huge resorts of CaŽn Pastilla and Arenal which are collectively known as Playa de Palma. With a beach that is approximately 5 miles long there are hotels, restaurants, bars and discotheques in abundance.
In the north of the island are the resorts of Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa, both are well established with Alcudia suiting the more family oriented holidaymaker and Pollensa the more up-market older age group.
On the east coast of Mallorca there are many new resorts that very busy in the summer months but much quieter in the winter. The resorts that are the principal areas are from the north downwards, Cala Bona which merges into Cala Millor and then SÍllott, Sa Coma, Porto Cristo, Cales de Mallorca, Porto Colom and Cala D ŽOr. All have many hotels, bars and restaurants, sandy beaches, coves and many places of interest.
The principal British resort on the east coast is Cala DŽOr, built in Ibizan style with every property being whitewashed and nothing being built above four stories making the resort both beautiful to look at and popular with tourists. There are several sandy beached in Cala D ŽOr, many shops, bars and restaurants, and a multi million pound yacht marina which is always worth a visit to watch the world go by.