Palma de Mallorca, 17th Mar 05

TEN THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE ISLAND

Whether your visit is over a long weekend or two weeks, here are ten suggestions of things we recommended you might like to consider for your next visit…

As part of the Mallorca Tourist Board's Centenary Celebrations, it is keen to encourage visitors to discover something new when they visit the island. Herewith a few suggestions:

Explore Palma

Now considered one of the most elegant Mediterranean cities, and probably one of the easiest to get to with a good choice of low cost scheduled flights between major UK airports and Palma. The city offers a good choice of culture with new museums and guided walking tours, shopping, restaurants, and sightseeing. Stay in one of the popular hotels overlooking Palma Bay or in one of the new boutique hotels, which are now opening up in Palma’s historic old town. Further information:www.palmavirtual.es.

Country Walk

One of the best ways to see and appreciate the tremendous variety and natural beauty of Mallorca is walk in the countryside. There are many guided walks, or books with suggested walks. In addition, the majority of country hotels provided a schedule of walks every week. Pick up a free brochure on 20 walks around the island from tourist information offices.

Discover Local Cuisine

Over the past 10 years, there has been a great move on the island to promote locally produced food and wine. Three years ago the local Ministry of Agriculture introduced “Good Food & Wine” routes around the island to encourage visitors to seek out local producers and explore the island at the same time. Further information: www.illesbalearsqualitat.com.

Visit a Spa

The latest spa to open on Mallorca will be the Spa & Wellness Centre at the five star Valpariso Palace Hotel overlooking Palma. This spa, which covers 2,400 sq metres, features the absolute latest in treatments and facilities (the first stage of the Spa will be open in May with full completion by August of this year). For further information: + 34 971 400300 www.grupotel.com

In addition, there are approximately 50 established spas and health & beauty centres now featured around the island, mainly attached to major hotels. Herewith a list of some of the island’s top spas: (please note that all telephone numbers must be prefixed with 0034 when ringing from outside Mallorca).

Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort www.lindnerhotels.com Tel: 971 707 777
Marriott Son Antem Golf & Spa
www.marriottsonantem.com Tel: 971 129 100
Dorint Royal Golf Resort & Spa
www.dorint.com/mallorca Tel:971 628 113
Port Adriano Marina Golf & Spa
www.hotelportadriano.com Tel: 971 237 323
Finca Hotel Son Brull www.sonbrull.com Tel: 971 535 353
La Residencia Hotel www.hotel-laresidencia.com Tel: 971 639 011
Mardavall Hotel & Spa www.altiraspa.com Tel: 971 629 600

Discover Rural Mallorca

In the last 15 years many farms and country fincas have been converted into accommodation or country hotels. This move to open up inland Mallorca has been extremely successful and enables visitors to experience another aspect of the island and, in many cases, to stay in an original Mallorcan family home or farm. Go to the following websites for more information: Agroturismo Association www.topfincas.com
Reis de Mallorca (individual hotels with character) www.reisdemallorca.com
Rural Accommodation Association www.fincaturismo.com
Independent Small Boutique Rural Hotels www.som7hotels.com

Ride on the Soller Train

The ever popular antique train starts from its own station in Palma’s Plaza España and ends in the historic town of Soller. The train takes a spectacular route through the mountains and, if you catch the special scenic train, it stops enroute so that passengers can enjoy a wonderful viewpoint high above the mountains and overlooking the town of Soller. Further information from local tourist offices.

Experience a Fiesta

Practically every week, somewhere on the island, a traditional fiesta is taking place. For example, “Moors & Christians” at Soller, which celebrates the victory over the Turkish pirates in 1561, takes place on the second Monday in May. It is extremely colourful, great fun and well worth a visit. The same type of fiesta takes place in Pollensa on August 2nd. More information is available at any of the local tourist information offices or go to: www.infomallorca.net

Get Musical

Music festivals and concerts from classical to jazz and pop/rock feature throughout the calendar year. Some of the more established include:

Jazz Voyeur Festival (+34) 971 905292 or email: proartsdelmon@ono.com

Pollensa Festival in the cloisters of the 16th century Convent of Saint Dominigo run throughout the summer. Information and reservations:
Tel: (+) 34 971 534 012. Fax: (+34) 971 534 019 www.festivalpollenca.org.

Chopin Festival. Concerts are featured every Sunday throughout the month of August in the famous Cartuja of Valldemossa where Chopin spent a winter with his lover George Sand. Further information and tickets:Tel & Fax: (+34) 971 612 351 www.festivalchopin.com.

Deia Festival. Information and reservations: Tel: (+34) 971 639 178.

Visit a Local Market

On every day of the week, villages and towns across the island have their own regular markets. These markets all have their own character reflecting the local produce of that area. Some of the most popular include: Santa Maria (Sunday), Sineu (Wednesday), Inca (Thursday) and Pollensa (Sunday).

Get On A Bike

Mallorca has a network of 1,250 kilometres of roads and approximately half of these are made up of minor and secondary roads, which over the last few years, have been renovated and adapted for bicycle touring.

There is something for everyone whether amateur or professional, as the main cycle routes pass throughout the length of the island and feature long flat plains, gentle and steep slopes and spectacular mountain routes (approximately 20% of these roads pass in between the mountains). In addition, new signposting and special cycle lanes have been introduced. Further information and maps are available in local tourist offices.

For further information, please contact:
Mallorca Tourist Board, Dominique Carroll / Anna Skidmore,
Tel:(+34) 971 725 396 Fax: (+34) 971 713 540
E-Mail: info@fomentmallorca.org

Further Press Releases:

GOOD NEWS FOR MALLORCA IN 2012 (09th Feb 12)

THREE KINGS - THE FESTIVITIES CONTINUE! (05th Jan 12)

FESTIVE SWEETS CAN BE HEAVENLY (05th Jan 12)