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Mallorca, about the size of Rhode Island, is the largest island in the Balearic archipelago situated off the east coast of Spain. Graced with warm Mediterranean sunshine and tempered by cool ocean breezes, its landscape — ranging from limestone caves to gnarled moonscape and back to white-sand beaches — is as diverse as its shopping, nightlife, cuisine and historical sightseeing. The island appeals to all tastes and offers something for everyone year-round.
Getting there
Traveling to Mallorca is easy, especially from Germany. Because the island has been one of the most popular destinations for British and German tourists, flights from Germany tend to be inexpensive. In fact, your installation’s Sato Vacations office regularly provides cheap pack-ages there. Flights to Mallorca from most major airports in Germany take no more than two hours, and tickets and deals are offered year round at most travel agencies.
Where to stay
The airport is in Palma, the island’s largest city. Low-cost lodging can easily be found within city limits, but stay outside the area to avoid crummy hotels and tightly packed buildings far from the beach. Travel too far outside Palma to bed down, and you risk isolating yourself from the island’s capital and public transportation around the island. Park it in Cala Major, Palma Nova or Sant Agustí, all great beach resorts within a 10-kilo-meter radius of Palma, but just close enough to bus routes both in and out of the city center.
To escape beach mayhem and your modern surroundings, head north to Sóller. Beaches are more infrequent, but the scenery is easier on the eyes. Here, you’ll be teleported to 18th century houses, cobblestone streets, outdoor cafés and assorted shops. Be sure to pick up knick-knacks like jarred Mallorcan olives, garlic and spices to mail home as gifts. Buses from Palma to Sóller depart frequently and travel through Valldemossa, another quaint village that’s great for afternoon aperitifs or bottles of Spanish red wine. From Sóller, take a 15-minute ride on the San Francisco-style tram to Port de Sóller, and enjoy fresh seafood and a bowl of gazpacho, a cold tomato-cucumber soup.
Water sports are common along the perimeter of the island, as the warm climate lends itself to ideal conditions for sailing or riding jet skis. Dive shops tend to be concentrated in the southwest corner of the island, but by no means does the area provide the best sea life and shipwrecks.
Getting around
While Mallorca has become a haven for European tourists taking advantage of their six-week paid vacations, much of the island remains untouched. You’ll want to take advantage of discounted rental cars or scooters offered near some of the touristy sections in and around Palma. Don’t hesitate to haggle prices with rental dealers.
From Palma, head north until you hit the coast-line, and continue driving northeast toward Sa Calobra, one of the island’s best-kept secrets. Sa Calobra, about an hour’s drive from Palma, is often identified as an overcrowded tourist haven. And, for the most part, it is. But park the car, avoid the obvious tourists traps, explore the canyons, and you’ll easily discover secluded breathtaking hamlets ideal for romance.
What to eat
Cuisine in Mallorca is diverse, but the island is not the place to venture out for international flavors like Chinese, Mexican or Indian. Stick with the regional food, which is by far the best the island has to offer. Most restaurants serve tapas, which are small portions of just about anything the chef can concoct. For many, this may come across as a paradise of options that include meats, fish, veggies, cheeses, olives and sauces. Anything with goat cheese is sure to please, while padron peppers — mild green chilies salted and fried over an open flame — are seasonal favorites during the summer months. If you’re uncertain what to order, opt for the calamari or paella (without squid’s ink). To narrow down the selection of tapas bars (not to be confused with topless bars), choose a place that looks old and perhaps uninviting. Don’t expect five-star service at restaurants in Mallorca. Chill out and tap into the collective mood of nonchalance.
What to drink
Mallorcan red wines, along with those imported from the Spanish mainland, are affordable and can hold up to the best French wines. The reds go well with most foods, though many prefer Estrella Galacia, the island’s refreshing beer, to cope with the dry heat.
Nightlife
If you’re in the mood for boozy nights at wall-shaking clubs, coupled with perhaps some of the most beautiful people on the planet, Ibiza — the club mecca of the Mediterranean — is only a ferry ride away. Ferries depart for Ibiza from Palma every day. However, you don’t have to leave Mallorca to enjoy spectacular nightlife. Explore Avenida de Gabriel Roca, west of Palma, which is a long strip of clubs and bars along the ocean front and the epicenter of yuppie nightlife. If you prefer something slower-paced, hit up Old Town in Palma, where you’re likely to meet grizzly, one-eyed Danish sailors telling stories to tipsy señoritas. People watching is one of the island’s greatest appeals.
Communicating with the locals
One last note: Castilian Spanish is different from what you may use in the United States, or what you learned in high school. Rather, the dialect is lispy, loose and a bit lazy with the tongue — fitting for the island’s lazy summers, long siestas, noontime sangrias, disregard for clothes and sleepy afternoons on the beach. Speak only English? Don’t worry. No one cares.
