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Majorca is one of the hottest vacation destinations in Spain for many reasons. This island is one of three off the tip of Southern Spain, the Balearic Islands.

Majorca is known to some as Mallorca. Millions of tourists vacation in these Mediterranean islands every year for the gorgeous weather and beautiful beaches. Two of the most popular beaches in Majorca are Ca’n Pastilla and El Arenal. Palma is the capital city of the island. The peak tourist season for the island starts in April and goes through September.

The variety of vegetation and scenic areas in Majorca offer a wonderful array of excursion possibilities. There are forests of lush pine trees. Serene coves are found around the coast of the island. There are numerous pristine beaches for sunbathers.

There is no shortage of activities for the traveling family on vacation. Railways offer peaceful journeys to remote villages. Palma alone offers art galleries, clubs, Le Seu Cathedral, Bellver Castle and dinner theaters.

Majorca also offers sporting enthusiast a variety of activities. There are several golf courses for you to test your skills skis or ATV vehicles that allow the adventurous tourist a unique experience. For the less adventurous sportsperson, there is also sea kayaking and mountain climbing. Scuba diving and cycling are other popular activities in Majorca. There are scenic railway excursions to show you the paths least traveled on this island.

Families need not fear to travel to Majorca. Children are welcome at most establishments on the island. Even the first class dining restaurants welcome families of all ages and sizes. For the traveling family, you can look forward to numerous water parks, a drive through safari zoo and marine life attractions. Majorca is one of the few places that offer submarine tours to watch undersea life.

Majorca offers opera houses for those who love classical music. There are many theaters and dance performances to suit a variety of tastes. Visitors can enjoy folk music in a variety of settings. There are also contemporary performances by DJs, and July is the Festival Isladecanta. This annual celebration brings people together from all around the world to celebrate electronic music.

Shopping enthusiasts will find virtually any product imaginable on the island of Majorca. You can find crafts and handmade goods at many of the small open markets. Designer products can be found at the shopping malls. The hours for the shops and boutiques typically allow an extended lunch break. Tourists and visitors should make a note of this if they are interested in shopping. The small open markets are open weekly, and it’s best to arrive early in the morning.

For those who love the nightlife, Majorca also offers a variety of attractions. World famous clubs and low-key cafes will keep you occupied until dawn. Establishments offer a variety of atmosphere and can occupy those craving fast dance clubs or soothe and calm those who enjoy a good jazz session.

With the proper planning and awareness while you are there, your vacation in Majorca can be a wonderful experience. Experts recommend that tourists observe the usual cautions, such as carefully crossing streets and proper placement of valuables in your clothing. Also, avoid any unusual offers for free products such as televisions or other major awards.

Majorca can provide the ultimate destination for your holiday. The island has established itself as a worthy attraction for several years, and the current outlook predicts this island will only continue to offer more.

This article was by Roger Munns

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More holiday information for Majorca is available with travel site yourmajorca.net Cheap Majorca flights with different airlines are on offer along with cheap Majorca holiday deals. They also have a map of Majorca

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As the summer season in Spain finishes, and the beaches become deserted there is still plenty of action to be found in the beautiful cities of Spain, and the weather remains warm most of the year. The online hotel retailer Rooms To Stay gives the low down on what the Spanish cities have to offer.

Madrid, the capital, is certainly one of Europe’s finest cities. It possesses a wonderful combination of fascinating museums, impressive architecture and lively nightlife, to ensure that all tastes are catered for.

The three finest art galleries are the Museo del Prado, the Thyssen museum and the Reina Sofia. All three boast an incredible array of artefacts, ranging from Goya and El Greco, to Rembrandt and Botticelli. For a more historical look at the city, then visit the Museo Municipal and the Palacio Real, the latter also doubling up as a spectacular venue for open air theatre and music performances during the summer months.

Walking around the town, you will be able to take in such sights as the Puerta del Sol, the centre point of the city, the large number of cafes that surround the Plaza Mayor, and the 17th century town hall. You can also browse through the Rastro market, one of Europe’s largest flea markets, and soak up some true Spanish tradition at a flamenco show at Casa Patas.

The public gardens of the Parque del Buen Retiro are a pleasant retreat to relax and unwind, and it is possible to hire a boat to float out onto the lake. You will find there the Egyptian Fountain and Alfonso XII’s mausoleum. You will also be kept entertained by the variety of entertainers and buskers vying for your attention.

Other activities to enjoy in Madrid, providing the season is right, include a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the famous home of the Real Madrid football team where David Beckham and Michael Owen now ply their trade, bullfighting, a hot air balloon ride over the city, or enjoy tapas in the numerous bars of the Chueca district.

Barcelona is another fabulous city to explore. La Rambla is a good place to start from, a collection of streets that stretch from the Placa de Catalunya to the waterfront. Along the way, make sure you stop off at La Boqueria, a great food market, and soak up the atmosphere of street entertainers. The fascinating architecture of Gaudi means that walking through the city is quite an experience.

You can check out Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece La Sagrada Familia. The Picasso Museum near the Parc de la Ciutadella is worth a visit, and for more culture, the Musuem of Modern Art in the Parc de la Ciutadella and the Museum of Contemporary Art are both excellent.

You can even visit the home of Spain’s other top football side at the Nou Camp, with the chance of stadium tours and a look at the club museum. Further afield, Montserrat is proving an increasingly popular destination, and you can visit the Benedictine Monastery, a place steeped in Catalan history.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and boasts delightful beaches on the Mediterranean. The old town houses the striking cathedral, while the river is traversed by three proud bridges, the Puente del Real, the Puente de la Trinidad and the Puente de Serranos.

One of the best attraction is the baroque Palacio del Marqus de Dos Aguas, as well as the Museo de Bellas Artes. Whilst in Valencia, you must take the opportunity to sample a local delicacy too, the paella Valenciana, a variation on the traditional Spanish dish, which includes chicken and snails

Granada, on the south coast, is a city with a large student presence, due to its popular university. The capital of Moorish Andalucia, the 11th century Alhambra is the jewel in the city’s crown. It is set against the picturequse Sierra Nevada, which in wintertime offers superb skiing. This incredible palace is breathtaking, with the Alcazaba, the Palacio Nazaries and beautiful gardens, and provides wonderful views across the city.

In contrast, Seville is a city that moves at a slower pace, which brings with it an individual charm. It is at the heart of Andalusian culture, the centre of bullfighting and Flamenco music. The city was the home of EXPO ‘92, and as a result combines a mixture of new and old, the latter perhaps most emphatically demonstrated by the Muslim Alcazar and the Christian cathedral.

This article was written by David Brice

David Brice was writing on behalf of online hotels and apartments website Rooms to Stay

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Ask any European about Ibiza, and they’re likely to tell you the same thing: it’s where the party is. For decades this island located between the coasts of Spain and Africa has been known for its wild parties, lively clubs and all-around chaotic nightlife. But is that all changing now?

Although you can still find a good party on Ibiza if that’s what you’re after, the focus of everything Ibiza is no longer hedonistic in nature. These days, many of the tourists on the island can be found far away from the clubs, living it up in the quietest way.

The locals have always been tolerant of the party trade because of the tourist money it brings to the island. Many property owners have made a fair income on rental properties in Ibiza, knowing that the properties are more or less guaranteed to be rented throughout the peak visiting months. But there is another side to the island, and the people who live on it, that is just starting to become evident to visitors.

Far away from the club scene on Ibiza there exists a surprisingly peaceful world. The waters are clear and inviting; the landscape just begs to be explored; and the locals are friendly. The natural excitement of the land overtakes even the most seasoned traveler and puts the strangest ideas in their heads. Suddenly, packing up all of one’s worldly possessions and embarking on a new life on this Balearic Island doesn’t seem so crazy.

Before you get ahead of yourself, though, take a step back and enjoy all that the island has to offer. No matter which direction you go, you will find engaging cities, unrivaled natural beaches and a serenity that you may not have imagined was possible on this ‘party’ island.

Befriend the locals and they may just tell you where to find Atlantis. No, not the fabled lost city, but almost as breathtaking. The Ibiza version of Atlantis is a tiny but stunning beach with a natural cave. The goddess Shiva is depicted on a cave drawing here and is said to protect the area.

The countryside in Ibiza, though extremely beautiful, is under-appreciated by most visitors. Those who come only for the clubs will never see the romantic vineyards that dot the landscape. They will never experience the disorienting winding turns down narrow corridors in D’alt Villa. They will never truly appreciate the serene beauty of a sunset while walking down one of the island’s many wonderful beaches.

It is this Ibiza that the locals are trying to preserve and promote. The hard-partying image of the island has served the tourist trade there well for over three decades. Now, the time has come to let the natural beauty of the island speak for itself.

Those with an adventurous spirit will enjoy the many water sports available on Ibiza as well as the various exploring opportunities offered by the cliffs and rocky beaches. Even families can have a great time on the island, enjoying the welcomed escape from their everyday lives and schedules. No matter what your age or what you hope to find on Ibiza, it is truly a magical place where expectations are surpassed every day.

This article was written by Roger Munns

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