Friday, 16 May 2008
Majorca Villa Holidays
In recent decades, the Spanish island of Majorca (or Mallorca in the local Catalan language) has become one of the premier destinations in the world for villa holidays, and for good reason. Thanks to the island's long history of accommodating travellers from all over Europe and elsewhere, visitors to Majorca enjoy expertly run villas and resorts, plus an immersive holiday atmosphere that makes it easy and fun for visitors to temporarily forget about the work-a-day world back home.

In addition to its beautiful coastlines, its welcoming towns and cities, and its top-notch shopping and cuisine, the island offers all the modern amenities today's holiday maker expects.

Majorca, which has been continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic era, has long been known for its multifaceted landscape and varied coastline. The Romans knew this when, in the 2nd century B.C., they established the settlements that went on to become the modern cities of Palma and Alcudia. Since then, the island has been in high demand, conquered at various times by the Vandals, the Byzantine Empire, Muslims from northern Africa, the Caliphate of Cordoba, and finally the Spaniards.

Today, the Son Sant Joan Airport, in the island's capital city of Palma, sees nearly 20 million passengers annually, and the island also receives a very significant amount of sea-borne traffic. Although the tourism industry is thriving throughout the island, Majorca is more than sufficiently large to accommodate this major contributor to its economy.

Holiday visitors to the island have a variety of choices; you can stay either in the urban tourist hot-spots, or in one of the island's many remote and secluded coastal areas. Many visitors choose to experience both, spending a portion of their trip in one of the cities, and another portion away from all of the noise and excitement.

In coastal cities such as Palma, Cala d'Or, Calvia, and Cala Ratjada, villa holiday-takers can experience Majorca's unique urban worlds, browsing local shops and markets, attending festivals, dining on fine local cuisine, or simply walking around and taking in the historic scenery. And of course, the beaches of Majorca's resort coastlines rival those of any of the other islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Meanwhile, rural Mallorca villa holidays offer mountain hikes, nature trails, bicycling, safaris, and countless other opportunities for day trips. The island's main mountain range is known as the Sierra de Tramuntana range, in the northwestern portion of the island, and there are several other smaller ranges. The vast beaches of Majorca's rural regions offer the best opportunity on the island to get as far away from other human beings as possible, which is far easier than it may sound. Or, even better for this purpose, visitors can sail to one of Majorca's smaller outlying islands, including Dragonera, Conillera, and Cabrera.

As for the villa experience itself, holiday visitors to Mallorca have hundreds villas to choose from, most of which offer what is essentially a modern, state-of-the-art living experience in the heart of a Mediterranean paradise. Villas come in all shapes and sizes, and are available to fit any price range. Whether you prefer rural areas, or you wish to be close to all of the action in Palma, coastal and inland villas can be found within a short distance of everything you could want. Many have private pools.

For future visitors planning a villa holiday in Mallorca, the months of May through September have holiday-friendly weather, with warm temperatures and long, sunny days. The warmest months are July and August, with average daytime temperatures in the upper 20s Celsius, and 11 full hours of sun. Visitors are usually advised to book their accommodations as early as possible, as many villas are rented as much as two years in advance. Indeed, villa holidays in Majorca are in high demand, but visitors to the island, with proper planning, can find the perfect holiday experience.

YourMajorca.net – Majorca villa holidays – villa holiday in Mallorca