BALEARIC ISLANDS, SPAIN - TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE
IBIZA & MALLORCA (MAJORCA)

SPAIN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Balearic Islands Travel Guide:

Balearic Island Ibiza Tourist Attractions   by G Smith

The most visited part of the year is during the summer months of June till October. The night life provided is one of the best attractions due to the large amount of tourists that are arriving at the peak time. Some of the cafes, pubs, discos, restaurants, and bars are only open at certain times of the year. 

Many world class DJ's perform at the one hundred plus clubs in the main town San Antonio which is why many tourists return each year, due to their amazing nightlife experiences on the island of Ibiza. So if one is planning on having the best time, it would be smart to pick a date between the main tourism months to visit and take advantage of all the nightlife attractions.

If you are planning a visit to Ibiza, it would be a smart choice not to go during the month of August if you want a quieter holiday. As this is when most visitors come to the island for clubbing, which tends to raise the prices on many items including food, hotels, and transportation. This could also turn a vacation into a nightmare as the main town San Antonio becomes crowded and the clubs and bars become extremely busy. So families are advised to visit Ibiza outside the main clubbing period if they require a slightly more peaceful stay. However the island does have nearly eight hundred restaurants so finding a vacant one should not be a problem even during peak periods.

When it comes to transportation in Ibiza, you have many methods to choose from. The main towns provide many buses and taxis to its visitors so you should have no trouble getting around to the many attractions and various night spots. If you wish to drive yourself you are able to rent a vehicle in the main towns or arrange for a rental car at the airport when you land. Just a note, if planning on renting it would be smart to book beforehand especially if visiting during August to make sure they will have a vehicle available.

There is a large nightlife scene and that is what Ibiza is well known for but there are also many activities for people of all ages. Another main attraction is Ibiza's beautiful beaches which are great for relaxing, sun tanning, swimming, and even surfing. If your preference is something more active, golf courses, go-cart tracks, hiking trails, and biking courses are provided throughout the tourist season.

One of Ibiza's more well known clubs is Amnesia, this club opens early during the season around June and continues until the end of the tourist season. Amnesia is located on the way to Ibiza old town if you are travelling from San Antonio. This popular club is one of the clubs that helped make Ibiza famous and plays host to major club events such as Cream. 

Another well known destination for the islands clubbers is Space on Sunday. This event doesn't begin until early Sunday morning after most other clubs have closed, but continues all the way through Sunday. This Sunday event is world famous and extremely popular due to the top class DJ's that play at Space on Sundays.

As a warm up session before hitting the clubs of Ibiza thousands of clubbers visit the sunset strip in San Antonio during the early evening. Just a short walk from the famous Bar Street in San Antonio's west end the sunset strip provides the best view of the sun setting over the island of Ibiza. The sunset strip offers many cafes and bars serving food and drinks throughout the summer evenings, such as Cafe Mambo and Cafe Del Mar. Street entertainers also perform along the sunset strip, details at http://www.greatholidaydeals.biz/ibiza-sunset-strip.php will help to highlight the relaxed atmosphere of the sunset strip.

Overall, this is a great Balearic island to visit especially during the summer months. There is a variety of attractions available to fit everyone's needs, as well as the famous clubbing nightlife of Ibiza.

Winter on Majorca is fiesta time by ELISHA BURBERRY

Visiting Majorca in winter, on the other hand, can provide a good way to avoid the crowds and excellent chances to explore more of this beautiful island, particularly for travellers who are looking for sporting activities and adventures. The mild climate lends itself to year-round outdoor activity, so the popular pastimes of hiking, cycling, horse riding, sailing, diving and watersports – jet skiing is much loved – are still available in the winter months and generally more comfortable to take part in when the weather is a little cooler. Away from the beaches, the island boasts some stunning mountain scenery, pine forests and caves to explore.

Throughout the Christmas and New Year period, as with all the Catholic Spanish territories, Majorca has a wonderfully festive atmosphere with lots of entertainments and treats especially for children. And the party is by no means over in January – early in the New Year, Spanish children celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings (los Reyes Magos), with a huge parade in the evening, gifts and sweets being given the next morning.

Then for a whole two weeks (14-29 January), the Balearic capital of Palma comes alive with celebrations of its patron saint, Sebastian – it's a perfect opportunity for visitors to see and take part in a traditional Spanish fiesta. The festivities include street parties with live music, bonfires and fireworks, fancy dress parades and huge outdoor barbecue feasts.

Prices for accommodation drop by around €20 per night in the 'low season' after the summer rush. Some of the most tourist-focused establishments may be closed during winter but a massive selection of quality hotels in Majorca remains open throughout the year. Along with the scores of three and four-star all-inclusive beach resorts - most suitable for large groups of holidaymakers - there are some exclusive, five-star designer hotels, aparthotels and around cities, converted mansions, manor houses and villas are found.

Many of these locally-owned hotels boast excellent cuisine, so are a good place to sample local specialities such as seafood paella, the spicy, warming Sobrassada sausage, wild mushrooms and olives, and the locals' pride, almond cake and almond ice-cream.

There are also some fine local wines, mainly using the Tempranillo (grenache) grape and the local varietals Callet and Manto Negro.