Palma Nova Mallorca Spain

Palma Nova can never ever be described as being a typical traditional Mallorcan town, during the summer, both Palma Nova and Magalluf are more suited for those looking for an active, action packed holiday, and are certainly not suitable for long lazy days on the beach, followed by a quiet relaxing drink in the evening.
Whatever your preconception of Palma Nova is, the reality is either better or far worse than you can ever imagine. This resort mainly caters for young singles, especially in the summer season, though they will find that nearby Magalluf is noisier and more lively. In the mid and low seasons, the resort is ideal for families and for more mature visitors.

There is a choice of 70-plus tourist apartments and hotels, the majority in the middle range, but with a couple of good 4-stars in secluded positions at Son Calid Punta Negra.

Magalluf is geared mainly for young Brits looking for a loud and lively holiday; it’s not a great destination for those after peace and tranquility. Although it has improved in recent years, the skyline of Magalluf remains characterised by 1960s and 70s apartment blocks and the resort is packed with salesmen; the street vendors are best avoided but the ‘PRs’ outside the bars and restaurants can be worth chatting up as they offer free drinks. Visitors should be aware of the pickpockets on the beach at night.

Locality:

Palma Nova can be found in the south west of the island, on the west side of the Bay of Palma (9 mls SW of Palma, 15 mls from the airport). It is set on the Costa de Calvia, facing east across the bay. It forms part of the largest tourist nucleus in Mallorca when taken together with Magalluf and Torrenova.
There is a small cove at Son Caliu and 3 separate beaches in Palma Nova itself. The first, near the port, is a thin ribbon of sand served by several water-sports clubs. The second and largest has terrace bars with good sea views. Son Matias is the third a large sandy beach.

There are many Supermarkets and various stores which meet all general shopping needs. Souvenir shops are distributed throughout the resort. A greater choice is available within walking distance at Magalluf. There is a monday market at Calvi for the bargain hunters.
Entertainment here during the daytime consists of mainly water sports.
The nightlife here consists of a casino/restaurant in Magalluf and almost all of the hotels have some form of organised entertainment programme, from bopping to bingo in Palma Nova itself. There are also numerous music bars and several discos. Most clubs don’t get going until around 11pm, but there are lots of good bars nearby which offer good music and large jugs of sangria. Popular ones include BCM Cafe, Panama Jacks, Bar 29, Lennon’s and Eva’s.

There is a big choice of restaurants, with many snack and burger bars, plus restaurants serving local and foreign cuisine. Choices such as Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and even some Spanish restaurants compete with fast food outlets and lots of pubs and cafés offering full English breakfasts and Premiership football. Better restaurants can be found in Palma and Andraitx.

Magalluf Mallorca Spain

Situated in the liveliest part of Mallorca, offering wonderful long white beaches, a wealth of entertainment and an exhausting nightlife. Much has been done to improve Magalluf over recent years with some of the 60s apartment blocks being demolished and a new palm-lined promenade being created, however it is still very much a party town popular with 18 to 30s looking for sun, sand and the odd San Miguel. Quieter areas can be found on the outskirts of Magalluf, in the suburb of Torrenova and in neighbouring Palma Nova.

It is boisterous and noisy, but its notoriety is only partly deserved. The Lager Belt includes all the flat ground at the centre and back of the resort, as well as the base of the Torrenova promontory. Outside this area are more peaceful enclaves, including Cala Vinas and Torrenova, a quieter, greener and more scenic suburb.

This area is suited to the younger lively crowd, singles and many families, mostly European and British, throughout the high season. Mature holidaymakers tend to take over in the low season. This resort has something for all, though the focus is still on the younger crowds who come to enjoy the active nightlife.

This resort has over 100 tourist hotels, aparthotels and apartments. Many are large package operations with a holiday-camp feel, which have set dining hours and intrusive public-address systems. Most of these are securely middlemarket, and many open from May to Oct only. The more appealing, higher-rated establishments are at Cala Vinas and in a group at the S end of the beach. Some good properties can be found in the quieter suburb of Torrenova. There is a handful of good-quality hotelswhich exist in Son Caliu, adjacent to Palma Nova.

Locality:
Magalluf is found on the south west coast and is 15½-ml from Palma Bay, merging with the smaller resort of Palma Nova (9½ mls SW of Palma, 15½ mls from the airport). The resort is facing south east, overlooking the wide bay and Magalluf Beach. It is backed by open rural land.

The beach here is the largest on this section of coast and, indeed, on the S side of the island. It is broad and deep, with fine white sand, though it is still capable of overcrowding. It’s safe to swim here; the currents are not too strong and the waters fairly shallow; lifeguards are present from May to October.
Ther are scores of shops with reasonable prices, selling jewellery, clothing, beach and water-sports wear, souvenirs and handicrafts. There are some some high-street retailers. However there is lots of junk, and the more serious shopper will do better in Palma. There is a Monday-morning market in Calvia, and various others throughout the island. There are many small, well-stocked supermarkets in the centre itself, with a couple of large supermarkets on the edge of the resort.

During the daytime there are water sports, go-karting, water parks, bowling and pony rides in the precincts. The standard glass-bottomed boat trip has now been outdone by “Nemo”, the Finnish-built, glass-sided submarine. There are facilities such as tennis, cycling, bungee rocket (summer) and golf courses all within 5 mls.

Magalluf is Mallorca’s entertainment and clubbing capital. Most hotels have organised entertainment, some excellent, some appalling. Most are free with the exception of Pirates, which is a must for those who aren’t easily offended. The largest nightclub on the island is BCM, which attracts top DJs from around the world.
Other clubs include Bananas, School Disco, Boomerang and Carwash (60s and 70s music). Most clubs don’t get going until around 11pm, but there are lots of good bars nearby which offer good music and large jugs of sangria. Popular ones include BCM Cafe, Panama Jacks, Bar 29, Lennon’s and Eva’s.

There are plenty of restaurants in Magaluf cater for many tastes. Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and even some Spanish restaurants compete with fast food outlets and lots of pubs and cafés offering full English breakfasts and Premiership football. Better restaurants can be found in Palma and Andraitx.

Illetas Mallorca Spain

The very exclusive resort of Illetas is part of the municipal district of Calvia on the south west coast of Mallorca. At a little over 10km, or 6 miles to the west of the capital Palma, the transfer into the resort from the Son Sant Joan International Airport is possibly one of the shortest on the island, and should usually take no more than 15 – 20 minutes from the time you leave the airport grounds. 

The contrast between Illetas and the more familiar south west coast resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf can only be described as striking. Holidays to Illetas are not cheap. Accommodation here does not fall below the 4 star standard, which is aimed very strongly at professional couples and families looking for the cultural aspects of nearby Palma, as opposed to the all night clubs and bars of Magaluf. Locality:
Illetas is on the south coast, on the west side of the huge Bay of Palma (6 mls SW of central Palma and 12 mls from the airport). It has a rocky, south east -facing coast with wooded hills behind, it is just beyond the furthest extremity of the metropolitan area of Palma and Cala Mayor.

The resort of Illetas has a small public beach beneath the low cliffs, which can become very busy during the summer months. Also in keeping with the exclusivity of the town, a number of the hotels here have their own private beaches which are reserved for the use of their guests. Nightlife here tends to be quite sophisticated, and mostly hotel based. You won’t find clubs with Foam Parties that open to the early hours of the morning, or Karaoke Bars either. Illetas just isn’t like that.
There is very little here for shoppers, the choice begins at the main road in the direction of Palma, ½ ml. from the centre.

During the daytime you can visit the Bendinat golf club is just uphill from the centre. The Son Vida is about 8 miles away. There is a large lido at the main beach. The hotels here operate their own restaurants, some of which are of excellent quality. There are more humble local establishments and greater variety at easily accessible Palma and Cala Mayor. Whilst most of the visitors to Illetas prefer to eat at their hotel, or make the short trip into Palma for a meal out, there are a couple of restaurants and bars in the town worth a mention. The first is the Restaurant Illetas Playa, which has marvellous views over Illetas beach, and serves a truly international cuisine.