Mauritius is in a class of its own, natural and unspoilt enough to be blessed with rugged mountain landscapes and extinct volcanic craters, yet affluent and developed enough to boast championship golf courses and luxury spa accommodation. From the white sand beaches and sugarcane fields of the north to the Ylang Ylang fields and rugged coastal cliffs of the south, the island offers enough diversity to satisfy every type of nature lover. In the South-West, the exotic Black River Gorges National Park tempts walkers with 40 miles of trails through rainforest and heathland and is home to many endangered birds and endemic wildlife. Close by in the foothills of the Savanne Mountain, 35 different colours of volcanic earth make up the Valley of Colours nature park. Through its moist, thickly forested highlands to the drier lowlands of its central plain, Mauritius is an exotic land of casuarina and conifer trees, tumbling waterfalls and deep ravines.

Ironically it`s the outstanding natural beauty of Mauritius that often masks its appeal as a destination of great cultural diversity, with an eclectic blend of ancestral traditions passed down by all the peoples that have set foot upon its shores throughout the centuries. A rich colonial past has seen the island deeply influenced by the Dutch, the French and the British who all left an indelible mark in the architecture of towns such as Mahebourg and St Louis, with ancient fortifications and further colonial houses strewn across the island. The Mauritian people, a diverse mix of nationalities, are renowned for their warmth and friendliness and an eclectic blend of Chinese, French, Indian and African adds spice to the cuisine in their restaurants and roadside snack bars. Across the island, Temples, Cathedrals, Pagodas and Mosques stand side by side in harmony and the air rings out with the music of festivals and processions that colour the social calendar, where dancing, folklore and mesmerising social rituals fascinate anyone lucky enough to witness them.

Visiting the inland towns and villages of Mauritius, with their colonial houses, shopping arcades and local markets, makes for an exciting voyage of discovery for those wishing to experience local life beyond the well-trodden tourist traps. Some of the island`s main attractions include the Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens in the north, famous for their rare tropical plants and gigantic water lilies, as well as the Le Val Nature Park and the Vanilla Crocodile Park in the South. For a taste of culture, venture across to Abercrombie and marvel at the complex of Temples of the South Indian Tamils or visit the Holy lake at Grand Bassin. Alternatively, simply cruise through miles of sugar cane fields, climbing to the breathtaking Rochester Falls and taking in far-reaching views over the Southern Mountain peaks, or head east to Trou d`Eau Douce and take a fishing boat to the tropical paradise of Ile aux Cerfs. Whilst it`s true that Mauritius is the perfect destination for those looking for relaxation, it offers so much more to those with a willingness to explore.

Given its compact size, so many of the island`s hidden gems can be easily reached within a day and by opting for cheap car hire, you can enjoy the freedom of exploring them all at your own pace.

It is an island that has suffered enormously since the onset of the economic downturn, its higher prices being an obvious turn-off to holidaymakers looking to make savings, and Mallorca’s loss has very much been to the benefit of resorts in Turkey and North Africa.

The season in Mallorca is also notably shorter than it was serveral years ago, with many businesses not opening until May and closing as early as late September.  The weather is of course a factor, and there is no escaping the fact that for 5 months of the year sunbathing on the beach is simply not possible, although it doesn’t stop some people trying!

Despite this, Mallorca still has an enormous amount to offer to winter visitors.  It has long been the destination of choice for keen cyclists and is proving equally popular with hikers.  This is no surprise, because Mallorca has some of the most beautiful and varied hiking terrain in Europe, a landscape which is breathtakingly beautiful, and which offers a hugely rewarding hiking experience.

The Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range that begins at the cape of Sa Mola in Andratx in the south west of the island and which runs north-easterly to the cape of Formentor in Pollença. The range forms the northern backbone of the island and stretches for almost 90 km with an average width of over 14 km, a significant amount of which lies above 1000m; and is home the many challenging and iconic mountains, from Puig de Galatzo in the south to the stunning Puig de Tomir overlooking the Bay of Alcudia in the north.

The Serra de Tramuntana is composed mainly of Jurassic-era limestone, and thus is susceptible to water erosion and it is this that gives rise to the delightful range of gullies, cave systems and geographical features that make this landscape so special.  The Consell de Mallorca is continuing to push for the Serra de Tramuntana to be named as an UNESCO world heritage site, a decision due to be announced in the summer of 2011.  You can add your support to this campaign here.

The Hotel Price Scanner has teamed up with local company mallorcawalks.com who offer guided walks to the summits of the many 1000m+ peaks throughout the Serra de Tramuntana.  For more information about these walks and to learn more about Mallorca as a hiking destination, visit mallorcawalks.com.

Despite not being an obvious winter holiday destination, many hotels remain open during the off-season.  For more information about those hotels, and to compare prices CLICK HERE.

Lake Como is one of the popular travel destinations in Italy, offering visitors a romantic setting of old gothic buildings, and refreshing picturesque views of lush natural greenery and snowy alpine peaks.

One of Lake Como’s tourist attractions include: Villa Melzi, located in Bellagio, which is most popular for its beautiful gardens. Bellagio also has stone lanes and stairways surrounded with shops, gelato bars, cafes and restaurants. Villa d’Este in the village of Cernobbio, is famous for each of its unique luxury rooms. The village of Menaggio is popular for those who love the outdoors; it is one of the best places for hiking and rock climbing. In Tremezzo, Villa Carlotta is famous for its 18th century furniture, art works and beautiful gardens. In Lenno is Villa del Balbianello, famous for its terraced gardens, this villa was used as a set in one of the Star Wars movies.

Lake Como has an assortment of accommodation options, from campgrounds to elegant villas and grand hotels. Some of which are famous for being one of the oldest structures in Lake Como, an example would be Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio which is also a top luxury hotel on Lake Como.

For more information and to browse destinations and hotels within the Lake Como area, please CLICK HERE.

Like many of the traditional British and German short-haul destinations Mallorca is going through tough times. The recession has hit hard of course, but you feel that the malaise actually began several years before the onset of the economic downturn.

Mallorca became a little too complacent. It was (and still is) very self-assured and confident in what it has to offer (and it does have much to offer), and consequently during the good times did little to attract new visitors assuming that by name and reputation alone it would remain the leading summer destination for British and German sun-seekers.

It was a mistake however, because people now have choice, and a great deal of it, and to stay ahead of the rest Mallorca must start to sell itself and think hard about how it might attract new visitors and compete with the plethora of new resorts in Eastern Europe, and the growing popularity of Turkey and Greece.

Mallorca is expensive, on pretty much every level, and so during a time of general austerity it is only natural that people will look to make savings wherever they can. Maybe to try to compete with the cheaper destinations directly on price will be self-defeating (but there is most definitely scope to bring prices down in many areas). Instead, perhaps it should concentrate on its many assets – the two hour flight time from the UK makes it a perfect weekend getaway destination – a market that the island has never really exploited preferring to concentrate on its core summer trade.

It needs to shout from the rooftops about its stunning landscape, the impressive and beautifully maintained built environment and public realm, great attractions, stunning beaches and so much more.

Many of these assets we explore in more detail in the guide below. Please feel free to comment and offer your opinion on this destination by using the comment form that follows this article.

Mallorca Overview

Mallorca is a Spanish island located in the Mediterranean sea and is the largest of the Balearic Islands. The capital, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. To learn more about the history of the island we recommend this article.

Facts & Figures
Size: 3,640.11 km²
Languages (official): Catalan and Spanish
Population (resident): 846,000 (2008)
Largest City: Palma

Resorts
There are countless resorts in Mallorca, many with names familiar to British holidaymakers. These resorts can vary enormously in what they offer and the type of visitors they appeal to. From tranquil fishing ports, to picturesque mountain villages and the more notorious ‘party’ resorts; Mallorca can cater for all markets and all age groups.

For a comprehensive resort guide we suggest you look here, and instead we will give an overview of the more popular resort destinations.

Magaluf is notorious, often for all the wrong reasons, and while there is no doubt that it is not the sort of place you go for a quiet and relaxing holiday; for those that want to party there is no better place.  Magaluf is home to the famous BCM nightclub, the Pirates Adventure dinner show and other family attractions such as the House of Katmandu and two water parks.  It also has a lovely beach and very well maintained beach front.  Magaluf has much to offer, and you shouldn’t write it off too soon.

Adjacent to Magaluf is the resort of Palma Nova.  With an attractive beach front and excellent choice of restaurants, Palma Nova is the ideal place for those who want quick and easy access to the Magaluf attractions but who prefer to stay somewhere a little less raucous.  The same too applies to Santa Ponsa, just a few kilometers up the coast from Magaluf in the opposite direction.  Santa Ponsa is quite cosmopolitan and manages to cater very well for all age groups and markets.  Is is particularly popular with Celtic visitors and there are many bars restaurants catering for this market.

Completing the cluster of four large resorts on the south-west coast in the municipal district of Calvia is Paguera.  Paguera is a charming, beautifully maintained resort with a long sweeping boulevard that runs parallel to 3 beaches.  Despite being a large resort, Paguera is very laid back and is not particularly well known to British tourists.  Most visitors to Paguera originate from Germany, Holland and Scandinavia, and so naturally many of the bars and restaurants are targeted at this market.

The district of Calvia is located just to the west of Palma and just a short drive from the airport and is comfortably the most visited region on the island and is home to many of the leading attractions.  That’s not to say there is not plenty of other resorts on the island worthy of mention.  On the north of the island you will find Alcudia, Port d’Pollenca and C’an Picafort.  While a good deal more secluded that their south coast counterparts, these resorts are nonetheless very popular with visitors of all ages.

On the east coast you will find Cala d’Or, famous for its sheltered coves, and on the west coast the beautiful fishing port of Port d’Soller.  In short, there are countless places to choose from, many that we haven’t mentioned here such as Andratx, Arenal, Portals Nous (not to mention Palma itself which warrants an article to itself!), and we recommend that anyone considering visiting Mallorca read through the resort guide that we linked to above in order to find your ideal destination.

Attractions

A brief overview of many of the leading attractions on the island:

Valldemossa

To see Mallorca at its most quaint and picturesque, then a trip to the town of Valldemossa is a must.  Valldemossa is a beautiful town in the mountainous north-west region of the island, and is in fact the highest community in Mallorca.  It has become increasinly popular with tourists in recent years, but has lost none of its original features and charm.

Valldemossa is famous for the Royal Charterhouse of Jesus of Nazareth, built at the beginning of the 14th century.  Nowadays the monastery is the second most visited building on the island, after Palma cathedral. You can see Cells 2 and 4 where Chopin and Sand lived for four months, and admire his piano and some manuscripts. Elsewhere, the monastery church hosts the Municipal Museum, which has a small collection of modern art upstairs, including pieces by Picasso, Miro and Francis Bacon. The vaults contain frescoes by Goya’s brother-in-law Miguel Bayeu.

Caves of Drach

Located on Mallorca’s east coast the caves are without doubt one of the island’s most outstanding tourist attractions, extending for almost 2,400 metres and including internal heights of 25 metres above the cave floor.

Hidden within the caves is Lake Martel, considered to be one of the largest subterranean lakes in the world, (177 metres long and 230 metres wide) on which there are daily performances of classical music featuring pieces by Caballero, Chopin, Offenbach, …

After the concert one can take a short boat trip on the lake. The unequalled beauty of the caves is further enhanced by the lightning planned and set in place by the engineer Carlos Buigas.

Palma Aquarium

Palma Aquarium is a spectacular marine park that faithfully recreates sea and oceanic habitats and ecosystems. Palma Aquarium invites you on a fun and exciting journey of discovery down the ages.

The park provides visitors with a unique and unforgettable experience: interaction, surprises and endless educational elements that all pursue one fundamental objective; to foster understanding and wonder for the sea’s beauty.

The 55 aquariums contain an exceptional range of flora and fauna from the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Palma Aquarium introduces visitors to this unknown world by faithfully recreating life in marine ecosystems and natural animal habitats with over 8000 specimens from 700 different species in 5 million litres of seawater.

Come Fly With Me

Experience an unforgettable night at the Gran Casino Theatre as the legendary music of Frank Sinatra and other greats of the swing era uniquely blend with some of the world’s most breathtaking acrobatics and dancing.

Chris Mann, one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the music of Frank Sinatra provides the musical narrative to the show and his voice, presence and his thrilling performances will take you on a journey of discovery and excitement as you enter the world of New York 1959; a world of style, cool, and sophistication.

The show is a feast for your eyes and ears, the non-stop action and the exceptional talent of the cast of over thirty five of the world’s best performers and artistes, will take you back to a different time and a truly wonderful place.

And if watching the island’s greatest show is not enough, why not experience the night from the comfort of your very own sofa for 2 in our world famous Diamond Club? Complimentary champagne, strawberries and chocolates and VIP parking included!

Medieval Show

The Medieval Show is a restaurant-show that re-enacts medieval tournaments with horses, spears, swords and falconry demonstrations while guests savour a succulent banquet.

The show has been conceived to be fun for young and old alike as they are transported back to the Middle Ages and partake of lunch or dinner. A group of knights in armour face off on a jousting field to demonstrate their valour and win the hand of the damsel of their dreams. They fearlessly compete on horseback with spears, swords or any other medieval weapons to the cheers of the onlookers. The entertainment is completed by an exhibition of birds of prey guided by an expert falconer that showcases their abilities.

Son Amar

Lose yourself in an explosion of brilliant laser lights as dancers in vibrant costumes perform to the soulful music in a surreal setting created by fog machines and special effects.

Standing tall in the Mallorcan countryside, the 17th century Son Amar estate is home to a superbly appointed theatre that hosts well choreographed shows and serves visitors sumptuous dinners laced with fine wine. Son Amar’s night show is a magical display of lights, music and dance and is a must-see for any visitor to Mallorca.

Pirates Adventure

The Pirates Show has amazed over 3 million customers over the last 21 years with its unique blend of world class acrobatics, thrilling gymnastics and breathtaking dancing.

Set sail on the adventure of a lifetime as Join Sir Henry Morgan and his band of brave buccaneers as they do battle with their evil French foes to save the treasure.

Escape to a magical world of action, thrills, comedy and fun for an experience that you will never forget.

Make a date to join the fearless pirates for an amazing adventure in their purpose-built theatre in Magaluf. For an excursion to remember the Pirates Adventure is a perfect family fun night out. For a more saucy, sexy experience choose the Pirates Uncut (18) show where anything can happen late at night.

Come aboard Mallorca’s best attraction, the Pirates Adventure – a swashbuckling spectacle which is simply live entertainment at its very best.

Western Park

Situated just a short walk from Magaluf’s other water park, Aqualand; Western Park offers all the thrills and spills you’d expect from such an attraction.  Where it differs is that it has more of a theme, the Wild West, and in addition to the usual array of slides and pools, there are also spectacular live shows and other themed events.  Take a trip through ‘El Paso’, ‘Indian Town’ and ‘Western Land’; or simply wave goodbye to the kids and soak up the sun in this fantastic family venue.

Marine Land

No trip to Mallorca is complete without a trip to Marineland, a family attraction offering the chance to spend the day enjoying a wide range of animal exhibits and shows.

The highlight is a spectacular show featuring dolphins, seals and papagayos; and there is also the famous parrot show, plus a reptile centre and the chance to get up close to the marine anaimals with plenty of photo opportunities.  In addition, there is a recreational area with children’s slides which is the ideal place to relax and enjoy a picnic and soak up the Mallorcan sun.

An added bonus is its location, with stunning sea views and just a short walk from Port d’Portals, home to some of the most stunning yachts you’ll see, it is the ideal place to sit with a drink and watch the world go by, and you may even see some famous faces!

Aqualand

Aqualand is one of the most well known of Mallorca’s family water parks. Its facilities include state of the art attractions such as the Boomerang and the Tornado. The Mini Park, the water park for children, includes the brand new Enchanted Castle among other modern attractions, which include:

Boomerang – A fantastic return trip!
Tornado – Feel yourself absorbed by the power of the Tornado!
Surf Beach – Surf our over 1m-high waves!
Games area – You can drive karts, ride in the simulator, jump on the trampolines and if you dare…try the Jumper!
Super Kamikazes – For those immune to vertigo.
Mini park – Refreshing fun for children!
Crazy Race – Embrace the speed and you’ll win the race!
Enchanted Castle – Experience an enchanted adventure!
Multi-lanes – Join the most refreshing race!
Super Slalom – Dare take those bends and slopes!
Rapids – Enjoy the ultimate rafting rafting experience!

As you can see, there is no shortage of places to stay and things to do on the island of Mallorca.  For all its current problems, Mallorca looks set to remain the leading summer holiday destination for British and German sun seekers.

CLICK HERE to compare hotel prices in Mallorca.