Holidays To Majorca

Every summer, more than eight million tourists head to Majorca to enjoy its radiantly white sandy beaches, warm but not oppressive climate, pine decked cliffs and attractive white-washed and flower-adorned villages.

The appeal of Majorca extends to everyone. If you want family fun head to Palma Nova and the young party scene will enjoy themselves in Maguluf. Catering largely to a British crowd finding English food and bars is not a problem.

The resorts are well equipped for families with kids' clubs and numerous water-sport facilities. What's more, even with all this tourism, that has been going strong since the 1960s, the beaches and countryside remain attractive and for budget holidays these resorts are two of the best.

If you want a more relaxed, easy-going holiday, however, in keeping with the traditional Majorcan way of life, then don't look at resort inside the Bay of Palma. On the northern coast, the Bay of Alcudia is somewhere between popular and deserted. It may lack Magaluf's buzz but this means that even in peak season you can share a beach with a maximum of 10 others. Thanks to laws protecting the nearby wetlands in the S'Albufera Nature Reserve, the whole region is almost completely untouched.

The dramatic northern coastline prohibits too many resorts from developing as sheer cliffs plunge to rocky beaches and sea filled with fish. The area is great for snorkelling or canoeing into the caves and grottoes that erosion has built into play houses. Port de Pollenca and Port de Soller are two of the best bases in the region. From here you can choose to hike in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains or laze about on the beach.

The flat, hot and desert-like central plain, because it is miles from the ocean, has no large resorts to speak of but if you are into cycling or getting to know locals then this area is ideal. You can stay in your own villa with a pool and imagine you are on your own island until you need to eat when you can wander down a tiny track to a remote village for some of the best food you will ever taste. One of the best towns is Sineu which has a lively open-air market every Wednesday.

Much of the south coast has escaped development also. This means it is still wild, beautiful and peaceful. The town of Puerto de Andratx is virtually untouched and at Camp de Mar and San Telm you can find hidden beaches sheltered from the wind by nearby Dragonera Island. Es Trenc is one of the best preserved coves on the island and a bit of a local secret. The sea, sand, rocks and trees are pristine because the beach is protected by law.

With public transport not really being up to UK standards hiring a car is both cheaper and more convenient. There are several pick up points dotted across the island.

Lenita Carpinello loves the Balearic islands and has been going to Majorca for years. Getting cheap car hire Majorca is very easy with Ritmocars.co.uk.