Saturday Magazine - 03.09.2019

MAJORCA

IBIZA

FORMENTERA

MINORCA

Palma

The Balearic Islands

SATURDAY MAGAZINE 67

beauty and the astounding

construction took centuries to

complete. James I started the

work in 1229 but it wasn’t

finished until 1601.

Next on the agenda was lunch at

Marc Fosh. It’s one of seven Michelin-

starred restaurants on the island and, as is

often the case with high-end dining, offers

a great-value lunch menu. The restaurant was

cool, airy and elegant and gave us a very

relaxing (and delicious) break from the heat

of the city.

It was on a quick visit to nearby Magaluf

that we were reminded of a very different side

to Majorca. It’s famous for its long, fine-sand

beach and very lively nightlife, making it a

favourite for youngsters enjoying their first

holidays without parents. We had a quick

stroll around, but soon headed off in search

of somewhere quieter.

Nearby Puerto Portals is Majorca’s Saint-

Tropez – a playground of the wealthy and

beautiful – and we enjoyed gazing at the

superyachts in the marina while debating

which we’d buy if that lottery win ever

happened. Salt, a newly opened

bistro, is a great place for people

watching and the food is

delicious, particularly its

signature salt-baked sea bass

dish. If you’re here at night,

the bar to head to is Ritzi,

which has a prime spot in the

marina and is packed full of

glamorous guests clinking glasses

and taking in the view.

Instead, we headed back to the hotel

for more relaxation and a last nightcap on our

terrace, where we toasted our wonderful

grown-ups getaway and made plans to return.

Words by: Kirsten Jones

TRAVEL

BARGAIN BREAKS

Dreaming of warm Med sunshine?

Here’s our pick of the best deals

Costa Brava

WHY: Touch

down in Catalonia

to enjoy its

picturesque

coastline with

endless beaches

and quiet coves,

as well as pretty medieval towns.

HOW: Teletext Holidays (020 3001 1273,

teletextholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights

at the three-star Hotel Ibersol Sorra d’Or

in Malgrat de Mar on an all-inclusive basis

from £333 per person, flying from

Liverpool on August 31.

Naples and

beyond

WHY: Enjoy

a no-hassle tour

of the Med – from

Tarragona to

Toulon, Florence

to Sardinia – on

a seven-night

cruise, starting in Naples.

HOW: Planet Cruise (0808 278 8504,

planetcruise.com) has a seven-night

all-inclusive fly-cruise deal onboard the

Marella Explorer 2 from £920 per person,

flying from Gatwick on August 28.

Halkidiki

WHY: Forests,

beaches and

bays await in this

beautiful region of

Greece. Get on

a bike to see

the sights and

watch the sun set

across the Aegean Sea.

HOW: Loveholidays (0203 870 6844,

loveholidays.com) has seven nights at the

five-star Alia Palace Hotel from £549 per

person, based on two adults sharing on

a half-board basis with flights departing

Stansted on September 11.

WAY TO GO British Airways flies from

London Gatwick to Palma from £51 return

in low season or from £60 return in high

season, including taxes, fees and carrier

charges. To book, visit ba.com/palma or call

0344 493 0125. Rates at Zafiro Palace

Palmanova start at £205 in a Junior Suite. For

more information or to book, visit zafirohotels.

com/en/hotels/zafiro-palace-palmanova.

‘Rather

than a package

holiday

destination,

Majorca is

becoming a

glam retreat’

Palma

Cathedral

Have fun in

the sun on

Magaluf beach

Spain