A summary of useful information about Majorca
Where to stay
• Off season, you can buy a week's accommodation and flight for as little as €179, but in high season expect to pay between €300 and €400. Many of the resort complexes are a little grubby and badly situated, though, so it is worth doing your research beforehand. Nova Apartments (www.budgettravel.ie, 01-6311111), in Palma Nova, was a fairly decent three-star option, with helpful staff and large pool areas, although perhaps more for families than for couples.
• If city life is more your thing, then the four-star Hotel Bon Sol (www.hotelbonsol.es, 00-34-971-402111), a spa resort seven kilometres west of Palma, is a great spot. Standard double rooms cost €100-€200 per night. We dropped in for breakfast on our shopping morning in the city and stayed for an hour, lying on sunloungers by the outdoor pool. We would have returned to the Beach Terrace restaurant, but it was fully booked - a good sign.
• For something more rustic, try Es Passarell (www.espassarell.com, 00-34-971-183091), a 19th-century building with 10 rooms and apartments to rent, in the southeast of the island.
A double room with breakfast starts at €100. Many of them have private terraces and gardens. Be warned, though: the owners operate a strict no-TV-or-internet policy. It's all about tanning and tranquillity. The current offer of €280 per week for self-catering apartments is a good deal.
Where to eat
• Food in Majorca can be very hit and miss unless you're prepared to go off the beaten track a little. In resort towns such as Magaluf and Santa Ponsa, expect fries with everything, and spaghetti Bolognese and bangers and mash to dominate. If you can see beyond the bluster, on a weeknight Ciro's (www.restauranteciros.com, 00-34-971-681052) is worth a punt, and is a much better experience if you get an outside table, nearer the beach. It's a little more expensive than most restaurants, with mains coming in at about €25. The fare is typical Mediterranean, but a word of warning: steer clear of the veal.
• Our favourite dining spot in Palma Nova was La Cucaracha (00-34-971-683045), the resort's only Mexican restaurant, on the beachfront. Judging by the queues most nights, its reputation preceded it, and dishes were well priced and well executed. Both owners were on hand to interact with customers, and live Mexican guitar music is also a feature.
• For something a little more upmarket, try La Gran Tortuga (00-34-971-686023), on the southeast coast, where the average price for mains is €30-€40. The location offers great views of Peguera Bay and the Malgrat Islands, with homemade tapas a speciality.
Where to go
• If you're on a package holiday, then most resorts and reps will have details of day trips and outings, such as boat tours, booze cruises and island-hopping adventures. Theme parks are also a feature of the island, and if you're on a family trip, then the best value seemed to be Aquapark (00-34-971-130811) and Marineland (00-34-971-675125, closed for January).
• For a more cultured experience, try Palma Cathedral (00-34-971-723130), a 13th-century Gothic building built on the site of an Arab mosque. The museum next door is closed on Sundays and Mass is sung in the main church every morning at 9am.
• Other cultural sites of note include Almudaina Palace (00-34-971-214134), the official residence of the kings of Majorca through the ages, and still used by the king of Spain. EU residents get free entry on Wednesdays. It closes from 2pm until 4pm.
• Arta caves (00-34-971-841293), next to Playas de Canyamel, is a popular day trip, combining sightseeing with beach time. Day trips are also available to Menorca, or simply cruise around the island's coastline for an afternoon. Ask at your hotel for details of what's on offer locally.
• A trip to Majorca wouldn't be complete, most tourist reps will tell you, without taking in The Pirates Show (www.piratesadventure.com, 00-34-971-130411), an all-singing, all-dancing variety act that has been going for more than 20 years. Pirates Uncut offers a more risqué night out for adults. Tickets are €40-€70 for adults and €20-€50 for children.