Ibiza, Majorca and Minorca are the main islands that make up the Spanish Balearic Islands and collectively they make up one of the most popular beach destinations in the world -- as much for their nightlife as their golden sands.
Traditionally a playground of royalty, wealthy Europeans and the glitterati set, The Balearics are now a more mainstream vacation location attracting everyone from families to yachties, package vacationers to backpackers. Whereas Majorca (or Mallorca) may be synonymous with the rich and famous, Ibiza is known as the party island with an over the top techno night club scene famous for European excesses. Minorca (or Menorca) is slightly more low-key with historic towns and pristine beaches.
Most package deals originate out of the UK, and with some decent deals it may be well worth your while to fly via London to take advantage of the savings.
Even if you choose to travel independently and find your own accommodation, flying from London or elsewhere in the UK will give you the most flexibility and options. There are a number of low-cost and no-frill airlines that fly almost shuttle style to Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca during the spring to fall season -- usually starting in May and ending in October. Thomsonfly (www.thomsonfly.com), easyJet (www.easyjet.com), mytravellite (www.mytravellite.com), Firstchoice (www.firstchoice.com), Monarch (www.flymonarch.com), Jet2 (www.jet2.com), flyglobespan (www.flyglobespan.com) and AirBerlin (www.airberlin.com) all fly regularly to The Balearics at discounted prices including the following one-way sample fares (June to September, 2007):
- Manchester to Majorca on mytravellite: $60 including all taxes
- London Gatwick to Ibiza on mytravellite: $90 including all taxes
- Belfast to Menorca on mytravellite: $60 including all taxes
- London Gatwick to Ibiza on thomsonfly: $62 plus taxes
- London Luton to Ibiza on thomsonfly: $15 plus taxes
- London Gatwick to Majorca on thomsonfly: $30 plus taxes
- London Luton to Ibiza on Monarch: $76 including all taxes
- London Luton to Majorca on Monarch: $76 including all taxes
- London Gatwick to Menorca on Jet2: $56 plus taxes
- Glasgow to Majorca on flyglobespan: $60 plus taxes
It is important to check individual airlines' websites for luggage allowances as they can be extremely restrictive and additional fees for overweight may outweigh airfare savings. Also worth noting is which airlines include taxes and fuel surcharges in their advertised prices -- often you will see what seems like ridiculously cheap airfares (sometimes merely pennies) but taxes are high.
Jet2 Airlines' holiday division, jet2holidays (tel. +44/871-386-000; www.jet2holidays.com) that can set you up with discounted package deals. If you are willing to depart from Manchester, UK you can get a seven-night, airfare-inclusive vacation in Ibiza from $388 per person based on double occupancy during the month of June, 2007. A seven-night package to Majorca in July, 2007 starts from $298 and Menorca in August is priced from $478. Hotel and apartment accommodations included are usually three and four-star and many are beachfront resorts. You can upgrade to half-board or all-inclusive for approximately $20 per day additional which makes these trips a bargain.
Firstchoice Holidays (tel. +44/871-200-7799; www.firstchoice.co.uk) offers dozens of specials for Balearic getaways from the UK. The following is just a sample of what's on offer for early summer departures:
- A seven-night package including airfare from London Gatwick and accommodation at the three-star Sirenis Hotel Club Siesta in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza in June, 2007 is priced at $578 per person on a half-board basis.
- A seven-night package including airfare from London Gatwick and accommodation at the three-star Orquidea Aparthotel in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza in June, 2007 is priced at $338 per person on a room-only basis.
- A seven-night package including airfare from London Gatwick and accommodation at the three-star Lagotel Hotel & Apartments in Playa de Muro, Majorca in June, 2007 is priced at $398 per person on a half-board basis.
- A seven-night package including airfare from London Gatwick or Stansted and accommodation at the three-star Sa Caleta Playa Apartments in Sa Caleta, Menorca in June, 2007 is priced at $358 per person on a room-only basis.
Accommodation options are almost infinite with a huge selection of hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, private villas and even yachts -- so finding something that suits you budget and needs is a matter of doing a bit of groundwork (or more appropriately online surfing). A site that can act as good resource is www.baleares.com which currently lists the following:
- The three-star Voramar Hotel (www.voramarhotel.com) in Cala Millor, Majorca priced from $53 per person per day in a balcony room on a half-board basis (breakfast and lunch or diner) during the month of June, 2007
- The beachfront two-star Hotel Maritimo (www.hotelmaritimo-isladeibiza.com) in Ibiza is priced from $63 per double room per night (room-only) or $109 per day all-inclusive including all meals and beverages for two people.
- The two-star older style Hotel Les Delfines in Calan Forcat, Menorca located 150 yards from the beach is priced at $56 per room per night based on half-board
Another good site is Spain On Line (www.sol.com) which lets you search by island, city, star-level and price. For specific villa rentals (most will be advertising in UK pounds or in Euro) on the islands, try the following sites:
- Villas to go (www.villastogo.com) -- offering close to 50 properties in Majorca with a three bedroom villa in Puerto Pollensa priced from $880 for a week. It also features nearly 30 villas in Menorca like the two-bedroom Villa Kimberley in Cala en Porter which is priced from $106 per night. All properties have private pools.
- Villa Rentals Ibiza (www.villa-rental-ibiza.com) which has a wide selection of villas that sleep four to 20 people. The three-bedroom Villa Marquesa in Santa Eulalia with a pool and beautiful gardens is priced from $1,762 per week and can sleep six people.
