The problem with holiday villa selection is once your there unlike a hotel it’s difficult to change room. This style of holiday means you probably have just the one chance of getting it right.
I have two tried and tested recommendations for you but first a couple of tips of what in my experience you should avoid. Just like estate agent speak the near railway station description can be a euphemism for next to noisy rail line or close to entertainment facility next door to pub villas suffer the same. Very carefully check out any with the word RUSTIC in the description. For me this meant bats in the bedroom, cobwebs by the yard and assorted wild life sharing the swim pool. Do not be fooled by photographs they are often economic with the truth.
If Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta- Jones think it’s worth splashing out millions on a property in Majorca and Claudia Schiffer thinks the same the island really has done something to thrown off that old image of cheap drink producing hordes of drunks fighting spitting and everything else that goes with it. The local government has done a remarkable job in upgrading this pretty island where now farming and luxury villas live side by side. In most places you’re more likely to see cyclists and walkers than beer stained soccer shirts fighting to hold in a huge belly.
Two tried and test villas to recommend. In the pretty village of S’Horta Mansion Ses Oliveres is a real winner. At the other end of the island in the Pollenca area Carteras with five bedrooms including two nicely tucked away in a Casita with its own entrance. Both sleep 10 comfortably and Oliveres has a wonderful small bakery just round the corner with some really good local restaurants. Main coast area is Cala D’Or which manages to exhibit all many dislike about old mass tourism style Mallorca. If you never get there I promise you nothing much has been missed.
Pollenca area Carteras
At Cateras I highly recommend old Pollenca as a base to eat, drink and shop for food essentials. It really is a beautiful well preserved small town packed with much photographed buildings and streets that have graced many of those coffee table guide books. For some outstanding BBQ supplies including first class meat use the Ensenat Delicatessen on D’Alcudia street leading into the towns wonderful square. Get the most honest taxi driver I have ever met to take you there – Emilio 0034 639 354078.
Both villas come through Mallorca Farmhouses who do not as far as I know have any farmhouses to let but definitely have sheep and goats wandering about nearby at no cost. Farm life carries on around you which I like. One gripe is timed air con at Villa Cateras. With such high spec you would expect to choose your own time to turn it on and off.
Travel tip. British Airways has one flight a day from Gatwick to Palma arriving at just after 9pm. Before making a family booking with a charter or low cost airline check Business fares with BA. Luggage allowance is two cases at 46kg total plus some carry on space too. You get fed and watered at no extra cost and often your luggage is off first. For a good hotel just 20 to 30 minutes from the airport try the excellent Castillo Son Vida. The welcome was outstanding the building terrific and the rooms first class.
Finally check birthdates on young travellers. Georgia Mayston Scotland’s Dalgety Bay baby funker travelled out to Majorca with Easy Jet for a small cost supplement. She celebrated her 2nd birthday on the day of return. No champagne flowers and chocolates from the airline but instead a bill for 156 Euros which did though include a seat of her own.
If you have a Villa recommendation that you have tried and tested let me know. And hot of the press. If you do stay at Villa Carteras and love it so much you would like to live there you can. It is for sale. Price c€3.5million!
