About Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza

   Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza are three islands in the sun. They boast 300 days of sunshine every year and are one of the most popular vacation spots for European tourists. Each has its own personality. EL Sol has luxury villa rentals in all three.

    Mallorca is the size of Long Island, New York. It is the center for water sports, especially sailing competitions.  Each year on Mallorca there is a sailing regatta where all the participant boats must be over 50 years old. Palma, the seaport capitol of the island, is the center for art, shopping and dining.  Palma is especially known for leather goods and locally produced  pearls. Michael Douglas, the American actor and producer has built a modern theatre complex in Palma. An exciting trip is to  hop the narrow gauge railway, from Palma to coast city of Puerto de  Soller. The line was built in 1912 and still uses cars from that era. Even if you are not a rail buff, you will enjoy this one hour scenic ride, in small passenger cars with large open windows, through  the Tramuntana mountains to the rugged, colorful seaside town of Puerto de Soller.  A few miles away is the charming village of Deia, adjacent to a beach on a rocky cove, the home of the English writer Robert Graves. El Sol villas, has a number of Mallorca villas in this area. Mallorca draws five million visitors a year, however most commercial travel agents concentrate on the coastal areas.  The very accessible interior of Mallorca has a large area for exploration, with mountains, small villages, local museums, and local markets. El Sol Villas has comfortable Mallorca villas for rent which make these areas an easy day trip.

    Menorca is a smaller less populated island than Mallorca. Conde Nast  Traveler Magazine  says, "Make space at the top of your best beaches list: Mini Menorca's coast line for quantity and quality beaches (more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza combined." Conde Nast describes the beaches as unspoiled gems with soft sand and peerless, pellucid water. For historical reasons  Menorca has a far less tourism rate than Mallorca, but that will surely change with its port cities of cobbled streets and baroque architecture, fine food and easy atmosphere.

This an escape island, to explore at a slow pace. Tranquil is a word often used.  There are no high rise hotels or criss-cross road systems, only a single central highway.  El Sol has several well situated, Menorca villas to make your visit slow paced and enjoyable.  Oh yes, the British control of Menorca for years has left it with an historic appetite for and good supply of gin.

   Ibiza. A beautiful island with sandy beaches with jagged cliffs, an interior of olive, orange and almond groves, world class restaurants and hotels...and a reputation of party central that lasts the night. That reputation has somewhat receded, and those who danced the night away in clubs that sprayed the dance floor with foam in the 1980's left sometime ago.   Those foam dancers have returned with families and nannies. Ibiza is now a family friendly island of fine seafood restaurants, and in the words of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, "a sophisticated, serene atmosphere that doesn't exist elsewhere in Europe." El Sol has numerous Ibiza villa rentals well located on this unique island.

These three islands with a year round mild climate and over 300 days of sunshine, represent one of the most popular vacation playgrounds for European tourists. The Spanish Royal family has their summer residence in Mallorca. The American actor producer, Michael Douglas built a modern live theater complex on Mallorca. The islands have been the home to writers, artists and painters for over a century. Frederic Chopin, the composer, George Sand, the writer and Robert Graves, the poet and writer have all lived and worked on the islands. Each of the islands has its own personality. Mallorca, about the size of Long Island, New York, has long been the Mediterranean's most popular playground. It is the center for water sports, especially sailing competitions. Each year there is a regatta where the participating sailing boats must be over 50 years old. Palma, the capital, is a center for art, shopping (especially leather goods,) and wonderful dining. Minorca, the second largest Baleric island, operates at a more relaxed pace with green countryside to explore, quiet beaches, coves, unique hotels and cafes in its harbor. Ibiza, the smallest island has a world wide reputation for cosmopolitan, trendy day and night life. This is an island of movie stars, the rich and famous, and those who watch them.