Why Port Soller is perfect for luxury holidays – Mallorca, Spain

One of the reasons why Majorca holidays are so popular is that they combine sun, sand and sea with a real sense of luxury. And if it’s luxury you’re after, one place definitely worth staying in is Port Soller, which you’ll find on the north-west coastline.

Port Soller is not to be confused with the town of Soller, which is situated around 3 km away. Acting as a kind of coastal extension of the town, the port has a reputation for being one of the prettiest harbours on the island.

Views galore and luxurious hotels

One of the biggest draws of Port Soller has to be its amazing views. Now, you’d expect a lot of Majorcan destinations to have pretty decent coastal scenery (it is an island, after all), but there are far fewer spots that offer both this and amazing mountain vistas.

That’s right – if you stay in Port Soller, you can gaze out across the ocean to the horizon or admire the ever-impressive Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range. Plus, there’s a hotel that really lets you make the most of this stunning location.

While it’s actually located on a cliff top above the village, the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa is still one of the destination’s best hotels. In fact, in terms of luxury, I doubt you’ll find anywhere that beats it.

A five-star establishment, it’s got several pools and restaurants, as well as a spa where you can really pamper yourself (you can get both modern and traditional treatments here, so you can try something new if you fancy!) In terms of enjoying the view the hotel offers, though, you absolutely have to go to the Sunset Lounge, which is on the top floor of the main building. From here, you can see the port, the sea and the mountains – and have a cocktail while you drink it all in.

Discover the north-west’s best beach

Majorca’s got a great reputation for its beaches, but you won’t find too many of them in the north-west of the island. Luckily, Port Soller has one of the few fantastic ones.

While it’s often referred to as a single beach, it is actually two – Playa d’en Repic and Es Traves. The latter is the longest but, generally speaking, the former is usually the one visitors rave about it.

Running along the back of the beach is a pretty promenade, which has a decent number of cafes perfect for a little light refreshment. You’ll also find the local tram service follows the beach front, before heading to the nearby town of Soller – which is our next top attraction of luxury holidays here.

Soller

With its unspoilt scenery and luxury hotels, Port Soller is undoubtedly a brilliant place for a lavish getaway. Since it’s a pretty quiet destination, though, it’s likely you’ll be keen to spend a little while exploring one of the local towns. Fortunately, you can get to Soller quickly and easily on the tram, which is something of an experience in itself!

It’s well worth visiting on a Saturday, when there’s a weekly market, but I think one of the best attractions here is actually the train service that runs between the town and the island’s capital, Palma. I’d forgive you for thinking a train journey doesn’t sound all that appealing, but the Tren de Soller really is wonderful.

Why? Well, for one thing it dates back to 1912, which means it’s a real slice of history – but I think the amazing scenery it takes you through is the ultimate highlight. Crossing the Serra de Alfabia, it runs through 13 tunnels and across a lot of bridges and viaducts, climbing steeply to provide incredible panoramas along the way.

More places in the sun to enjoy

Walking in springtime in Mallorca
Top tips for a great holiday in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca
Cesar Manrique and the volcanic island of Lanzarote

This article was brought to you by Sovereign Luxury Travel, who specialise in Mediterranean Europe luxury holidays.

Photo Credits: Port de Soller by Hanspoldoja, Jumeira Hotel Port Soller by Jumeira.com, Beach Promenade at Port Soller by Morton Brekkevold , Tren de Soller by Bibigeek

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

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Family Villa Holidays on a Budget

Looking for ideas for your next family holiday? This article will give you some destination ideas that are ideal for a family villa holiday that won’t break the bank…

The ideal way to get yourself luxury family holiday accommodation at a price you can afford is to hire a big villa and share it with another family too.

Once you become a parent, you have to accept that some things will never be the same – like how you approach annual holidays. No more leaving things to chance and grabbing a last-minute deal to somewhere exotic. Now it can feel more like an exercise in strategic planning – negotiating children and adults’ holiday expectations, arranging flights that won’t break the bank, or finding enough things to keep little ones entertained on a mammoth car journey can all make the longed-for break seem too stressful to bother with.

But it is still possible to combine a bit of everything in a holiday, with enough variety to satisfy everyone – and renting a villa gives you the opportunity to indulge in a little luxury and give the kids plenty of space to run riot without other guests tut-tutting under their breath. Although the cost of hiring a villa may initially seem high, if you go for a larger one and share the cost with either extended family or friends you’ll be surprised at the value they offer. The kids have mates to play with, you have company too. And you get pool, barbecue, fantastic views and more.

Magic Majorca

Spain is an increasingly popular holiday destination and Majorca may be a sensible choice if you’re travelling with younger children. The largest of the Balearic Islands, Majorca has long sandy beaches and fun-filled waterparks.Aquacity claims to be one of the world’s largest water funfairs, and even has a small zoo and parrot shows to keep non-water babies happy. The Palma Aquarium is home to the deepest shark tank in Europe and holds four different species – blacktip reef, smooth hound, sand tiger and sandbar sharks. Qualified divers can jump in and swim with the sharks, should they so wish, while younger children who have tired of the marine world, can let off steam in the play area or large rooftop jungle garden.

Villas in Majorca come in many different styles, from the traditional finca or farmhouse, to the super modern, so you should find something to suit you. Sharing your holiday with friends with similarly aged children means that the kids will entertain themselves and you can share evening childcare with your friends, giving everyone a chance to have a little quality couple time too.

Villa Tomeu in Pollensa has five bedrooms and sleeps up to ten people, so will give you plenty of space in which to relax. There’s a pool, and grassy terraced areas equipped with a barbecue which are perfect for al fresco dining. Pollensa itself has several bars and restaurants if you are tempted away from the villa, and there are many beaches to explore.

Beautiful Kefalonia

With spacious gardens and barbecue areas, villas in Kefalonia may prove too tempting to leave. But if you do manage to drag yourself away, take the opportunity to visit one of the world’s most beautiful beaches – Myrtos Bay. Just remember to pack sandals as the sand stops at the waterline, and the pebbles can be painful on bare feet. Argostoli Town, Kefalonia’s capital promises a bustling town square, great shops and waterfront tavernas, so would also make a good day trip.

Villa Astria, just outside the picturesque fishing village of Fiskardo, boasts not one, but two pools and enough space to sleep ten comfortably. The smaller pool is perfect for children and there are terraced gardens as well. This villa is separated into the main building and an annexe, so is perfect for two families who want to holiday together but might enjoy a little more privacy.

Cool Corfu

Corfu offers many choices for family holidays, from bucket-and-spade to high action watersports. Head to the north of the island for shallower waters and family-friendly beaches, or the west for sandy beaches and watersports – including pedalos, paragliding, waterskiing or windsurfing.If the kids need some cultural stimulation, take a day trip to the island’s attractive capital Corfu Town which offers lots of shops for souvenir hunting, pleasant café-culture and several interesting museums including the Archeological museum which is stuffed with impressive Roman remains. Head into the interior of the island for complete away-from-it-all countryside and wonderful views out to sea.

You’re spoiled for choice with villas in Corfu. If you’re more of a modern family, with children of different ages ranging from young adults to little ones, Triton House in AghiosStefanos may provide the solution. A separate guest house with twin beds would provide older teens with the privacy they seek, while being close enough to enjoy the benefits of a larger villa – including the swimming pool and covered terrace to make the most of those balmy days. AghiosStefanos has bars and a busy harbour with yachts – so get your sailing shoes on and make the most of this seaside holiday.

My thanks for this article, written by Belinda Weber on behalf of luxury villa holidays specialist Meon Villas. All the villas mentioned above can be found on their website: www.meonvillas.co.uk

Useful links

Meon Villas – the luxury villa holidays specialist
Aqualand water park on Majorca
Palma Aquarium on Majorca

Photo credits: Palma on Majorca by Piutus, Fiscardo, Kefalonia, Greece by sisaphus, Beach on Corfu by mickpix

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels