Friday, 09 August 2013 06:32

When it comes to finding a decent holiday destination that doesn’t cost the earth to visit, Majorca is a fantastic choice. Today, we are going to take a look at what makes this Balearic Island such an enduringly popular place – and how it fits into your budget.

Wonderful weather and great beaches

While the fact that Majorca has great weather might be a fairly obvious observation, it is nonetheless one of the key factors in Majorca’s popularity. In fact, the destination sees an impressive 300 days of sunshine a year, which makes it a really reliable choice if you’re looking for an affordable location that delivers.

What’s more, it’s also quite flexible; even in winter the temperature averages about 10 degrees C, so you’re very unlikely to experience that sharp chill that’s so familiar in the UK. What this means in terms of organising your holiday is that there’s never really a bad time to visit, so you could book your break based on the cheapest flight rates you can find, which will usually be out of season.

Of course, with 550 km of glorious coastline beaches are a massive draw for tourists too. Indeed, Majorca is particularly good for families thanks to its abundance of Blue Flag beaches, which include Cala Barques in Pollenca, Cala Ferrera in Felanitx and Cala Major in Palma.

Varied accommodation

Another advantage for budget travellers to be aware of is that Majorca has an excellent variety of accommodation. For example, you can find lots of family-friendly hotels that are kind to your wallet, while self-catered villas are another option.

All-inclusive hotel packages can help you keep track of your money, as well as potentially save you some cash (though you should remember to think about how much you’re getting for your money). Self-catered villas, meanwhile, offer the opportunity to cook frugal meals and thereby cut down your overall holiday spend; you can see some of your options for both hotels and villas on this website.

Low-cost attractions

One of the keys to keeping within your budget is to pick low-cost attractions to visit. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options in Majorca.

For instance, just a short bus ride (around 3 km) outside the capital is Bellver Castle – a fabulous Gothic fortification that dates back to the 14th century. This round fortress costs just a few euros to enter and is free for children under 14, and has the added attraction of offering wonderful views across the local area (thanks to its hilltop position).

Affordable activities

If you like the idea of getting out and stretching your legs in the sun, you need not worry this will mean breaking the bank. For instance, bring some decent walking boots with you and you can go hiking in the S’Albufera Natural Park, or the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range.

Alternatively, hit the beach for a swim (Cala Ferrera and Cala Major both have quite calm water) or a spot of snorkelling. If you want to splurge on a little treat, meanwhile, consider going on a boat trip around the island’s scenic north coast. These often leave from Alcudia Port and go to Formentor Beach, which is one of the prettiest on the island. You should be able to spend some time here splashing about in the water or just soaking up the sun.