CALAS de MALLORCA
Area: Majorca
Country: Spain


Location:
In the middle of the E coast, 50 miles E of Palma and airport by rather slow road.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Position:
Rugged, indented part of E coastline with shallow but steep gorges descending to the sea to form small coves. These gorges impede transport and it is sometimes necessary to drive for miles in order to reach a point which is just along the coast.

Description:
Purpose-built, but with little planning skill, it consists of a central commercial area with tall hotel buildings scattered around. Reminiscent of Basingstoke New Town, it is smaller and has as much atmosphere. High spots are the beaches, a cliff path which follows much of the shore, and sweeping views, out to sea.

Suitability:
A family venue with a little nightlife. Not for anyone seeking local colour or character because there is none.

Accommodation:
1970s hotel blocks and more recent apartments, better designed. All are in the middle range of quality.

Shopping:
Necessities and resort gift shops in the centre.

Beach:
Playa Domingos is the principal one, and in the past has been awarded the European blue flag. It is less than 100 yds. wide and although there are others suitable for bathing, there is not enough sand for all the bodies in peak periods.

Entertainments:
Daytime: beach-centred. Nightlife: the odd disco and music bar, together with the in-house programme run by most hotels.

Eating:
Many fast food cafes and an adequate provision of restaurants, several with a homely feel. Pub.

Public-transport:
A "tourist train" circulates the resort's streets. The notoriously unreliable E coast bus service schedules a daily bus to Palma, 10 to Porto Cristo, 3 to Manacor, 1 to Alcudia, frequent to Drach caves.

Local-excursions:
Drach caves or those of Ham, 7 miles. Manacor and Felanitx are old towns with weekly markets, 14 miles. Hilltop sanctuary and broad vistas from Sant Salvador. This is not the most accessible part of the coast, but the hotels do arrange excursions to all the island's main sights.