PORTALS NOUS
Area: Majorca
Country: Spain


Location:
On the SW coast of the island, on the W side of the Bay of Palma. 7 miles SW of Palma, 13 miles from airport.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Website:
http://www.balearics.com/mallorca/portals.htm

Position:
A S-facing stretch of coast at the foot of forested slopes, accessible by old coast road and new highway from Palma.

Description:
Little more than a bend in the main Palma_Magalluf road until the marina was built (claimed with likely exaggeration to be the best in Spain) which raised it to the status of chic resort. It has a few attractive buildings, including a parish church beautifully situated above the bay, and an American school, but it is a dispersed settlement with ordinary residential areas between the straggling high street, marina and beaches. Properties near the main road can suffer from constant traffic noise.

Suitability:
Popular with the British, especially villa and apartment owners. Suits couples and families, as a quiet but accessible base.

Accommodation:
Apartments predominate, with a few modest hotels which cater mainly for independent travellers and small groups.

Shopping:
A couple of supermarkets and a handful of souvenir shops offer poor choice. Better in nearby Palma Nova.

Beach:
A small but attractive sandy cove; a second, much larger artificial beach beneath a crumbling red cliff, next to the marina.

Entertainments:
Daytime: Marineland dolphinarium is on the edge of town. Nightlife: unreliable, but a range of options exists in Palma Nova and Magalluf 3 miles away.

Eating:
Smart restaurants at the marina, half a dozen fairly standard ones on the high street.

Public-transport:
Several lines from Palma to Andraitx, and points in between, pass through at 10-15 minute intervals. Crowded in rush hour.

Local-excursions:
Palma; Soller and the NW coast; Inca market. The Palma ring road (via cintura) makes all principal parts of the island easily accessible.