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The Balearic Islands - Gimnesias (Majorca, Minorca and Cabrera) in the North, and Pitiusas (Ibiza and Formentera) in the South-West - have been favourite destinations for the British, Germans and other North Europeans since the beginnings of mass tourism. The main reason for the popularity of the Balearics, of course, is the reliable sunshine of their Mediterranean climate. But remember, the first "tourists" to discover the islands were more impressed by the beauty of their landscapes and seascapes.

The Balearics slide diagonally across the western Mediterranean, so going from north to south is almost the same as west to east. Formentera is the smallest of the inhabited Balearics, with a population of 7,461 - according to Wikipedia, it is "best known for the fact that nude sunbathing is allowed on most of its beaches," though I would hardly have though anyone would have raised their eyebrows at that in this day and age, and its beaches and coves are quite attractive enough in their own right. Ibiza (Eivissa in Ibicenco, see below) is practically synonymous with clubbing but, again, the hippies who discovered it as a lotus-eating paradise in the sixties were knocked out by the island's natural beauty (and low prices, it must be said). The island and archipelago of Cabrera are almost uninhabited, discounting the national park officials stationed there, and so a haven for wildlife of all kinds. As its name says, Majorca or Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, and the one offering the visitor the greatest variety, from the sights, nightlife and shopping possibilities of the bustling city of Palma to the Sierra de Tramuntana, a walker's paradise, its mountain trails overlooking the rugged, craggy coast. And Minorca or Menorca is the most exclusive of the Balearics and perhaps the least known.

Though the similarities are evident, each of the islands has a slightly different culture, reflected in their fiestas and, particularly, gastronomy.

Language. The Balearics are historically closely linked with Catalonia, and the languages spoken are really variations on the Balearic dialect of Catalan, though locally each has its own name. Castilian Spanish is universally spoken, and many people speak English.

Hotels
Hotel Club
This booking service covers a very wide range of places in both Spain and Portugal.

Venere.com
An on-line booking service with great discounts.

Car Hire
Auto Europe
Car rental, motor homes, minibuses... And an interesting short-term lease option.

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